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NEWS FROM TETBURY - JUNE 2002 ...

Once again it’s that time of year …when silence descends on the streets as millions watch the World Cup with bated breath – the only sound outside being the rain endlessly pattering on the windows – because after all, this is Summer!

Actually, business has been quite good in spite of many distractions like football and the Jubilee. Many of us made an effort to make our shop windows look suitably patriotic with flowers and flags – we used some Union flags which had first been used for the Silver Jubilee back in 1977 and were last used for the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer in 1981. Hopefully, they won’t fall apart before the Diamond Jubilee in 2012!

It has been a relief to work this year without the spectre of foot and mouth looming over our shoulders. All the usual local events such as the Badminton Horse Trials, Woolsack Races, and Beaufort Polo Fair have gone ahead, even though the weather has been, to put it mildly, inclement. We also had fun putting on our usual spread of cheeses for our friends at Arkell’s Brewery in Swindon last month.

In April we went to Holland for a couple of days to see the beautiful bulb gardens at Keukenhof. The weather was actually warm and sunny and it was a real tonic to walk around the lake looking at wonderful displays of tulips, hyacinths and fritillaries. We stayed in a lovely 1912 chateau set in its own grounds with a huge fountain obviously inspired by Geneva’s Jet d’Eau … we could have stayed a week but work beckoned!

At the beginning of April we had a stroke of bad luck when Philip fell awkwardly onto a concrete floor (carrying cheese at the time!) and broke his arm and elbow. This meant that for several weeks he was as helpless as a baby and unable to wash, eat, or dress without help. Driving was out of the question for some time and we were fortunate in finding a kind customer who did our wholesale deliveries for us. The arm is slow in healing and Jenny and Catherine have developed enormous muscles from carrying even more stock than normal!

Doubtless the second half of the year will have more surprises in store – a large new food multiple is scheduled to open on the edge of town at the end of June and it will be interesting to see how, or if, that affects business in the town centre. There are also a few empty shops and we hope that they will be filled by Christmas. In retail the saying “the more the merrier” is very true! And speaking of Christmas – it seems incredible that it’s only six months away, the catalogues have already arrived, and we are deciding what to order once the ‘summer’ is over. How time flies when you are enjoying yourself!