tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24511075865389986982024-03-13T06:37:49.799+00:00 My Whirlwind Worlda place for me to write about the many things that whirl around my mind Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-91465409324471258462023-05-05T12:40:00.001+01:002023-05-05T12:40:36.371+01:00Looking for a local artist to commission a window / wall art mural for my shop front in Seaton <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh934vpYcDBGL3-2JbkWDcQ2Vd4pRtlXDiW6WASpVgTwsaqhL1D8Y01BHt_9h_WZrPQtsn9ZT2MTTqLB_TMw97vXrE0PdcoeUyedD-CnMYiJAFzEss9jrcoIcPL75XIu1g04Wdeyian7XQjH0-npTews2NguNw1VCOu7Tf_y0o8Rt88meYCwwcO9i2S/s2048/IMG_4294%20(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh934vpYcDBGL3-2JbkWDcQ2Vd4pRtlXDiW6WASpVgTwsaqhL1D8Y01BHt_9h_WZrPQtsn9ZT2MTTqLB_TMw97vXrE0PdcoeUyedD-CnMYiJAFzEss9jrcoIcPL75XIu1g04Wdeyian7XQjH0-npTews2NguNw1VCOu7Tf_y0o8Rt88meYCwwcO9i2S/w400-h300/IMG_4294%20(1).jpeg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been thinking for the past few years about having a wall mural done on the wall next to my doorway, something that could go around the information stand that I put out each day. I'm thinking something to do with books and art supplies or something nature / floral because if you know me you know I love flowers, birds, bees and butterflies etc. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you know my little shop you'll know we are a family run shop, we live and work here in Seaton and have been here since 2014. We are always doing our best to keep things going and to make the shop as attractive and as useful as possible to you our lovely locals and to tourists too. A couple of years ago we employed local builders to put in our flower bed which is home to a range of perennial flowers that not only look nice but are good for the bees and bugs too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If i could afford it I'd have the whole top of the white area above the shop done with a fancy mural something beautiful that would make visitors to our wonderful little town go 'Wow' but at the moment that isn't financially viable. I am hoping though, that we can find a local artist whom we could afford to commission to create something special on the entrance wall and potentially the window at the entrance way too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you know someone you think would be able to do this and has the time to do this in the coming weeks or months please ask them to pop into the shop and see me to have a chat or to email me on Mrskabetty@hotmail.com <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-11493004709800622532023-03-08T12:49:00.003+00:002023-03-08T12:49:33.357+00:00International Women's Day 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sf4QWiKVf2GoqmEl8ZiNmmajnvO-ZFrjqPnmucFyXJwcvB7H8W-2WSz9Xr4KblKRv8ApPSoflAaPuWBafwFSDrLsHjFjimQ4I7bYD6Wnc_gNNmIyuJPkaA8YPgqVspPoqcGm5qzSt4g9Tc5WlOysV3iV6QuUjlbGsbPzoZeE6nMJbKR2W8L0prCk/s1080/International%20Womens%20Day%202023%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sf4QWiKVf2GoqmEl8ZiNmmajnvO-ZFrjqPnmucFyXJwcvB7H8W-2WSz9Xr4KblKRv8ApPSoflAaPuWBafwFSDrLsHjFjimQ4I7bYD6Wnc_gNNmIyuJPkaA8YPgqVspPoqcGm5qzSt4g9Tc5WlOysV3iV6QuUjlbGsbPzoZeE6nMJbKR2W8L0prCk/w400-h400/International%20Womens%20Day%202023%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year for international women's day a group of female small business owners have got together to celebrate and show their support for each other over on Instagram and I'm one of them. The image above shows a selection of small businesses owned and run by women, just a small selection of the many thousands of businesses all over the world run by women. <br /><br />You can find out more about each of the businesses featured above and what they do over on Instagram now <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cphve5IoeSY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">click here to be taken directly to the post. </a><br /><br />Don't forget to follow me on Instagram if you don't already. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><b><u><a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/">What is international Women's Day? </a><br /><br /></u></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">''International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8th as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.'' <br />(information from google)<br /><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/">Click here to read more </a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-5288054588702004102023-03-03T11:58:00.004+00:002023-03-03T11:58:46.246+00:00Diary of a shopkeeper | Thank you have a nice day <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4B5mq9CMkAYYYXSuRyWJa6P-Uh-XxD4xBLdHRVuDyaVGw4DucqRrQSHH86RF3qR8LkAQd9pK3pieW8ZcoxeEugH4VHQepaDN3Pql0OUWTCtogDo9MFWbyiRL7VX6F_oBwWybPbuRNryFQItdoIC0UgLM-6tOr3CNZmRdJzSz0R0TpDJBNylvQqnG/s4032/PXL_20221006_142724950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4B5mq9CMkAYYYXSuRyWJa6P-Uh-XxD4xBLdHRVuDyaVGw4DucqRrQSHH86RF3qR8LkAQd9pK3pieW8ZcoxeEugH4VHQepaDN3Pql0OUWTCtogDo9MFWbyiRL7VX6F_oBwWybPbuRNryFQItdoIC0UgLM-6tOr3CNZmRdJzSz0R0TpDJBNylvQqnG/s320/PXL_20221006_142724950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />A few years ago i started keeping a diary of my life as a shop keeper with the idea of one day editing it and publishing it as a book. I realised that with the way my mental health is this is highly unlikely to ever come to fruition so instead I've decided I'll use the content as blog posts and upload the chapters / months here gradually on my blog. They might be entertaining reading for someone out there. Let me know if you enjoy reading them, a glimpse into my life as a high street shop owner. <br /><br />The title i probably would have given the book would be.... </p><p><b>'Thank you have a nice day' </b></p><p>24th Aug 2021 : 1.30pm <br />You know, on days like today where it is quiet and I barely see anyone I truly do ask myself what am I doing wrong here? Why is there no one coming into my shop? Look at all the beautiful things I have adorned the shelves with; don’t you all want these beautiful things?! Then I remember that I’m at the top of a quiet high street and most people probably don’t even know I’m here.