London's calling

We've been to London for the weekend to catch a show and go to a trade fair. The show (Hairspray) was great and Sean sat next to Niall Quinn (Chairman of Sunderland FC) who, despite his team being thrashed
7-2 by Chelsea, seemed to enjoy himself. Today, in contrast, I walked Casper and Dougal (who you'd think we'd left in kennels for a month rather than 3 days) at Millerground and, as I gazed across the misty Windermere searching for remnants of snow still clinging to higher ground, I couldn't help but contrast frenetic London with our little piece of paradise. London came out poorly! As we've been basking in heady temperatures approaching double figures, the shop has been relatively busy today. Please let us have seen the last of the snow for a little while.
Louise

Snow Grabbers

After slipping and sliding around on the ungritted paths around here for the last week or two, I decided it was time I got some of those low level crampon type things that slip over everyday shoes or boots. Believe me, the low level paths are much worse than those on the high fells but I don't think it would go down so well walking around Bowness with full blown crampons and B grade boots on!

I had to hunt around a few shops in Ambleside as they all seemed to have sold out and they had no chance of getting new stocks soon. I eventually got the last pair of anything in the shop and seemingly the last in Ambleside - they were ArtiMate Snow Grabbers which are of rubber construction and really easy to slip on and off with no faffing around. I can confirm they are absolutely brilliant after my first time wearing them and dog walking will never be the same again with those babies on; they are suitable for anywhere that is icy, which seems to be the whole UK at the moment.

Sean

Is a thaw coming our way?

I never thought I'd say it but thank goodness it's raining today. In the space of a few hours the roads and some of the pavements in Bowness have cleared of ice and snow and folk are able to stride out rather than shuffle along like penguins with their arms out for balance. We're painting the shelves in the shop today (once again, this is the royal "we" as Jules is doing a sterling job and I'd hate to take the paint roller off her) and all around the village there is evidence of spring cleaning/sprucing up going on. There was even a queue in the local DIY store when I went up there for white spirit earlier. Top seller today is definitely "Spring Clean" Reed Diffuser.
Louise

Mystery solved

OK, I now realise that our mystery celeb was not Dawn Steele but Natalie Robb - an easy mistake to make (dark hair, Scottish). She wasn't actually in Wild at Heart - blame Mel for that one. You can tell we have time on our hands at the moment: googling of potential celebs, random mopping of floors etc. We've also moved all the stock to new locations in the main shop (that's the royal "we" as actually Jules has done it all) and next week we'll be repainting all the shelves and emulsioning some of the walls. Sean had more exciting plans for today: a foray up to the Old Man with Casper was in the offing. A pile of extreme weather gear, ice pick and flasks of coffee were all loaded into the Jeep first thing and off they went leaving number 2 dog whining and pining and generally looking for mischief (a large terracotta patio pot bit the dust today). However, an hour later they returned, beaten back by the snow and doomed to a day of domestic chores (Sean, not Casper). Ah well, tomorrow's another day and methinks it will take more than a bit of snow to stop Sean and Casper venturing out again.....especially as I've got another list of jobs waiting to be done.
Louise

Take your shoes off before you enter!

With the majority of the pavements finally gritted, our incredibly neat and tidy team are now hot under the collar about the white salt trails left by customers walking round the shop. The floors of the two shops are now being mopped twice a day: Mel has suggested that we cordon off the small shop and ask customers to point to which items they want to buy but I think we should ask customers to remove their shoes when they come in. I don't think they'd mind: its only 5 below 0 oustide and I'm sure they'd welcome walking round on the cold slate floor in their socks! Anyway, my suggestion is now probably academic as we've had a further dumping of snow today, along with most of the UK.
Louise

A celebrity in the shop...we think

A celebrity has been in the shop and has bought a hamper full of local goodies. At least we think she's a celebrity. Mel says she was in Emmerdale for a while (I can't comment as I don't watch it). Mel says she was also in Wild at Heart (again, I can't comment) and she's also positive that she appeared in Monarch in the Glen for a while (see previous comment, ie. no comment). Obviously we won't be able to confirm exactly who she is until she appears in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Celebrity Big Brother, but we're sure she's famous!
Louise

South Lakeland Council's answer to the icy problem

Since well before Christmas we've endured incredibly icy conditions underfoot, in fact you take your life in your hands walking down any pavement in Bowness and the state of the main car park on Rayrigg Road is beyond belief. Of course we're not alone and, inevitably, there has been an outcry in the Westmorland Gazette and I'm pleased to report a dramatic response by South Lakeland Council. Yes, last night, under the cover of darkness, a man in a SLDC luminous jacket was seen scattering grit from his bucket along the main pavement in Bowness. I think he only had the one bucket full but we shall be eagerly awaiting his return, hopefully tonight. The business owners and residents of Bowness will be eternally grateful to this solitary hero.....
Louise