RELAX!!!! Argggghhhhhhhhhh PLUMPH! (that’s me collapsing on to the sofa).

The Flower Shop has just had it’s busiest week EVER!!! I’ve always been partial to a tipple (or two) but this week I’ve been unconsciously reaching for the gin instead of the coffee before breakfast. My body clock has been going haywire, not knowing whether it’s day or night, morning or evening. I’ve been ordering flowers and making lists in my sleep, I’ve woken John up several times, shouting out names and addresses or in a blind panic, throwing the covers off thinking I’d slept right through Mothering Sunday leaving a trail of disgruntled and disappointed Mothers.

Oh why did I ever think becoming a village florist was a great idea? “I could have a leisurely breakfast before walking to work” I thought, “I could be back home with my feet up by 5.05pm“, I thought, “I’d have a great work-life balance” I THOUGHT! 

NEVER HAS THAT HAPPENED!!!!!!

It’s 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon and I’ve just closed the shop. I planned to close at midday, but people kept coming in on their way to visit their dear mothers. Most had pre-ordered, but some were just hoping we’d have plenty of flower left, mid morning on Mothering Sunday. To be honest, by 11am I felt like a contestant on Masterchef doing the Invention test; make a Michelin starred dish out of fish skin, chicken feet, turnip and semolina (the best quality fish skin, chicken, turnips and semolina of course).

WHAT ABOUT ME, I’M A MOTHER!!! 

OH NO, I’M A FLORIST!

“Just think about all the money you’re making” someone said, but I’m not ordering that new sofa I’ve been dreaming of… just yet. Unsurprisingly the wholesale cost of flower shoots up around Mother’s Day, but when the week of Mothering Sunday clashes with International Women’s Day then the price of flower goes through the roof. Then there’s the staff costs and overtime….even the price of ribbon goes up!

BUT I DO IT BECAUSE I LOVE MY JOB AND I GET THIS  WONDERFUL WORK-LIFE BALANCE.

The same goes for all my lovely florists. I’m sure they don’t work such long hours, come in on Sundays and be there whenever I need them, just for the huge wages I pay them, or for the odd chocolate biscuit (if they’re quick enough). They have been FLIPPING AMAZING the last few days and I can’t thank them enough.

Like a mother loves all her children equally (so I’m told) I admire and respect each of my florists equally, but I must give special thanks Charlotte who turned Supersonic -florist this weekend. She and the Bionic Becks worked like little beavers, bashing out beautiful bouquet after beautiful bouquet in the back of the shop, while I flounced around at the front taking all the credit.

Now, where’s that bottle of Gin….JOHN!