Well, here we are again. I must have blinked and suddenly Christmas was all over, that or I drank a potion and fell into a deep sleep, where I dreamed of getting up before the sun, working l5 hour days, saying “Yes of course” when I really meant “Absolutely no way that’s impossible”, wilted peonies, droopy dahlias, missing delivery instructions, VAT returns, phone line and wifi failures, no holidays, frozen fingers and a constant runny nose. These are just some of the things I signed up for when I decided I wanted to be a village florist, but no one told me it was going to be like this!!!

Thankfully not every day is like this, just most days. So… when I was finally awoken from my slumber, not by Prince Charming but by one of my two Jack Russells licking my runny nose as I lay snoring on my plush velvet sofa, just four days after shutting the shop, exhausted after a manic run up to Christmas…what on God’s earth made me decide to get up, put on the Flower Shop apron and re-open the shop?

I live most of my life on auto-pilot, the alarm goes off, I get up, I open the shop, I do whatever needs to be done, I eat (mostly chocolate), I drink (very occasionally), I sleep (a little) and then it all gets repeated, but January and the start of a new year is a time for reflection and this week I’ve been reflecting.

Why, oh why, oh why… do I do this, there must be easier ways to earn a living ???

It’s because of YOU my lovely customers and the lovely people I work with!!! 

Being the village florist IS my life and everyone who comes through the door is part of my life. I’ve said this before, but I get to share other people’s lives, birthdays (literally birth days), funerals, weddings and celebrations. I even get to make people smile, not just with my witty repartee, but with a beautiful arrangement of the very best blooms that nature and my wonderful wholesalers can provide.

I also love the people I work with. They understand me, they put up with my mad moments of hysteria when I can’t find the right pair of scissors, they are able to keep calm when I’ve promised more than I think I can deliver, they smile sympathetically when I order another ten reels of ribbon to add to my collection and they are all damn good florists!

So, we’re open again. Christmas has been packed away for another year, the shop looks twice the size and I’m already preparing for Valentines Day, Mother’s Day and Easter. I love a theme but I’m never predictable. My regular customers will all know that whatever the occasion I will always come up with something special, so next time you are passing the shop, pop in, even if it’s just to say “Hello” as it’s what keeps me going.