Official Opening

On 27th April we had an "Official Opening" with lots of tasters available. It was a lovely day. We even had people coming in to say they had seen posters advertising the event in various places (none of which I made or put up - that was one of the customers!). The tasting even featured in a local primary school's trip out. 35 seven year olds appeared in groups of 5 to try cheeses from different countries. Only one found the taste so unpleasant he cried!

I'm not sure where the blog entry or photos from the day went, but have posted again today - better late than never.

Looking Back

Prompted by all the positive feedback customers have given me about the refit, I've been looking back at the old photos and put together some before and after comparisons.

Open For Business

Things continued to conspire against us, including a whole herd of cows who blocked the road on Saturday. I was beginning to think it wasn't meant to be. But we made it in, had the pump replaced, moved the stock around to fill the gaps that were meant to hold the pasta and eventually managed to open!

Have had a constant stream of customers ever since and almost all have commented on how lovely the shop looks and how excited they are that I'm open. Feeling quite proud of how it has all turned out and relieved to eventually be open. Still so much to do, but we're open!

Friday the Thirteenth

It certainly felt like an unlucky day to me. The pump turned out to be beyond repair and not covered by the warranty. The meat slice turned out to be bent in such a way the blade won't turn. The shopping basket delivery man turned up and then found he didn't actually have my baskets on board the truck. The cheese delivery man turned up with another shop's order which leaked all over his trousers and my Italian pasta delivery didn't arrive at all.

Water, Water, Everywhere

We now have hot water, thanks to the new water heater installed on Tuesday, but the waste pump (the one that wouldn't switch off a week ago) now won't switch on! Had three sinks full of water that I've been bailing out with buckets. The plumber came out again but couldn't fix it this time and has referred it back to the manufacturer. An engineer is due at 7am tomorrow and should be able to simply replace the pump. Then we might be able to open the shop in the afternoon! But looking at how things have been going recently, I'm not sure opening on Friday the thirteenth is something I should be excited about!

1500 deli pots

I spent months last year looking for suitable packaging for the deli. I hated the idea of contributing to the mountain of waste packaging produced every year. The decision to avoid plastic carrier bags was easy. There are plenty of recycled paper bags which will do the job just as well, if not better. But I also needed something to put olives in. It needed to be food safe, hygienic, light and leak proof. The only choice seemed to be between different shapes of plastic pot made with different thickness's of plastic. But then thanks to a tip from a friend, I fond them......biodegradable deli pots. I got some samples and for three weeks a small pot of olive oil sat on my kitchen work top. One week it was upright, the next upside down and for the third week, propped up on its side so the oil sat on the joint between the pot and its lid. It was only in week three that it leaked. After four days of inversion a tiny amount of oil had worked its way around the seal between the lid and the pot. But that was an extreme test and I had expected it to leak within a couple of hours (which is the longest a pot is really likely to be in this position). A further three weeks later and the pot of oil was still in tact (and not decomposing).

The experimentation was over and a decision was made. I would not be responsible for the creation of pots that would be around hundreds of years after me and I could be confident that my customers wouldn't have problems with leaky pots.

That was last summer, and yesterday my first supply arrived. The deli pots I've chosen are made from plant (usually corn) starch and will degrade on a compost heap in about two months. Rather than producing pollutants as they break down they will enrich the soil. Having seen how much space 1500 deli pots take up I am more pleased than ever that mine will degrade.

Bank Holiday, what Bank Holiday?

No chance now of opening before the bank holiday, so instead I'm pretending it isn't happening. Kevin came down for the day today and was a fantastic help with the cleaning. We've wiped walls, floors, ceilings, shelves.... and generally sorted things out.

Last week's problem was the amount of time it took to paint the shelves, and the incredible five days it took for the first ones to dry (strangely those I painted with the 2nd tin of paint dried much quicker). This week it has been plumbing. First the pump was pumping constantly (which it isn't meant to do), the plumbers managed to fix that, but in doing so noticed that the tripping of the electrics, which I'd thought was the fault of the pump, was actually an entirely different fault on the water heater. A leak somewhere that necessitates an entirely new heater, obviously not available straight away and without hot water...well, we can't open. Still it gives me some time to perfect things like the shelf labels and try to work out how to position the scales and cheese slice.

Painting Shelves and Drinking Tea

Last week I really liked the shelves, especially the small cubes and the corner pieces. But, after being let down at the last minute by the spray painter, and having spent two days sanding, priming, sanding, undercoating and sanding, I'm not so sure they were such a good idea! What is wrong with long wide shelves with the minimum number of corners?

On a more positive note, I did find time for two tea breaks today. This morning, we enjoyed samples from Jane at Crumbles, who makes melt in the mouth shortbread from flour milled in the last working corn and grist mill on the Thames. Then in the afternoon I received a box of “Elephant tea” from Williamsons. Shame we'd finished the shortbread by then, but I dashed over to the offices opposite with my sample stock and had a lovely cup of Earl Gray. Both the shortbread and tea went down well with those I shared them with and will be making an appearance on the newly painted shelves soon.

