Unfortunately no walk at all this week! I suddenly developed a summer cold and Jenny had visitors. I will get back on track next week, as I have really missed the walks and a chance to catch up on the latest news...
A few weeks ago (3rd June post), I mentioned that I was making a sign for my friend Dawn's new venture, Avocado and Pink. The good news is that it is now finished, (see above right), and the home grown or locally sourced, flower business is open! The colours and scents of her hand tied arrangements, which are sold in jam jars or vintage vases, are amazing. She is also taking orders for bouquets and flowers for weddings and other special occasions...
The photos above show the interior of Avocado and Pink, which has been set up in an area downstairs in the premises occupied by Custard Pudding, the tearoom and art gallery, that she opened nearly a year ago. It is great to have more new businesses in the High Street and it gives us more to see when window shopping on our early morning walks...
Only one walk this week as Jenny is still working on her life/work balance! At the start the weather was against us... What started out as gentle rain came down, heavier and heavier, so we got rather wet!
Needless to say we didn't venture up to the fields but kept to the roads! Being a Friday and market day, we drifted up towards the Market Cross. The market was being set up slowly in the rain... One stall that is always early is the fishmonger, so we bought some fish!
As Harold Wilson once said 'A week is a long time in politics.' But at the moment a day, or even an hour, is a long time with our political landscape constantly changing! What a difference a week makes... I just wish that, now our referendum has been decided, everyone would be positive, instead of wringing their hands and telling us we have made the biggest mistake of our lives!
What I do find unforgivable is the abuse targeted at the EU citizens living here. In Shepton we have a large Polish community - there are two food stores and a cafe in the centre of town who cater specifically for them. All the EU immigrants I have met are hardworking and lovely, especially the owner of Anna's Attic. This delightful shop in Town Street always has us window shopping every time we pass it - see Jenny peering in above right! Anna is so creative and has some great window dressing ideas...
Today is the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 100 years ago, and there are many vigils and services to remember the sacrifice of thousands and thousands of World War One soldiers. We went to the Shepton Mallet Cenotaph this morning, after the wreaths had been laid. I was interested in the flowers as my friend Dawn, who has set up a new flower business, had provided them - more about this in a future post. There were some beautiful blue cornflowers which had come from her garden.
Jenny spent some time reading the names on the monument, something she had never done before. The amazing thing was that she recognised many of the names, as they were the surnames of children she had been to school with in Shepton!
On a more cheerful note, as we walked back through Collett Park, it brightened up and the sun started coming out. The park looked very green and glistening...
Still grey and quite chilly this morning, but at least it was dry! We went up to Barren Down to see what it was like now, as we haven't been there for a few weeks. We saw that everything had grown like mad and there was an abundance of wild flowers and grasses. There was wonderful stillness up there, as usual, and it seemed to have its own little microclimate as it was warmer...
When we walk on familiar territory, it is great to see changes as the seasons progress. This is particularly true of people's front gardens, which really are quite public spaces and some are beautifully cared for. We have our favourites - some shown below - which are full of quirky items and beautiful flowers. So many front gardens these days have been given over to car parking, and in some areas this has become a real problem, as there is little earth to absorb rain, so it runs off and can contribute to flooding!
Our route took us past Shepton market, which was being set up. We were out too early to see much, so I went back later in the morning and took the photos below. It was looking very festive with bunting and more and more stall holders joining. My friend, Dawn, owner of Custard Pudding (art gallery and tea room), has added extra colour by selling cut flowers (see top left pic below), which mostly came from her own garden. She is in the process of setting up a flower growing and selling business. I am doing some artwork for a sign and will tell you more in future posts. It is encouraging that new businesses are opening up in Shepton...
