Hurrah! Spring is definitely around the corner, and we see signs of it everywhere: daffodils, lighter evenings, and birdsong. And, by the time you’ve read about all the ways in which the shop is ‘springing’ into spring, you’ll be heading straight down there with a ‘spring’ in your step!
This March is full of Spring celebrations. First off will be Mother’s Day. Many customers comment on the fantastic collection of cards we stock, and I’m sure our Mother’s Day cards will be very popular. So don’t leave it too late to pop in and buy yours. We’ll also be selling pot plants, chocolates and other small gifts for you to give your mum.
Easter falls in March this year, and we have a wonderful selection of eggs. We have various varieties of Lindt and Lindor eggs, and, would you believe it, golf balls! Golf balls! Just as long as the chocolate golf ball isn’t confused with a real one, I suppose it’s ok. Chomping into a real one might not do your teeth any good! Thorntons, meanwhile, boast dinosaur, unicorn and bunny eggs! I assume they are all chocolate. Then there’s Peppa Pig and Hey Duggie (whoever Duggie is) and even hot wheels eggs, and bags of eggs, perfect if you’re planning an Easter egg hunt. You might think with all my drooling over chocolate that I’ve given up chocolate for Lent, but I can’t even use that as an excuse. I’m just bemused by it all. Anyway, no more mention of chocolate, I promise!
Of course, we want to keep Easter traditions going, and will stock simnel cake, a fruit cake layered with marzipan that dates back to medieval times. Apparently domestic servants (often teenage girls) used to take one back to their families on Mother’s Day, but now the cake is more associated with Easter. It’s very delicious – you need to try it if you haven’t already!
With Easter approaching, we start to think about warmer weather, and ice creams in particular! Our ice cream freezer will be waking from its hibernation and resuming its duty, hosting a wide selection of ice creams. I can mention several, such as solero or fruit lollies, but can’t tell you about most of our varieties for fear of breaking my promise, so you’ll just have to imagine them for yourselves!
I often wax lyrical about our wonderful Post Office. Where else would you find one that is open on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings? It provides an amazing service! I always use it to get money out – so much easier and safer than finding a cashpoint. And with Spring coming, and our thoughts turning to holidays, our friendly Post Office again lends a helping hand. As well as being able to buy euros over the counter, you can buy a Travel Money card. You can load up to 22 currencies (that would be some holiday!), pay no charges abroad, reload, and freeze if necessary, so it’s safer than carrying cash. I will definitely get one.
We are very well supported by our team of volunteers, and look forward to our Volunteers’ Meeting on 13th March in the Nepcote room in the Village Hall, when our volunteers can hear more of how the shop is doing, and have an opportunity to meet each other. If anyone is thinking of joining our merry band of volunteers, we would love to see you at the meeting, where you can find out more about the roles and commitment. If there’s anyone out there who would be prepared to join the cleaning team, you would be welcomed with very wide-open arms!
And, finally, our all-important Easter opening hours are as follows:
Good Friday 29th March 06.30-18.00
Easter Saturday 30th March 06.30-19.00
Easter Sunday 31st March 06.30-12.30
Easter Monday 1st April 06.30-12.30
Jean Burden