<br /> <br />Marketing they say; marketing. Like I haven’t thought about that! I spend half of my life navigating social media, trying to keep up with the latest trends and the latest ‘must use’ system. I’ve found a fantastic software package though, Canva it’s called. It’s been brilliant, I’ve had great fun getting back to designing, I’ve managed to create my own logo for my recently launched ‘Betty’s Books’ and some various ‘branded’ infographics to use online too. I was feeling proud of myself up until I realized that its another thing to add to my ever growing ‘to do’ list – update infographics and get them out onto various social media platforms. <br /> <br />It’s so quiet today. You’d think by now, after what is nearly 10 years of owning a shop I’d be used to this. Sitting alone, thinking about what I need to do, avoiding the boring tasks and instead thinking up other fun and interesting tasks for myself. Moaning about not having customers to serve and then realizing that if I don’t actually DO something then how will they know to come visit me! <br /> <br />10 years, wow, I guess it nearly has been. I opened my first little shop space in what must have been 2012 when my second son was just a newborn. I used to take him and my first born who was a toddler into the shop and activity space where I sold arts and crafts suppliers and ran workshops for children. I felt so proud of myself opening shop, it was my dream after running the business in my garage the prior years. It was hard work, I can’t believed I managed it to be honest, taking care of a tiny baby, a toddler and running a children’s activity center / shop. What on earth was I thinking? I did have staff then though, so I wasn’t alone. I essentially paid other people to work alongside me rather than take a wage myself. That was what business start up’s did I thought, it would only be for the first 2 years. I’d done a business plan, I knew what I needed to do, where I needed to get in order to achieve what I wanted so I could take a salary, be my own boss and life the dream life as a shop keeper. Oh I was naïve; the world had such different plans for me. <br /> <br />I was living in Taunton then, where I was born. I was newly married, 23 years old (I think, my memory on some things isn’t great) and I had worked a number of jobs previously. I’d never really felt right though, I’d always felt drawn to the idea of running my own little shop, being my own boss and sharing my love to creativity with others. I had dreams of building up my arts and crafts centre in Taunton, I wanted It to become not just a shop but a destination. I would spend my days working and my nights dreaming, planning, coming up with new ideas on how I could improve the shop, researching what new products to order in. I was obsessed, I can see that now. My mental health has always been an issue, manic depression they called it when I was a teenager, bipolar they call it now. At the time I was on medication, I was seeing doctors regularly I thought I was stable but I think really I was just about coping. I was a young mum and wife, I had a lot of responsibilities and I truly believed I was living my best life. After I think it was around 6 months maybe, I decided to move from the small space I was renting above a soft play centre into a big high street shop. It was a big place, 3 stories high. It was too big; I know that now. I jumped in at the deep end like I always do, something I’m still making the mistake of now. At the time though it was exciting, I had registered the business as a limited company (another poor business decision, one that I took advice on but now realize from the wrong person, they just wanted my money I think) So there I was, the proud owner of a limited company, a high street shop (all be it one that was in a small street just off from the main high street) and mum to two amazing boys who had by this point started nursery so were only with me in the shop part of the time. I had everything I had ever dreamed of having; apart from customers. Those were the main thing I needed and if I’m honest with myself I didn’t have them. Not enough of them to make things financially viable. I had a small following of people who had attended my centre and shop before and they loved it and supported me in my big shop move but I needed more people and fast. I had bills to pay, much bigger ones than I had in my previous shop space. I dug deep, I did everything possible to get the word out. The trouble was I was doing it mostly on my own, I didn’t really have the support of friends or family. Noone really understood me or what I was trying to achieve. Some friends got involved, tried to help but each only stayed for as long as they were getting paid; they were not helping me out of kindness but because it was easy money. I paid them to do various things to help me when what I really needed was a support network of friends to help me with small things and keep me n track. <br /> <br />I employed more staff, again paying others rather than myself, to keep things running. I was scared to close the doors of the shop for fear of missing a customer so I opened all the hours that I could afford too. I used every penny of my savings just to keep the place open and I spent 90% of my time there, missing out on so much time with my boys as babies. This is something I massively regret now. I really do hate myself for the fact that I didn’t just slow down, didn’t focus on them as babies and their needs. I’m still making that mistake now I guess, still working 6 days a week, they are older now of course and things are very different so it’s not as bad as it was then. <br /> <br /><i>Crickey, customers, 4 at once. What a treat. I wonder if they will buy anything. I had better sign off for now and get back to this later. </i><br /> <br />3pm <br /> <br />Well one of the many that came in made a purchase, that is something. The others seemed to like the place, said kind things. It’s always lovely to hear but it really doesn’t pay the bills; of which there are many. <br /> <br />That’s my own fault though, I have a problem with spending, especially when in a ‘mania’ mode, I want to buy so many beautiful things to put in the shop forgetting I have a long list of invoices that need paying off first. Speculate to accumulate, isn’t that something they say? I don’t know. What I do know is having an empty shop wouldn’t really help would it, I need the shelves full of interesting arty and bookish things to get people to come in and fall in love, to spend their hard earned money. So my spending is warranted, surely? <br /> <br />I’m seriously on one today, even I can sense it, I’m in a bit of a panic because I have the dentist this afternoon. 