An identity

Today the sign writer put up the shop name. The hours I spent doctoring a photograph on the PC were well spent and I think it looks good. Thanks to everyone who offered an opinion - hope you like how it turned out.

Slight spelling problem on the door sign which was meant to read “Purveyors of Fine Foods & Beverages”. Minor panic when I realised just after the sign writer had left. But it was all OK in the end as the letters peel off and Jay, the carpenter and I all prefer “Fine Foods & Beverages” anyway! Even more people are stopping to look now. I'm excited and just want to get the shelves filled and open the door.

Old news from last week - the deli counter not only arrived, but fitted through the door!

Let there be light....(and water)

I put a third coat of varnish on the floor in the front room on Monday night and it is looking good (though covered in polythene for its own protection). The floorers have now fitted the floors in the other rooms and the electricians and plumbers have returned and installed all the lights, sockets, sinks and toilet. I have learnt how to cut copper pipes and that I don't have the muscles to do so. I shall stick with holding things still, sanding, painting and directing!

It is starting to feel like a shop not a building site, which is fortunate as the refrigeration equipment starts to arrive today.

Sanding no more

Eight weeks have passed now since we picked up the keys. We should really be opening today. We aren't..... but, after another weekend spent on my hands and knees, the floor is varnished!

(I took the photo last night as I varnished myself out the door, so it is all still very wet and shiny)

There is a Purpose for Trigonometry

For the first time since leaving school I am using the SIN, COS and TAN buttons on my calculator! Actually not my original Texas Instruments TI-30 calculator, whose batteries finally failed last year, but Windows Calc. All the same, the functions really are quite handy. I've managed to "design" the stainless steel benches to fit behind the counter which needs to join onto odd bits of angled wall. I even seem to have managed to document my design in a manner that makes sense to the steel fabricator. Though having not seen the finished article, it could all go horribly wrong!

Some of my earlier "designs" are now coming to life in the form of display shelves for the front room. From my sketches and measurements, the big machine at B&Q managed to cut the wood almost to the size I asked for. Then after a little bit of re-cutting and planeing, drilling and screwing, the sheets have become shelves. Bit more sanding to do and some colour to add and we'll be ready to stock them (if the floor is ever finished of course).

Another Day, Another Sander

We spent the weekend sanding the floor again. Everyone had a go and it seemed to be going well. Then this morning, just when it looked like we'd get it finished, the sander burnt out. Strange and unpleasant sense of deja vu.

Things could only get better...

...And they did. The last couple of days have been a blur of progress. We removed the old floor in the back room in its entirety, installed an RSJ and new joists, had these approved by Building Control and laid the new floor boards (into which I personally screwed 192 screws). It has been a long week: I'm dirty, bruised, hungry and very very tired.


            

Good days and bad days

Things haven't been progressing as well as usual over the last couple of days. The chap sanding the floor found it was taking him longer than he expected. Then his wife had to go into work unexpectedly and the only way we could keep to schedule was if I baby sat for the day. Then the sander burnt out and it all came to a halt anyway. I spent yesterday alone in the shop waiting for people who didn't turn up and passed the time painting the bits of wall and ceiling that I could get to without moving any of the heavy tools. Not a technique recommended by the experts!

But then I met with a couple of lovely producers who are going to supply fantastic things to the deli and today building work resumed. The wooden floor is still under consideration but progress is being made on the back room and the weather has been wonderful. I sneaked off mid afternoon, treated myself to a new rake and have spent the past hour adding to my blister collection working in the garden in the sun.

Dust, dust and more dust

This is the shop yesterday evening. It isn't soft focus, just full of dust. Under the carpet in the front room we found some lovely floor boards which are coming up beautifully when sanded. Much nicer (and cheaper) than the “wood effect” vinyl I'd planned to use. The arch and beam are now green and the electricians are back and starting to install the light fittings etc. Not long now...

Painting

We've spent the weekend painting. Mum (on gloss), Dad (on ceilings), Jay and I (on the easier bits!). The middle room is now all white (like the front room) and looks great. A few more coats needed on the front room and some green gloss to go on the arch and the beam and it will look fantastic.

Had some lovely comments from passers-by who are excited about our imminent opening. Hope I can live up to their expectations.

Smoother Walls!

The plaster has dried out and has been covered with Forex PVC foam sheets, which are all sealed, washable and hygienic. The sinks have all arrived (and two out of three are the right ones!) and the deli counter is waiting in a warehouse. Just have to give the walls a few licks of paint and sort out the floor, then things can start to arrive!

Smooth Walls

Four weeks in and the front part of the shop is really starting to take shape. The building control inspector is happy with the new plumbing (phew!). Plastering has started in the front two rooms (and amazingly is almost finished!). It won't be long before the sinks and deli counter arrive and the shop will start to look like a deli. Still so much to do ....

Changing Colour

The outside of the shop has now started to change colour. Got a bit of a shock when I arrived and it had changed from orange to a green that was much more “Christmas green” than I'd expected. Fortunately, this was just the undercoat!

But as soon as the green gloss started to go on the weather changed so the shop front remains a work in progress ....