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Hello, dear listeners, and welcome back to another episode of fareham florist pod, where I share the highs, lows, and sometimes downright ridiculous adventures of running a flower shop.I’m your host, Sarah, co- owner of Fareham Florist, also known as Flowers by Moonstones
a small independent and family run business on the outskirts of a small town on the south coast of the uk, called… you guessed it, Fareham.
Today, I have a tale that involves flowers, frustration, and, of course, human inconsideration. Yes, it’s one of those stories - but before you roll your eyes, bear with me. There’s a lesson here, a laugh or two, and hopefully a little bit of solidarity for anyone who’s ever bent over backward for someone who… well, didn’t exactly appreciate it.
It all started with a phone call. I remember it clearly because of the tone - cheeky, tentative, and just a little manipulative. The lady on the other end began with, “I have a bit of a request…” before I could even respond, she continued, “I know you sometimes have to start work early. Is there any chance you will be in early tomorrow?”
Now, here’s the thing. The chance that I would be in early was actually quite small. You see, I had an early hospital appointment - nothing too serious, but important enough that I was taking the morning off. I had been warned there could be long waits for the scans I needed, so I’d been carefully protecting that time in my diary.
I asked her, cautiously: “How early are you thinking?”
Her reply: “About 07:30 if that’s at all possible. I need to be in work for 08:00.”
At this point, the kind - and slightly sucker-ish - part of me kicked in. I did some rapid mental calculations. Could I fit this in? Could I make the order, have it ready, and still leave in time to shower, dress, and make my appointment? In theory, yes. Was it ideal? Not even close. But, well… I thought, why not? I could manage.
So I agreed. Because of course I did. I did explain that she would need to be on time as I also had to be somewhere else. She assured me she would be there at 07:30 on the dot.
The next morning, I arrived at the shop at 07:00, brimming with purpose and optimism. It was actually nice to have something else to focus on rather than what I was going to be dealing with later in teh day. I was ready to create something beautiful - flowers fresh, colours bright, a bouquet that would hopefully bring joy to this particular customer. I set to work, carefully arranging every stem, fluffing the petals just so, adding the perfect little touches that I pride myself on.
it looked gorgeous. Honestly, I was proud, would have loved it for myself.I stepped back, took a deep breath, admired, inhaled the heady scent of stocks and lilies, and waited…
And waited.
By 08:00, I was starting to feel that little tickle of frustration. The customer was late. Had she forgotten? I tried calling, assuming perhaps she’d continued to work, got caught up, or overlooked our plan. No answer.
By 08:15, my frustration was turning to stress. My morning was already complicated. I had my hospital appointment to make; this delay was throwing everything into disarray. Ordinarily, I could ask one of my neighbours to help out - leave a note, hand over the bouquet, and carry on - but on this day, the neighbours weren’t around. They don’t open until 09:00.
so, I waited a little longer
Fast forward to 08:45. I was not just stressed now; I was angry, really angry.. My blood pressure had started climbing, my hands slightly trembling with irritation, and I felt that familiar mix of disbelief and exasperation. I had gone out of my way, made sacrifices, and rearranged my morning to accommodate this customer. I had skipped the quiet time I needed to get ready for my appointment - and yet… she was nowhere to be seen.
I tried calling one last time. Still nothing. And so, I did the only thing I could: I left a polite but firm message. I explained that I had to leave the shop, that I had done everything possible, and expressed my regret that she might now be without flowers. I told her I was very sorry, but my morning could not stretch any further.
And then I left.
Now, I thought perhaps that would be the end of it. I had done my best, after all. But I should have known better. Florists know the unpredictability of human behaviour.
The next morning, I arrived at the shop to find a very angry answerphone message waiting for me. And that wasn’t all. Oh no. There was also an email. From the customer. Apparently, because she had to go elsewhere at short notice - thanks to my absence - it was all my fault.
It turned out she had actually decided to work from home that day. She didn’t need to start early at all. She had planned to stroll down to the shop at around 09:30 to collect her flowers. So, in short, I had rearranged my entire morning, gone out of my way, and she blamed me.