4.15pm, it means closing the shop early too, I hate doing that. Not early according to our listed opening times, those I’ve kept to the term time hours (that’s a whole other story) but I do tend to stay open until about 5pm during the holidays just in case I can catch extra trade from staycationers in the area. My poor boys miss out, which frustrates me but it really is a catch 22, I need to earn to keep a roof over their head, to afford to buy them the things they want and take them the places they want to go but to earn I need to keep the shop open long hours in order to catch trade. There is no pattern to the trade here, it rises and falls. </p><p><br /></p><p>25th August 2021 : 10am <br /> <br />The dentist wasn’t so bad yesterday, no injection required and luckily Jon, my husband, finished work on time so was able to keep the shop open for me until 5pm. We caught a few late afternoon sales which was good because today is another sunny day and unlikely to be very good for sales. It’s funny, being in a seaside town people always seem to think that sunny days mean busy days. The opposite is in fact true for retail like mine, in a location like mine. On overcast days people are more likely to browse around the high street looking in the shops, on sunny days people tend to chill out on the beach until they over-heat and then have a browse later in the afternoon; though by then they rarely end up making purchases as they’ve spent their money on food/drink for the day and ice-cream. <br /> <br />OK, I was explaining how I got here, in Seaton, yesterday, where was i? I think I got to the part where I was in my new 3 story rented high street premises; spending money on staff rather than paying myself still. Things were going OK, I managed to stock the shop well, I was running workshops, events and craft birthday parties. I took on two apprentices and got them through their courses, I was just about scraping by which was all you could ask for in the first few years of a business. Things were going ok. Well they went OK for a while, until the end of 2013, in December 2013 my personal life took a massive hit. I was a young mum and wife and found out that my then husband had done something terrible, something unforgivable and something that essentially destroyed our lives. I couldn’t forgive him and so we split. It was a really difficult time, I felt like I had no one, I was never really close to my family and had very few friends. I managed to keep the shop afloat, just about, but I didn’t have the same passion for it I had had before. My mental health suffered and i didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life anymore. <br /> <br />It was in early 2014 that one of my friends, Jon, my now husband, (another long story) became a much closer friend. He helped me out of the black cloud I was on and he encouraged me to push forward with my ideas. One of which was to open a sweet shop after the towns sweet shop had closed down. Just up the street from my arts & crafts shop together we opened a sweet shop ‘Creative Candy’ we called it. It was a fantastic distraction from life, from everything else going on around me, but that is really what it was when I look back on it. A distraction. It did OK, it was covering its own costs, I was there most of the time and had staff looking after my arts and crafts shop a few doors down. This wasn’t ideal running two shops because it was twice the stress when really I should have been focusing on my children. Their parents had just split up and they were so young. I really should have thought more about them and less about distracting myself with business ideas. Jon and I looked after each other, we worked well together. He helped out in the shop whenever he wasn’t at his other job and over the months we grew closer and closer. I think we began to realise we were not just best friends to each other but there was something more there. <br /> <br />I’m not sure if it was the stress of having two shops, the feeling of guilt that I was falling in love again so quickly, the feeling of hatred against myself for not putting my sons first or whatever else but I began hating my life and my shops. I wanted to get away, I wanted to run away. I started looking for new locations, somewhere to relocate myself and my sons. At this point I didn’t really believe anything would come of the relationship between Jon and I, I knew we’d always be close friends but I didn’t think that anything more would truly last. Who would want me, a divorcee with two children and two slow burning businesses. I considered closing both businesses but in the end I kept them both running between me and staff. When I was looking to move away I didn’t really know where I wanted to go. I knew I wanted it to be far enough to start again but not too far that I could go back to visit my Nanna and my Dad now and then. I know I said I wasn’t close to most of my family but my Nanna, my Nanna was different. She was my rock and the most important person in my entire life other than my children. She was the one person who had believed in me from day one, who never gave up on me. She was tough when she needed to be tough and she was kind and loving when she needed to be. I owe everything I am today to my Nanna, everything. So the search began, I looked online every day and viewed a few places. </p><p>I’d always thought about living by the sea so when this property in Seaton came up I knew I had to take a look. I booked a viewing of a run down old building on the high street just yards from a post office and just a 5 min walk from the sea front. I could just about afford it, but it would take years to afford all the work needed to get it to a livable standard. It was a big risk to take. <br /><br />*** So this was the first part of the diary I was keeping, there is a lot more. Would you like to read it? <br /><br /></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-82641096045279264302023-02-22T13:05:00.001+00:002023-02-22T13:05:43.120+00:00Interested in learning how to turn your artwork and designs into products to sell? