1. The shop will not open until about 8am on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Unfortunately, Sue has been laid very low by a bug that will have kept her off work for 3 weeks by this Friday - she has thought several times that she could come back to work but in the end, she hasn't been well enough to do so.  We have tried desperately hard to keep the shop open by other people doing the early shift, and so far we have succeeded, but tomorrow and Thursday, it is not possible to find anyone who can do the early slot - we're very sorry about this.  Please bear with us, and things should be back to normal on Friday when David and Jenny open, and we hope Sue will be fighting fit by next week.  If anyone out there would like to learn how to open the shop up, so that we can call on you in a future emergency (like we have just now), please let us know.  It might be just two hours every so often, and obviously only when you are available.

2. October was our best month ever!

In October, we sold just over £15,000 of goods in the shop.  This exceeds our target of £12,000 per month by a good margin and is our best ever month for sales.  It represents the latest growth in an upwards curve that has lasted for over two years now.  In fact October was 45% higher than the 2008 average monthly sales - in a recession!  Well done to all our staff and especially to you our customers for having faith and providing support.  It's pretty obvious to us in the shop that more people come in now than they used to, and that customers are buying more when they come.  That has to say something about what we bring in for you to buy, and also the way you all feel about the shop - we know that people want the shop to survive, and now they are starting to put their money in because they believe it can.   Keep up the good work, we need you!

3. Important dates for your diaries

On Wednesday 18th November, we are having the first of the 150 Club Draws in the Green Man at about 8pm.  The prizes will be increased to £50, £30, £20, and £10 so we have doubled the number of monthly winners.  There are only 8 numbers left so if you want to buy a number, or another one, then please do so quickly.  Until they are sold, the shop will own the leftover numbers and if those numbers are drawn, the shop will keep the relevant prize.

On Thursday November 24th, we will have a jewellery designer in the shop to show us her range of jewellery, and she will also be able to repair any of your broken jewellery.  There is no entry charge so just come along to see what she has - perfect timing for Christmas gifts!

On Saturday December 4th, we have a wine tasting, introduced by Noel Young again.  Tickets are £10 per head, available in the shop.  The wine menu will be circulated in advance of the event so that you can still order wines from the tasting, even if you can't be there on the night.

4. Christmas is coming

You will have noticed we have Christmas displays already in the shop.  These include gift wrap, boxes, bags and wine carriers, cards, confectionery, cakes, drinks, biscuits and chocolates - all with the Christmas flavour.  But we have more!  We have lots of stamps, including some Christmas ones - these ran out last year and we can't guarantee the same won't happen this time, so get your order in early.  We have an opportunity now to place a Christmas order for meat from Leech's in Melbourn, and a similar Christmas order for cheeses (Stilton and Brie seemed especially popular last year).  We will also have a raffle for Christmas hampers - first prize will be worth over £50, and there will be two other smaller prizes.  We will be making up some gift hampers priced at £15 that will make fabulous gifts for workplace colleagues, friends and family, and Linda Banham (remember she worked for us earlier this year) will be making us a few evergreen table decorations built around a candle for sale at £10.  We also have some good value Australian Brut fizz and some half bottles of exquisite Muscat wine.

It will also be cold at Christmas - we have logs, kindling and coal in stock right now, and if you like, we can deiiver these to your door.  Don't forget the firelighters too!  There's nothing better than an open fire at Christmas.

Thanks once again for your support.

TVSA