This, my friends, is where it gets interesting - and, frankly, frustrating. How often do we assume that other people’s time is less important than our own? How often do customers believe it’s perfectly acceptable to request flexibility on your schedule without offering any in return?
This is not an isolated incident. It happens frequently. I’ll arrive early for a customer, stay later, go out of my way to accommodate - and then… nothing. No communication. No explanation. No courtesy. it’s not just inconvenient - it’s rude.
We florists are real people with real lives, appointments, and commitments. Just because we work with flowers and appear calm and collected, doesn’t mean our time, energy, and schedules aren’t valuable.
Let’s talk a little about early starts in a flower shop. There’s a certain romance to it, I admit. The smell of fresh blooms, the quiet before the chaos, the satisfaction of arranging petals in perfect harmony. But it’s also high-pressure, time-sensitive work.
Orders need to be prepared for early deliveries. Flowers have to hydrate. Cards need to be written. Special arrangements require focus. Every stem, every bloom, every ribbon matters. And when someone asks you to bend your schedule - especially on a day you already have important commitments - it’s a big ask. One that deserves at least a little consideration in return.
Now, I like to find the humour in things, even when I’m frustrated. And there’s a little funny side here: I had mentally prepared myself to be the early morning hero. I imagined a triumphant scene: arrive at the shop, create the bouquet, hand it over with a smile, perhaps exchange a few pleasantries, and then head off to my hospital appointment, victorious.
Instead… I became the angry florist pacing the shop, talking to myself, muttering under my breath, mentally rehearsing my speech for the inevitable confrontation. when I finally left that voicemail, there was a small sense of satisfaction. Calm, firm, factual - explaining that I had done everything humanly possible. It didn’t erase the frustration, but it helped a little.
What this episode really highlights is respect. Boundaries. Common courtesy. It’s not just about flowers, or schedules, or even money. It’s about acknowledging that everyone’s time has value. Going out of your way deserves at least a little recognition.
I often wonder: do people realise how much effort goes into every single order? Every bouquet, no matter how simple, is created with care, intention, and thought. when that effort is met with indifference - or worse, blame - it’s disheartening.
It’s a lesson in boundaries, not just for customers, but for anyone asking for a favour. Respect the time, energy, and life of the person you’re asking. It’s simple, really, but so easily forgotten.
So, dear listeners, the takeaway from today’s tale? Plan ahead. Communicate. Respect other people’s time. And remember: just because someone works with flowers doesn’t mean they exist solely to accommodate your whims. We have lives, commitments, and mornings that deserve consideration.
As for me, I’ve since learned to double-check early morning requests, clarify times, and mentally prepare for anything. if I’m ever asked to start extra early again? Let’s just say I might need a little extra coffee in the morning - and a much larger glass of wine that evening.
Thank you for joining me today. Until next time, remember: kindness, patience, and a little bit of common sense go a long way. And if you ever find yourself needing flowers… try to be on time. Your florist will thank you.
Thank you so much for joining me as I've navigated my way through this very first podcast. I really hope you'll stick around and join me for the rest of the journey. If you have enjoyed this episode and I really hope that you have, please feel free to share, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcast. This can make a really huge difference and helps others to find us. I appreciate all feedback, good and bad, but if leave in negative feedback, please keep it constructive and be kind. I'm a florist after all.
You can also find us and share with everyone on the usual social media sites. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blue Sky and any others which may pop up in between. Just look for Fareham Florist Pod.. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding any of the tales and or experiences that I've shared, or to do with just being a general working florist. You can reach me via email. The address is farehamfloristpod@duck.com
Are you a florist with your own stories, your own experiences that you would like me to share for you? If you are, I would love to hear from you. You can reach me via email. The address is farehamfloristpod@duck.com or drop me a WhatsApp on 073 671 87685. Let me know if you would like me to keep you anonymous. If you would like me to give your business a mention, whether you run a florist, butcher, baker, or even a candlestick maker, I'm more than happy to do so providing your business is registered and trading legally. As a thank you for putting your details out there and hopefully generating some new business for you, it would be appreciated if you would be kind enough to make a donation to one of our nominated charities. These can be found on the webpage www.Fareham Florist Pod.co.uk.
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