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsolkJsOgiHdt0oEzTATOBeP5143RxSUeZ8apUIv4njUROYBbT3dNFRRTq3p3qFM6vhkbmhoWQi8OA_SWsGaLqGUjvr7hD9PDU41cIuC-J6WH7Dn_LP9MyI1kiXiSFdpp348xyWCBn8Dh14_CPqparppUaDQDJ9YKhVWPS-qiPg61x9XQXeogG_DB/s1080/Interested%20in%20learning%20how%20i%20turn%20my%20designs%20into%20products%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsolkJsOgiHdt0oEzTATOBeP5143RxSUeZ8apUIv4njUROYBbT3dNFRRTq3p3qFM6vhkbmhoWQi8OA_SWsGaLqGUjvr7hD9PDU41cIuC-J6WH7Dn_LP9MyI1kiXiSFdpp348xyWCBn8Dh14_CPqparppUaDQDJ9YKhVWPS-qiPg61x9XQXeogG_DB/w400-h400/Interested%20in%20learning%20how%20i%20turn%20my%20designs%20into%20products%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are you a creative, an artist or designer or know someone who is and would like to learn how to get your own designs onto products. Over the years I've been lucky enough to have my artwork and designs used on a variety of products, some I've manufactured myself and some I've sent off to be manufactured for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've turned my designs into products for crafters, you might be familiar with my range of stamps and stencils under the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ImagineDesignCreate2">brand ' Imagine Design Create' if not, take a look here at my Etsy page</a> where you can see they are still on sale. These have been sold on TV, in my store, online and in shops around the UK. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've also turned my artwork and illustrations into products such as cards, pin badges, mugs, notebooks, T-shirts, prints, stickers, keyrings and much more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you want to learn about how to do this then I'm going to be running some one to one sessions and small workshops that will not only teach you how to get products made with your designs but i will also share with you the names of some of manufacturers. Now usually it takes months of research to find good quality and reliable manufactures and often those in the design industry are reluctant to share such information but I'm going to be sharing this information with a select few who want to book in with me to learn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also own a number of items used to manufacture products such as a sublimation printer, heat press, mug press, hat press, sewing machine etc If you would like to have a go at using these tools to turn your own artwork and designs into products i can also arrange this in a one to one session. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There will be limited spaces and availability for these sessions due to my time commitments running my shop so if you are interested in booking in please get in contact with me soon via email to: mrskabetty@hotmail.com or by popping in store at Devon Art Supplies, 30 Queen Street, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2RB</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All one to one sessions will be tailor built to your needs and requirements so I can be flexible as to the length of them and the information shared. Get in contact to chat this over further. </div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-3125244994764765382023-01-11T14:52:00.002+00:002023-01-11T14:56:59.944+00:00Rebranding my businesses | New Year 2023 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf9RirHXWeH-bkRZYPY4TLy55E0e1nRbVETT0fmJF6sSFcXe59Lxuh7tKYt4KxgI8Z2K9BftpvY8uK_oP1KX6bfU7wDKkefSmmeUNCC8VmP2_nnQ79RRQuzNyHmXWFxcQ4cidcHrgxf858FJ8mOmm5oLnYQ46I-c4O0kvM4ZW0kVE53_aZPgJVCzi/s1080/Copy%20of%20KB%20logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf9RirHXWeH-bkRZYPY4TLy55E0e1nRbVETT0fmJF6sSFcXe59Lxuh7tKYt4KxgI8Z2K9BftpvY8uK_oP1KX6bfU7wDKkefSmmeUNCC8VmP2_nnQ79RRQuzNyHmXWFxcQ4cidcHrgxf858FJ8mOmm5oLnYQ46I-c4O0kvM4ZW0kVE53_aZPgJVCzi/s320/Copy%20of%20KB%20logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a difficult few years, in 2022 i found myself burnt out and struggling to cope. I lost all love for myself and my businesses and if I'm honest with myself I let everything fall and falter. I took some time off over Christmas to spend with my family and to have a really good think about the future, what i wanted for myself and for my businesses. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After much soul searching I realised that I did want to continue, with each of my businesses, I was just tired and run down and in need of a break. I don't get holidays through the year like everyone else, I work all year round only taking time off at Christmas. I don't have staff so if i was able to take a break in the year I'd have to close the shop and that would result in a loss of income and unhappy customers. It's not something i've done before but it is something that i will have to think about doing moving forward as i do wonder if maybe that is one of the reasons i burnt out last year. Maybe if i took some time off mid year rather than waiting all the way to December i might not struggle and might feel more inspired and motivated. I've not made any plans to do this in 2023 yet but it's something I'm considering. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkLIsPk5sQ65cJBWtUnOW2R4Ir5F7aw7FRquN7Sl257MRQ-bTdvN1NLsiPWn_u5HRTrvatcAyhhz68GrW36na6FG90hUJBN7U_Pg03nXPviT92EgZUsADEJIDFtsNMRwf9GUiorWu8CVpDckXvdZmW_1OviS-n84BTSu_c5LGu5AfkWII4d9PEf4u/s500/Minimal%20Black%20Brush%20Circle%20Logo%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkLIsPk5sQ65cJBWtUnOW2R4Ir5F7aw7FRquN7Sl257MRQ-bTdvN1NLsiPWn_u5HRTrvatcAyhhz68GrW36na6FG90hUJBN7U_Pg03nXPviT92EgZUsADEJIDFtsNMRwf9GUiorWu8CVpDckXvdZmW_1OviS-n84BTSu_c5LGu5AfkWII4d9PEf4u/s320/Minimal%20Black%20Brush%20Circle%20Logo%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the things i have done that has really helped to motivate myself and get me back on track is to rebrand each of my businesses. I've created new logos for each and a new branding kit which will help with new packaging materials and marketing materials. I really like the new looks for each and feel they reflect my personality better than the plain ones I had before. They reflect what the businesses are about, look smart and professional whilst still feeling personal to me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've lots more work to do to get these up onto my website and social media pages but i'll phase each n over the coming weeks and months. Online sales is an area of each business that i need to spend more time on to help support the shop. So many people are turning to the internet to purchase things these days and i want to make sure my businesses are able to be found and ordered from. