Well, I’m very tempted to start this month’s chat with, “I told you so!”  You probably don’t recall that a few months ago I told you that a friend of mine had asked me to tell you all how delicious Hutchings’s chicken and ham pies are.  I did warn her of the...

  The shop always looks at its best around Christmas-time.  Well, that’s not to say that it doesn’t always look attractive, but it’s even more sparkly and magical at this time of year!  Actually, I think I’m getting myself into hot water here, so I’d better move...

I must start by apologising and correcting something I put in last month’s article.  I go on about the wonderful opening hours of our shop and post office, but, apparently, not enough! They are even better than I had thought; closing time is actually 12.30pm on a...

It’s taken a long time coming, but it’s lovely to be able to enjoy the sunny weather we’re having now.  And the shop sees plenty of evidence of that, in our sales of soft drinks and ice creams, and the consumption of our complimentary water outside the shop, suitable...

Well, if you have visited the shop recently you will have seen our new fridges.  And very smart they are too (as well as easier to keep clean!).  More efficient, they boast sliding doors to keep the food cold, and comply with the latest energy regulations.  They are,...

It’s official!  The shop is the hub of the village.  Well, that’s according to Charlotte Martin, the actress who plays Susan Carter in the Archers.  Confirmation of what we all know of course, but, for all you Archers’ fans, a pleasing endorsement.  The shop is...

June heralds the start of the serious wedding season.  Very lovely, of course, but, ask the bride, and she might say that preparations leading up to the day can get a little fraught: the dress needs last minute attention, maybe a hem, or a buttonhole, or, perish the...

I do detect that summer is on the way – well, spring anyway.  And, what, you might ask, am I basing this hypothesis?  To answer that, you need to take a quick trip to our Village Stores, where you will see all manner of indicators. Our ice cream freezer has taken up...

If you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer in our shop (especially if you’d like to help with the cleaning some Sundays!), one of the perks would be that you could come to our Volunteers’ Meetings.  We have just had one, and very entertaining it was too!  Statutory...

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...

Happy New Year!  Well. I guess it’s not a New Year now – I can’t believe that we’re already one month into 2024, but then I’d barely got used to it being 2023 before it was all over in a puff of smoke!  Now, the only nod to 2023 is some half-price Christmas bits and...

Well. No missing the time of year at the shop.  Before you even get into the shop itself, you will be greeted by a wonderful Christmas tree post box topper, and a lovely Seasonal/Christmas display board designed by Siân Keating.  A very big thank you from us all. The...

Well, now the nights are really starting to draw in, and going out, especially later in the day, isgetting less attractive virtually by the day. So at this time of year, especially, I’m sure we’re all verygrateful to have a well-stocked shop on our doorstep. It’s open...

Hasn’t September been glorious!  True to form, the best weather waited until the schools went back before making an appearance.  The Sheep Fair probably coincided with the hottest day of the year.  My word!  It was so hot!  I hope you visited the shop’s stall,...

No prizes this month for guessing what I’m going to be writing about.  It’s the talk of the town – or, in this case, the village.  But before I write about it, I must tell you something I have learnt today on google, which, of course, knows everything.  This has...

Shop life is never dull: always challenges to face, opportunities to explore, adaptations to make to meet the changing times.  But we do it together.  I find it so exciting to see how everybody appreciates our village store, and is willing to go the extra mile to...

Hurrah!  It looks as if Spring has finally arrived!  Longer, lighter evenings, bluebells, lots of colour, and warmth!  How I soak it up.  I’ll say it again… warmth.  It’s what I’ve been missing all this time.  Just as well really that Spring has arrived, because...