My name is Last.  Lee Last.

*play James bond music*

About me

I was a PA for more years than I care to recall – to Actuaries, Financial Directors of international conglomerates and the like.  Small businesses I’ve successfully run include a computer training centre and a secretarial business and in my late twenties I was joint managing director of a construction company specialising in low cost housing in Soweto (in the late 80’s, early 90’s – at the height of the political unrest). I used to attend to site inspections and have meetings with the then Mayor of Soweto, Sam Mkwanazi, with a Star 9mm Short on my hip.  Hierdietannievattiekakkie.  But I must state that never was I afraid or did I feel threatened during those four years.  I believed in what I was doing and in the people I was doing it for and with.  Nothing’s changed.

Other than that now, finally, I’ve found my own place in the sun.  In more ways than one.  Happier and more content I have never been.  I like to think it shows in my work.  And face, unfortunately.  But who cares? I’d rather be happy than pretty.

I started landscaping in July 2006 and wish I could tell you it was my life-long passion to get Down ‘n Dirty, but that would be a lie.  It was, rather, an act of desperation, if the truth be told.  I had resigned from my employment, and was determined NEVER to work for a boss again.  A friend suggested landscaping.
 
So, with not even a wheelbarrow to my name, never mind a bakkie, I put an ad in the local paper.  Was I surprised at getting my first job?  You bet I was!  Shame, I think it took about 18 hours to complete the quote – had no idea how long anything would take or what anything cost.  After all, the only ‘landscaping’ I’d done until then was to help that friend plant plants in pots for her home nursery, and to re-arrange the pots and create pathways to make it look pretty.  How easy it was to make something beautiful out of ‘nothing’ came as somewhat of a surprise, as did how much I enjoyed doing physical work (who woulda thunk?).

Anyway, getting back to the surprise of getting our first job, at least that was momentary.  The terror, however, remained until the job was completed and the money in the bank.  I’d never planted a blade of grass before, let alone set out an entire garden.  What if I messed it up or did something wrong?  The only plant I knew the name of was an Agapantha (sic) and who knew that there were so many plants to have to learn the names of?  Botanical names, nogal.  Sjoe.  Just as well I didn’t know… I might’ve missed the most awesome career anyone could wish for.   After all, how many people do you know who get to spend other people’s money whilst creating something beautiful?  Can’t say I know too many.  Yay me.

So yes, thanks to the friend who taught me so much, Google, second-hand books and advice from other friends, family, suppliers, and strangers, I managed to learn the basics and, in the process, my staff and I all found talents we never knew existed.  If a client asked if we could do something, I would say ‘Yes’.  After all, they didn’t ask if we had done it before, now did they? *grins* I would then do whatever research was necessary and the results not only astonished my team, but my clients and myself as well.  I can’t count the number of times a client has enthused over something at handover and I’ve said to them “don’t tell the client, but we’ve never done this before.”  The look on their faces is classic… horror, surprise, admiration… I’ve seen it all.   Been a while since I’ve had to use that line though.  Isn’t experience wonderful?

Before I knew it I was designing and creating gardens in exclusive housing estates and acted as Horticultural Inspector of the best Eco Estate in our area.  If you’ll pardon the lack of humbleness, the pictures of our work and our written references speak for themselves.  Try as I might, I can’t fault ol’ Art’s sentiments below.

With people of only moderate ability modesty is mere honesty;
but with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.  ~Arthur Schopenhauer