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmofKpPdn_iJplptBcYgDSwnXiOUUVRHWIjHX3DsHE2jUev5goM2Wss2apxZKJk9xxtEd8Pg_lMy39EALxL2QUGEUb4v9aVQ7HN4jV3ytVoHyTEWkIvJta9AOn1sdleQSQ48aEqWxDCclZqubzvGwgco6O1mP7Qfjq_RIBvxH50PNRM4sauRMOiUR/s500/Black%20and%20White%20Circle%20Modern%20Photographer%20Logo%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmofKpPdn_iJplptBcYgDSwnXiOUUVRHWIjHX3DsHE2jUev5goM2Wss2apxZKJk9xxtEd8Pg_lMy39EALxL2QUGEUb4v9aVQ7HN4jV3ytVoHyTEWkIvJta9AOn1sdleQSQ48aEqWxDCclZqubzvGwgco6O1mP7Qfjq_RIBvxH50PNRM4sauRMOiUR/s320/Black%20and%20White%20Circle%20Modern%20Photographer%20Logo%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've also been redecorating my office space in the shop and I'm planning a big art studio / craft room makeover too. It will all take time but every step forward makes me feel a little better and more positive about the future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm looking forward to seeing what 2023 brings for me and my businesses, i know it is likely to be another tough year but i'm prepared to work hard, as always, and put my all into everything i do in order to provide for my family. </div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-48774056496204138972022-11-24T12:43:00.003+00:002022-11-24T13:31:36.192+00:00Is it possible to buy everything you need for Christmas in Seaton's independent shops? | Supporting Seaton's Shops <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntwKiiKQ07HOfbsGEd_HlhT9-AiG0ZxH4yuslHE1WlsM8F-F1qoA6O_XO3e0oWiKm6EmRJ5HgkS5VyCm-pbt61gsVB3ccPYF0sLgKqhI51wGi_6DXhTjWOHmWJKHyeiiQhkYCU0nAnGbS9YLgiL0584_54pMLzrTSWL1qnKBmoywrkifGkov03Ikk/s1080/Support%20Seaton's%20Shops%20this.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntwKiiKQ07HOfbsGEd_HlhT9-AiG0ZxH4yuslHE1WlsM8F-F1qoA6O_XO3e0oWiKm6EmRJ5HgkS5VyCm-pbt61gsVB3ccPYF0sLgKqhI51wGi_6DXhTjWOHmWJKHyeiiQhkYCU0nAnGbS9YLgiL0584_54pMLzrTSWL1qnKBmoywrkifGkov03Ikk/s320/Support%20Seaton's%20Shops%20this.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year it is more important than ever before to support local independent shops, where ever you live. For those of us living in Seaton, Devon i thought i would remind you of some of the great places there are that you could support. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you haven't walked around the town lately then I would highly recommend taking a browse around, there is a lot more to offer than you may have first thought. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are looking for cards, gift wrap and tags then one of the places you must visit is Paperchain, one of the gems of Seaton, they offer a great selection of festive cards and brilliant gifts too, like the mug you can see in the picture below. There are of course a number of other shops selling cards, arty ones and handmade too so walk around the town and you'll find many more options. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZdtt7_gXM6nFMnerjRRfOZo-bJ2F757agkBWq0xD-6Twb5IVBeVMcbi9LPm33yOHJMiDClFN1XYaSFeiZeqsDZ_NhWjehFyDbv1DVKgnLd1z4kgt8wAxXGJU_XfIgatT5U6TehygD8480PQQxdXWT9oY_SxnnwGzqHMC0cSkVf8859IQ_NraQhgb/s1440/297023257_5377647682311906_6611840199928053854_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1182" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZdtt7_gXM6nFMnerjRRfOZo-bJ2F757agkBWq0xD-6Twb5IVBeVMcbi9LPm33yOHJMiDClFN1XYaSFeiZeqsDZ_NhWjehFyDbv1DVKgnLd1z4kgt8wAxXGJU_XfIgatT5U6TehygD8480PQQxdXWT9oY_SxnnwGzqHMC0cSkVf8859IQ_NraQhgb/s320/297023257_5377647682311906_6611840199928053854_n.jpg" width="263" /></a><br />(Image copyright to Paperchain - Mug available at paperchain) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you are thinking about what to get someone who seems to already has everything why not consider getting a voucher for one of the local shops? Maybe even from one of the local cafes so they can enjoy a treat out in town one afternoon or one of the local hairdressers or salons so they can enjoy a pamper session. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1NoAxjJ3tZrfdb-jbwZd7iNs9TwjM6wfTdrwpbuoZ-sKLVcKd88fKENTymMjtXXrwzBu440BqkK7WByORMTNythpQIthqgWGvPPDp1bhX73n3_H5f5hLy6PJjzhl-toYcbTeGs8c2vEbNmKeIurbgiU9Q0odMRc-82BsPvidOwaRvghfyGAbje3C/s1080/Copy%20of%20Gift%20Vouchers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1NoAxjJ3tZrfdb-jbwZd7iNs9TwjM6wfTdrwpbuoZ-sKLVcKd88fKENTymMjtXXrwzBu440BqkK7WByORMTNythpQIthqgWGvPPDp1bhX73n3_H5f5hLy6PJjzhl-toYcbTeGs8c2vEbNmKeIurbgiU9Q0odMRc-82BsPvidOwaRvghfyGAbje3C/s320/Copy%20of%20Gift%20Vouchers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0rCvB006qNsARVwvCJvBZIN21m73kla6SWoDGUTaEqsCUKqhGUOgWGgu7FCH3Srmb4Qsx2jfIZx2j7MEonBqeAplFbshXef0RBE2xiNanJxmaJf54d4OTNLbYijimsuxWtMS6RgSR2ukomriSChqrOU164AKWWtxitK3_mddhfwqhG7nxxiq3VrM/s4032/PXL_20220531_085309849.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0rCvB006qNsARVwvCJvBZIN21m73kla6SWoDGUTaEqsCUKqhGUOgWGgu7FCH3Srmb4Qsx2jfIZx2j7MEonBqeAplFbshXef0RBE2xiNanJxmaJf54d4OTNLbYijimsuxWtMS6RgSR2ukomriSChqrOU164AKWWtxitK3_mddhfwqhG7nxxiq3VrM/s320/PXL_20220531_085309849.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />(Hobby kits and supplies from Devon Art Supplies, 30 Queen Street) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If the person you are buying for is creative then you really must visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/devonartsupplies">Devon Art Supplies</a> at 30 Queen Street (yes I'm bias, I'm allowed to be on my own blog) There you'll find art supplies, crafty kits, yarn and haberdashery supplies. There is something for all ages. Under the same roof as Devon Art Supplies is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bettysbooksseaton">Betty's Books</a> where you'll find a great selection of new books that make perfect gifts for friends and family. