COME AND SEE US!

Hampton Court, ladies and gentlemen!  Buzzing, sunny, full of happiness and cheer and I can’t tell you how lovely it is to be back out there, under a blue sky, meeting you all, having a laugh, and showing off our new products. It’s all going worryingly swimmingly at the moment: day three, and the people keep coming and the smiles remain genuine.  Soap dishes, funky seagrass table mats and zingy candle bundles are your current favourites but you’re a fickle lot and I remain convinced that the top selling ovengloves haven’t yet had their finest hour. I have just one grumble about the weekend, and it’s a pre-emptive one based on experience: my business partner plays hooky.  She has always ‘loved me a Tudor’, and when we take turns on the stand she vanishes to check out where Henry danced, or ate, or prayed or whatever, and an hour off turns into – memorably, one Christmas – three.  Which was lovely for her but caused me considerable discomfort as I had breakfasted on two large coffees and a big glass of water.  To make matters worse we were right by the loos so relief – literally – was simultaneously almost within reach, but utterly out of it.  No small business owner worth her salt would abandon Christmas crowds merely for her own convenience.  (See what I did there?)  So do us a favour: if you come down to see us before the end of the day today when we pack up, and you realise I’m on my own, please be ready to leap behind the scenes and take over for a minute or two.   I promise, it’s great fun!