Say Cheese

Spoke too soon.
The big shop alone took the whole morning, then back to furniture moving and food prep, and then I went to pick up the new signs and then realised I hadn't ordered my local tomatoes or made it to the farm shop to pick up the celery, eggs and apples.
What exactly did I buy this morning? Well, I can say with confidence that I won't be needing to buy pedal bin liners until 2014.
This evening we took delivery of two and a half kilos of cloth-bound extra mature cheddar for our all-new Ploughman's Lunch. It's SO local it was delivered by the man who made it on his way home. Lightwood Elgar Mature Artisan Cheese.
Now that's more like it.

Crumbs

The carpets have been cleansed today by Andy Wall of Wall to Wall Cleaning. All sense of last season's boots, shoes and flipflops has been erased, sucked up, washed away. It looks (almost) like new.
There are still a number of jobs to be done but the biggies are sorted so I don't feel too traumatised. There's some furniture which needs moving and some food prep to do tomorrow and then on Friday morning we'll open. Ta-da.
Earlier this week one of my friends told me about a café which is closing down. It was displaying signs saying that everything must go. I went along feeling a little like a vulture. I needn't have worried. Everything had gone.
I had a good chat with the lady running the place. They'd been outbid for the franchise so were reluctantly leaving, though secretly grateful to be getting their weekends back.
Said she'd have time to come and have a cup of tea at my tea rooms now...

DejaVu

Nice Emma rang today from a till roll company to ask if I needed...erm...till rolls. I didn't need any immediately, I said. She said she'd get someone to call me with a quote because they have a special offer on at the moment. Five minutes later a second not-so-nice woman called.
"You want a quote for till rolls" she said, gruffly, "£21 (something) for 40".
And the postage, I asked? (I've learnt my lesson - please see 17th June 2010 entry)
"£3.50." she said. "That's the best I can do."

Now here's the more interesting part.
I asked: "Can I have a 'phone number to call when I've thought it over?"
She said, and here please adopt your most sarcastic tone:
"You need to think about the till rolls?", and she put the phone down, while saying to someone stage left: "well, that was an easy one"

I called another company with a similar name and spoke to nice Richard. He said they're always hearing stories of rudeness about the other side. They also quoted almost half the price.

Flash

I have to bake scones tonight. Not for eating but for show.
My friend Anthony is coming to take some photographs tomorrow and I've realised I have nothing (except 187 vintage bone china tea plates) to photograph. I thought I could pose some lovely scones filled with jam and cream on one of the lovely new cake stands.
If they work out ok the evidence will be on the (lovely) website.
If not then we'll say no more about it.

Tomorrow is our staff meeting. Lots on the agenda (which I've yet to write).
1. Menu changes
2. Laundry
3. Rota

There. That'll do.

Flap

Took the cake display cabinet apart this afternoon WITHOUT ANY INSTRUCTIONS. Pam and I kept our concerns to ourselves that it wouldn't go back together but, well, I think we should be on the Krypton factor (if they ever make that again). It's now pristine and ready for the millionaire's shortbread and its mates.
I'm considering introducing flapjacks to the tea rooms. I've always had a bit of a downer on them because they're such a staple in our house and they're so easy to make that I don't consider them special. Also I've resisted because I never know how they'll turn out. Consistency of consistency is not my strong point. Sometimes they're sticky. Sometimes they're rock hard. Sometimes they slip out of the tin. Sometimes they cling for dear life and break into unappealing pieces.
However I've had a breakthrough. I've bought a silicone square thing and flapjacks just fall out of it.
Now all I have to do is to remember to take them out of the oven before they become teeth breakers.

Fulfilled

The big spring clean is underway. I've done behind the fridges and today I'll be scrubbing the floor behind the dishwashers.
This is what I signed up for.

Two weeks and counting

I've been enjoying the sunshine today. Naturally this involves me worrying that we should be open already and serving cake in the garden but there's still a small mountain to climb before that day dawns IN TWO WEEKS.
I have made some progress.
The new signs are on order. The sign makers have had trouble matching my lovely sage green colour. It's rather more apple. Granny Smith if I'm honest, but as people flash through the 30 zone they may not be tutting over whether the sign matches my aprons, they may have more important concerns. Like Japan. Or Libya. Or oh-no-there's-a-mobile-speed-camera.
I've bought a new filter coffee machine to sit alongside the current one which always works very hard but finds it difficult to keep up with coach parties.
I've taken four coach party bookings in the past week.
I've made some menu decisions.
I've booked the carpet cleaner.
I've arranged for the refuse collection to start up again.
I've had all my electrics tested and a good old chinwag with the electrician about West Bromwich Albion. He's not hopeful. About the Albion that is.
I've bought some very lovely wooden outdoor furniture from Leamington Spa and another car load of "vintage" bone china plates.
And one teapot.
Writing it all down makes me feel heaps better.
Until I look at what I haven't done yet.....

A site for sore eyes

My latest child has been born. We've called it www.witleytearooms.co.uk
The midwife, Finn, made the whole process painless and I'm really proud of the result.
I haven't yelled at it once yet, and I'm hoping it won't give me any sleepless nights.

This effort of mine is on there under Ramble.

In other news: a great big butterfly has lodged itself in my stomach and a huge, heavy, invisible yoke has arrived on my shoulders.
I've started lots of things, finished none, and before I've crossed one thing off the list I've added another five.
Why, oh, why didn't I start earlier...?

31 Days

We are now a month from re-opening so my finger has to be pulled out. My to-do list reads as follows:
- Clean tearooms from top to bottom.
- Source two new garden benches (two died last season after a long, hard life).
- Order signs and stop faffing about. Decide where they'll go. Put them there.
- Decide new menu which won't be hugely different from the old menu but will see at least one item dumped - the paté ploughmans. I'm not its biggest fan.
- Wade through all the letters from suppliers telling me that, with regret, their prices will have to rise. Work out the implications of their news.
- Make lots of dinners to stock my own family's freezer (I predict this will not happen)

The new website is almost ready. It'll be at www.witleytearooms.co.uk when it's finally born and these thoughts will appear as a page which we've called Ramble. Seems to sum it up.