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGweX2d-nyKapz_UDBkjDca1SVZ_UtbhPpLqMUOL0oE2XUJKzAE9M5TTXROfDDXRS1rsuMI37lQiGgPLuJfi4zfJA9Ir1RtpLWUxi-t2-R3yzaxDpZ4ItZ8CYBhgICa73TBgjqysVs_UZfUYIy9QemGMIVdhMJ0JsTjUWU1_cdF_g2IG5XUEBQQHG/s4032/PXL_20220531_085318585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGweX2d-nyKapz_UDBkjDca1SVZ_UtbhPpLqMUOL0oE2XUJKzAE9M5TTXROfDDXRS1rsuMI37lQiGgPLuJfi4zfJA9Ir1RtpLWUxi-t2-R3yzaxDpZ4ItZ8CYBhgICa73TBgjqysVs_UZfUYIy9QemGMIVdhMJ0JsTjUWU1_cdF_g2IG5XUEBQQHG/s320/PXL_20220531_085318585.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Art supplies from Devon Art Supplies, 30 Queen Street) <br /><br />If your creative friend enjoys learning new skills why not pop into <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coastalcraftcollective">Coastal Craft Collection</a> and ask for a workshop voucher so they can attend one of the many creative sessions held there. If you are down that way be sure to take a look in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/homeofcolour">Amber Home of Colour</a> that has a wonderful range of colour products that would make great gifts. If you are looking for fabrics then The Cloth shop is a must visit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my all time favourite places in Seaton, Devon to visit every festive season (any any time of year really) is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sosophie183">So Sophie's</a> it is packed full of stunning Christmas decorations and gifts. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLKcyDAz8qGw2uvfJdm2J9PpxbSy8bSKF33CjwHJZrZqlTAZGRuWtEyLVrVXze9B741paMVJfl5cLkM9D-Z5DV0Ewy_fkdO5htL5rUHPE9WEnSKPV7J7k_NAUMELhwJmNBDDLbYzagKqnRznD4Vqg0O8cZp5shAflR21bofYExaDMFYjMJfc5ISSE/s1440/316259925_649755876824786_4262012669033190338_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLKcyDAz8qGw2uvfJdm2J9PpxbSy8bSKF33CjwHJZrZqlTAZGRuWtEyLVrVXze9B741paMVJfl5cLkM9D-Z5DV0Ewy_fkdO5htL5rUHPE9WEnSKPV7J7k_NAUMELhwJmNBDDLbYzagKqnRznD4Vqg0O8cZp5shAflR21bofYExaDMFYjMJfc5ISSE/s320/316259925_649755876824786_4262012669033190338_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />(gifts available at So Sophie - photo copyright to So Sophie) <br /><br />Next door to So Sophie's is another place to check out too, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/liza.4seasons">4 Seasons </a>which offers outdoor clothing and much more. Next over is a cycle shop which might be worth a look. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When you are out and about in Seaton doing your Christmas shopping why not pop into one of the many brilliant cafes for a coffee break. There are plenty to choose from around the town including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pebblescoffeehouseseaton">Pebbles coffee house</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/422920789544130">Barista fourteen</a> and my personal favourite <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Passiflora-Coffee-Shop-107858351899062">Passiflora</a> which not only offers coffee but houseplants and stunning homeware too. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-qk41rXgTg7oKwepUg19fq6N1zmNSyWYD1KzM74tUavHckxE0CFoUKIZqCndVdJ3oZ0cVZ4LxYZEhB-nybEayPGMkf7RebA0JJ_fChm4iZWAzvmy7jEHnKuq-GGavmyvJiHPXq8EU963AhHC05hCl4AIERJjGWoVeB2uWemqtMovT82mK5wAK6t4/s701/316180614_177998761551687_2666545273568333384_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-qk41rXgTg7oKwepUg19fq6N1zmNSyWYD1KzM74tUavHckxE0CFoUKIZqCndVdJ3oZ0cVZ4LxYZEhB-nybEayPGMkf7RebA0JJ_fChm4iZWAzvmy7jEHnKuq-GGavmyvJiHPXq8EU963AhHC05hCl4AIERJjGWoVeB2uWemqtMovT82mK5wAK6t4/s320/316180614_177998761551687_2666545273568333384_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />(Passiflora, Cross Street in Seaton - Image copyright to passiflora) <br /><br /> Seaton also has ladies clothing and accessories store on Fore Street called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fifiandbinx">Fifi & Binx</a> worth checking out. Fore more homeware and clothing you'll find <a href="https://www.facebook.com/broganbuzec">Brogan Buzec </a>on Fore Street. Just a few doors down you'll find the children's bookshop Owl & Pyramid. <br /><br />When thinking about your Christmas dinner be sure to pop into <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145886572607671/user/100069205351629">Little Gems on Cross Street</a> where you'll be able to get all your fruit and veg, have a chat with her about ordering and reserving everything you need for the big day and then down to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TasteofDevonButchers">Taste of devon butchers </a>on Fore Street. It will be worth popping in and having a chat with them and ordering in anything you need to be sure its reserved and ready for you at Christmas. Another place to check out for foodie items is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Naturalworxforlife">Natural Worx </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't forget to treat your pets this festive season, you'll be able to find what you need at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/animalbotanicalseaton">Animal Botanical on Queen Street</a>. If they haven't got what you need in store have a chat with them and they might be able to order it in. They are really helpful in there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have a gamer in the family or a friend who is a 'nerd' you really must check out one of the coolest shops in Seaton (according to my pre-teen sons), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itemdropped">Item Drop. </a>You'll find a fantastic range of products in store, some great 'main' gifts and stocking fillers too. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPG8hFzeFKWai1-0Gw_mWgKKvs86A9ANqZamSZOF4fa-ltMBLX1PwAfvnL2lcdIuL3RcYxWK1NfX5yqURd36BHF2GjRLs_tW0b-LuJ4VEwrS_DbetXqtLaUnaAEJ7iK90o_VSd9GGGLU86WnvOBQY3yMouP89pymzP2-tw0W1QnwXE43fYWOT-St-/s980/188804662_640495466849507_7442785387844281606_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="980" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPG8hFzeFKWai1-0Gw_mWgKKvs86A9ANqZamSZOF4fa-ltMBLX1PwAfvnL2lcdIuL3RcYxWK1NfX5yqURd36BHF2GjRLs_tW0b-LuJ4VEwrS_DbetXqtLaUnaAEJ7iK90o_VSd9GGGLU86WnvOBQY3yMouP89pymzP2-tw0W1QnwXE43fYWOT-St-/s320/188804662_640495466849507_7442785387844281606_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you know someone who appreciates artwork or quality handmade items then you should really take a look at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063586481546">Tryptich</a> Gallery and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrandpasGallerySeaton">Grandpas Gallery</a> where you'll find some absolutely stunning items. