I just love it when, while out and about visiting new areas of the county/country, I stumble across a beautiful village with... a COMMUNITY SHOP!!!! Call me sad, but I just have to go in – it's as if there is a magnet drawing me in. I need to have a good old nosey around, see what products they sell, chat to volunteers about how they work, share ideas and experiences of wholesalers (always a great laugh) and just appreciate the work that has goes into running a ‘Community Shop’. It is just so interesting - yes it really is! On a recent trip …
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There’s a lot going on. It may not seem like it, but there is. Some of it is pretty obvious and no one can have missed the big hole behind the shop and the new footings going in. There’s a new end to the shop too, a change that we all get accustomed to quite fast. Rob built that for us for which we are grateful and it has given us some rather oddly shaped extra storage space inside. In due course we will open up the wall in the back office to gain entry to it and it will house freezers and chillers and give us a bit more room for the ‘back …
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I have been volunteering at our local shop since I retired from the Met Office in 2021 and have found it a great way to meet others in the village and to keep my brain active. Our esteemed leader, David, asked me to put in writing what life as a volunteer in Payhembury Provisions is like so here are a few thoughts. There are many different jobs needed to keep the shop running all done by volunteers and I help with several of them.  I start with opening the shop, getting there at 7:30 am every Tuesday morning guided by Roy, who is experienced …
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As I write it’s January. A bit cold. A bit grey. Maybe today is the recognised post-Christmas low day when credit card bills arrive and everyone is glum. But I’m not blue because I went into the shop today and was confronted with another of the Clare Kimber displays that was 'January Blues' themed and said, if you have them then “there’s always a warm welcome and a friendly smile here” and there was. Some breakfast banter around the freshly baked croissants with Jim (stalwart of the shop and husband to Clare and father to last month’s Parish …
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As I write it’s January. A bit cold. A bit grey. Maybe today is the recognised post Christmas low day when credit card bills arrive and everyone is glum. But I’m not blue because I went into the shop today and was confronted with another of the Clare Kimber displays that was 'January Blues' themed and said, if you have them then “there’s always a warm welcome and a friendly smile here” and there was. Some breakfast banter around the freshly baked croissants with Jim (stalwart of the shop and husband to Clare and father to last month’s Parish …
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Here at your local Community shop we are gearing up for the summer with everything you need to enjoy the outdoors – if or when the sun eventually decides to shine! We offer: a variety of locally produced sausages, burgers, cold meats and cheeses fresh salads, vegetables and fruit in our outdoor area locally baked bread and ready to bake baguettes; a wide selection of snacks, crisps, nibble cakes and biscuits, yogurts and frozen desserts cold drinks and juices in the chiller and a broad selection of …
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Here at your local community shop we are gearing up for the summer with everything you need to enjoy the outdoors – if or when the sun eventually decides to shine!   We offer: • a variety of locally produced sausages, burgers, cold meats and cheeses; • fresh salads, vegetables and fruit in our outdoor area; • locally baked bread and ready to bake baguettes; • a wide selection of snacks, crisps, nibbles; cakes and biscuits, • yogurts and frozen desserts; • cold drinks and juices in the chiller and a broad selection of beers, wine, …
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At the time of writing, we are busy preparing for Easter, which is very early this year and will more than likely be over before you receive your copy of the magazine. Nevertheless, I thought I would share with you the wonderful springtime displays currently in the shop, thanks to the creativity of Claire Kimber. Celebrating goodies and gifts and providing a colourful and warm welcome as you enter the shop. As well as gifts, there are also seeds, flowers, potted plants, books suitable for any time. Do pop in and have a browse. The next …
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