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U-fb2_HX9Jfp4yK-Mj4sMnb2czuLbKfxvRlqUUAdCkJo99RpwrRikhOe-tc3qm6-RsSsmXDJnjSJ1s1gnDDtBddUawvZN34W0V3Z7KOutKgMsTPm5V9Qr5iKGob91rtd0mTZI-RKoC8tb1h6lms1TtCqVjoFIpb5tuwSVm2EpTiZ8zA4SAaX8J9k/s1486/316671156_589700463159498_7214822327696523130_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6U-fb2_HX9Jfp4yK-Mj4sMnb2czuLbKfxvRlqUUAdCkJo99RpwrRikhOe-tc3qm6-RsSsmXDJnjSJ1s1gnDDtBddUawvZN34W0V3Z7KOutKgMsTPm5V9Qr5iKGob91rtd0mTZI-RKoC8tb1h6lms1TtCqVjoFIpb5tuwSVm2EpTiZ8zA4SAaX8J9k/s320/316671156_589700463159498_7214822327696523130_n.jpg" width="310" /></a><br />(Triptych Gallery this festive season - image copyright to Triptych Gallery) </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many more shops around Seaton that I haven't mentioned here that are well worth visiting. There is a Christmas late night opening event happening in Seaton on Saturday 26th November too so a great opportunity to go for a browse around. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNiIagKdG7gpppcEKJDWFWL06RLcMIl6AiQ5vzbo5fWEms2ZpMcKdiVZ0kD0Jd9ife17QuiVInpClpJA2OWRP8p8IMhidrMArmhccN5mjgnpmINz33Ow1JaUAo5-uAL90BANb0B93a5gtVI7vG1vOwku8ap3qyplDkTy4dRhxak9dw9FTvXpSZsh-/s960/316113736_444234531226722_3036092115496794168_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNiIagKdG7gpppcEKJDWFWL06RLcMIl6AiQ5vzbo5fWEms2ZpMcKdiVZ0kD0Jd9ife17QuiVInpClpJA2OWRP8p8IMhidrMArmhccN5mjgnpmINz33Ow1JaUAo5-uAL90BANb0B93a5gtVI7vG1vOwku8ap3qyplDkTy4dRhxak9dw9FTvXpSZsh-/w280-h400/316113736_444234531226722_3036092115496794168_n.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-85615799337734262982022-11-22T13:17:00.003+00:002022-11-22T13:17:24.402+00:00A review of Merchant Tea Rooms 'Bistro Menu' evening in Colyton, Devon | November 2022 <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexFNtCD4V0FwrIfodcNEoFAcVtGt_qCgp05F08ADrBSbRLf4zerz2mcKgJlSfCHvslcyWGqDH_nXonIhN3dLS1tjPsPtlzDj8fuVE-d_wijGtMHYuFDpI8QnJ93siEVV7Qax_UBpVg8QTXCxQ5lGM1V56fl0ry8OR9CqIHcsVxEph9LUfmNmu4IwF/s4032/E8383131-D1F1-4094-BAA8-2767121A424C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexFNtCD4V0FwrIfodcNEoFAcVtGt_qCgp05F08ADrBSbRLf4zerz2mcKgJlSfCHvslcyWGqDH_nXonIhN3dLS1tjPsPtlzDj8fuVE-d_wijGtMHYuFDpI8QnJ93siEVV7Qax_UBpVg8QTXCxQ5lGM1V56fl0ry8OR9CqIHcsVxEph9LUfmNmu4IwF/s320/E8383131-D1F1-4094-BAA8-2767121A424C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My husband recently surprised me with a 'date night' where he booked in for a 'Bistro Menu' evening being held at Merchant Tea Rooms in Colyton, Devon. We've lived in Seaton now for over 8 years and yet this is the first time we've been there. We only recently found out about the place and saw that they were running special Friday and Saturday Bistro Menu evenings which offer a set menu. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QRPgeojnCi21MDIZZ3DHq5tql0j1oAZGomyJnCDU0Kjy0_XIzrU-LLpQ2XTWKdUiqupNz_m4vU8eXfazrmM92yZVuINt9V4uQSDbhpT5NZYLcSeosN6j4MRqh2_UhTCbrvi9qaUPxHyOCzRZp0qNhODq1w0IJWuX6ChnJL2BGUnlPxHiTOkg9rIo/s4032/944711F5-9ED6-4879-BC32-AB7179DC940F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QRPgeojnCi21MDIZZ3DHq5tql0j1oAZGomyJnCDU0Kjy0_XIzrU-LLpQ2XTWKdUiqupNz_m4vU8eXfazrmM92yZVuINt9V4uQSDbhpT5NZYLcSeosN6j4MRqh2_UhTCbrvi9qaUPxHyOCzRZp0qNhODq1w0IJWuX6ChnJL2BGUnlPxHiTOkg9rIo/s320/944711F5-9ED6-4879-BC32-AB7179DC940F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The evening we attended had a set four course menu (which could be adapted for vegetarians if required) and we booked our table for opening, which was 6pm. On arrival we were greeted and offered our choice of table, as the first ones booked in we had the choice of anywhere in the room. The place was small with beautiful classic tea room floral décor and a lovely welcoming atmosphere. In the background was soft music which perfectly suited the environment. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8ZAJkpYMaQjsZGZN6k7KDWPaFr27gYWTBiY2wlB9Ib-WXMHSgLG8ppYAXuGwRX_WwcuwlQJiK1pohrXY55UAoRFuewPuZzCN9yN6vaYwKcjMMDGcZmhQEaMZmgOSMpm8FKewelYWQkGi9h8D7dlvVyonNsgznX_JUWqqOpchJvHp3w5EkGmSJuxN/s3848/50219613-CDA9-42A7-A6CE-BA63436A2509.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="3848" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8ZAJkpYMaQjsZGZN6k7KDWPaFr27gYWTBiY2wlB9Ib-WXMHSgLG8ppYAXuGwRX_WwcuwlQJiK1pohrXY55UAoRFuewPuZzCN9yN6vaYwKcjMMDGcZmhQEaMZmgOSMpm8FKewelYWQkGi9h8D7dlvVyonNsgznX_JUWqqOpchJvHp3w5EkGmSJuxN/s320/50219613-CDA9-42A7-A6CE-BA63436A2509.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The starter, pictured above was absolutely delicious. I really want the recipe for the mushroom dipping sauce because I would love to have that regularly! It was served with 3 different breads, butter and olive oil. The presentation, of this dish and each that followed, made everything look really appetizing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGtjGcHPa6PmpgaKvylA8l0mPKvm2l1HJe32oXPOGvYjbscsVmAKPMbt7MTlV-ziybHjb4KVcr0JR-PO61l8hlUpKbMb2aAvaKOHvutlC5G886lCw3qpqP2H1roWRluLFuAPhywZ3joW6Bos56fAYQnt9doOjYN4q05DNUu4QgA3iITBnl-NuGjsQ/s3582/AEB88217-9352-4083-B7BD-4BA907F2A3BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2686" data-original-width="3582" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGtjGcHPa6PmpgaKvylA8l0mPKvm2l1HJe32oXPOGvYjbscsVmAKPMbt7MTlV-ziybHjb4KVcr0JR-PO61l8hlUpKbMb2aAvaKOHvutlC5G886lCw3qpqP2H1roWRluLFuAPhywZ3joW6Bos56fAYQnt9doOjYN4q05DNUu4QgA3iITBnl-NuGjsQ/s320/AEB88217-9352-4083-B7BD-4BA907F2A3BB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next dish was a chorizo, onion and mushroom ravioli, which was very tasty, absolutely packed full of flavour. The attention to detail in both taste and presentation was something to be admired. </div><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIeK-HvO3wsG5NXCk30XD9Xt1mJrJ0ZWRaSr5i41rjuEw68jd9XUnHTiwQK8nZbLvZ-CGKJ9ogTs10y6yz8IYh9rVkW_-d1nMTsLreYiqE5hIAmQMRB8N5bj-WHsI2Q7_X28xvVbzubT_p5L3Fa7p6Ja_f_sefLGEHUggETsOxuijMu9kpPqJN9bJ/s3993/F014DC83-4DEB-46DB-A8D6-D13292ED9551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2995" data-original-width="3993" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIeK-HvO3wsG5NXCk30XD9Xt1mJrJ0ZWRaSr5i41rjuEw68jd9XUnHTiwQK8nZbLvZ-CGKJ9ogTs10y6yz8IYh9rVkW_-d1nMTsLreYiqE5hIAmQMRB8N5bj-WHsI2Q7_X28xvVbzubT_p5L3Fa7p6Ja_f_sefLGEHUggETsOxuijMu9kpPqJN9bJ/s320/F014DC83-4DEB-46DB-A8D6-D13292ED9551.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next dish was probably my favourite, it was absolutely divine. The sauce was so tasty and went perfectly with the dish. The 'patatas bravas' and salad served with the dish all went together harmoniously. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyIzoMUB48jwDF5tZZ3L5CnHqr7hTtNiiWOmc9mq44vlbYplBecsHBf8l4sJMKRdNtkWVXHIAufhXpHd4wpquKVoKGZynIvuNJD4Rm0_fjcgkLb8IU0_KOqgwki7smom4bpghJcIwRAWVZccF3P_I9cJM9_7M-6jRPRMX9wdzmPxJBmCBNyuWfbgr/s3567/EDEB89D8-9E5C-46B7-A378-A7B4669CDA7D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="3567" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyIzoMUB48jwDF5tZZ3L5CnHqr7hTtNiiWOmc9mq44vlbYplBecsHBf8l4sJMKRdNtkWVXHIAufhXpHd4wpquKVoKGZynIvuNJD4Rm0_fjcgkLb8IU0_KOqgwki7smom4bpghJcIwRAWVZccF3P_I9cJM9_7M-6jRPRMX9wdzmPxJBmCBNyuWfbgr/s320/EDEB89D8-9E5C-46B7-A378-A7B4669CDA7D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't think we stopped smiling the whole evening, everything was so wonderful and we were so well looked after by the lovely gentleman, Dariusz I believe his name was. He was the chef and server and did a fantastic job throughout the evening ensuring we had everything we needed and were happy with everything. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3640D5X5jdng_D05AiAzp7QrDQ6Wb5ftpAIz51p-n5JOtY1zDDTN7VHpd5Jxppy0fBz5Y2OwYEbHW7rwh8JnhZC5Z8K_pTbJEbEeJA09CRfMXtlavKmRFeESTK2FFP49Nfgo6x_KBmbB5WsjqqTqull_roZu72BSO-OKXUK9RiBsvTJa70YlDQm7/s3965/217AB17B-CEA4-480E-9410-69237A2B780C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2974" data-original-width="3965" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3640D5X5jdng_D05AiAzp7QrDQ6Wb5ftpAIz51p-n5JOtY1zDDTN7VHpd5Jxppy0fBz5Y2OwYEbHW7rwh8JnhZC5Z8K_pTbJEbEeJA09CRfMXtlavKmRFeESTK2FFP49Nfgo6x_KBmbB5WsjqqTqull_roZu72BSO-OKXUK9RiBsvTJa70YlDQm7/s320/217AB17B-CEA4-480E-9410-69237A2B780C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The final dish was bread and butter pudding served with warm custard. It was a lovely end to the meal. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILwYHZLhUuPeBLboRrMyH1eTmaW5lKAmB0Xv_Eu_36Vi21W-UQcNxnny1UMMQ3-KejoxMbhfROIr2LwvuO5TdDGLjnLekWFR-PfqHcJWB3vJmP_zZkbXLM6FOUDvhalimkQBqus8DwOPQ2vvVoum2Y1sY3aEBMAId_vM7dyIYeEnXXVEK-wQTtwRF/s3668/9075444A-26CE-4F7E-8641-5C75AAABCFFB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2800" data-original-width="3668" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILwYHZLhUuPeBLboRrMyH1eTmaW5lKAmB0Xv_Eu_36Vi21W-UQcNxnny1UMMQ3-KejoxMbhfROIr2LwvuO5TdDGLjnLekWFR-PfqHcJWB3vJmP_zZkbXLM6FOUDvhalimkQBqus8DwOPQ2vvVoum2Y1sY3aEBMAId_vM7dyIYeEnXXVEK-wQTtwRF/s320/9075444A-26CE-4F7E-8641-5C75AAABCFFB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had the option of bringing along our own alcohol (as the venue doesn't have a license) and paying a corkage fee, however, Jon and I don't really drink so we were happy with the iced water provided to accompany our meal. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZIiCr314DBd-sgxJqaiGLEbPoSLdqCT3TL4OFkZusQeTJUpCfUgsrwfA7dZ-ad2n8MsBbAwKcnqNN1dHIrrkF_cZ2rtc3jp4tbV20N1vKWd_9nI9VWvjZlXQ4bjDleko2iId3Kha5Ll7kErBO4ULaSgWQ5wQ5Sjq4eYEDVe92kqCrVql3w3uM28U/s3830/52D8602D-5978-4D82-9C44-0DEF5AAE8FB8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="3830" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZIiCr314DBd-sgxJqaiGLEbPoSLdqCT3TL4OFkZusQeTJUpCfUgsrwfA7dZ-ad2n8MsBbAwKcnqNN1dHIrrkF_cZ2rtc3jp4tbV20N1vKWd_9nI9VWvjZlXQ4bjDleko2iId3Kha5Ll7kErBO4ULaSgWQ5wQ5Sjq4eYEDVe92kqCrVql3w3uM28U/s320/52D8602D-5978-4D82-9C44-0DEF5AAE8FB8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all it was a wonderful night, I can hand on heart highly recommend this venue and the 'Bistro Menu' evenings they hold. If you get the opportunity, give them a try, I've added the information for the next menu they are offering at the bottom of this blog post. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can find out more on t<a href="https://www.merchantstearooms.co.uk/">he Merchant Tea Rooms website, here</a> on their website. <br /><br />They also have a Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076060787709">which you can find here. </a><br /><br />Below details the menu we had when we attended on Friday 18th November 2022. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEirJZYjeJyOsLwQK1HpPr7mht_ogG94Lu7EFRu9tmoFJIpOaNEaurvXf-aN6d805Nf09nhPJTuQNDUex6ZFEZvLZmFKyWqT32USm2UeRV00iDcrEBmUo6znVSg-rySE8FRcjp5YXigtCJJAmUFlf9zjii5G1ZDao_M96eR1tAQgZaHUmtOayKmZdh/s2000/313429404_3233327303545620_4896378130536901663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1414" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEirJZYjeJyOsLwQK1HpPr7mht_ogG94Lu7EFRu9tmoFJIpOaNEaurvXf-aN6d805Nf09nhPJTuQNDUex6ZFEZvLZmFKyWqT32USm2UeRV00iDcrEBmUo6znVSg-rySE8FRcjp5YXigtCJJAmUFlf9zjii5G1ZDao_M96eR1tAQgZaHUmtOayKmZdh/w283-h400/313429404_3233327303545620_4896378130536901663_n.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I believe the next bistro menu is this one, pictured below, which i think will be valid for the next two weeks however to confirm please do contact them directly. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6-gdKhYAEImSnVz985kHAnEB6A1Kz36ELG34fksDSaWu1nLtkluX0vWrhSjDrTw_rezj8YVdBO-dO2FUbzTzjVcFSEPfT3InYKZzR-cLZ_Zo0j1BNi_j8trSsS_uP9-68WHLJYEUsLIVaYJvFhFNnYgtyF0CVyWlQJF6rwJop48xRnuttqXx_abT/s1000/316555549_3244904862387864_121004411607709501_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="707" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6-gdKhYAEImSnVz985kHAnEB6A1Kz36ELG34fksDSaWu1nLtkluX0vWrhSjDrTw_rezj8YVdBO-dO2FUbzTzjVcFSEPfT3InYKZzR-cLZ_Zo0j1BNi_j8trSsS_uP9-68WHLJYEUsLIVaYJvFhFNnYgtyF0CVyWlQJF6rwJop48xRnuttqXx_abT/w452-h640/316555549_3244904862387864_121004411607709501_n.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-17739723888359196682022-10-26T12:05:00.001+01:002022-10-26T12:05:31.614+01:00Frugal tips for Christmas on a tight budget <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzN1iAKcPkU6PgkJuDONj7TGn-4w55q35m_rUQI_Uq0ywf8CBkhTDj3AiobZ3ACTmMMAIiZe3alOWVNEvoOti370FyYRU2Sthn3-sPAuxF78vMUciL_ttfvqfTSSXk3XkP8eY5TN3_j9OQw4KsyIZumY35lCb0PqBXpQgyB1c0uHBRtHw-slv-9D8/s1080/Frugal%20tips%20for%20Christmas%20on%20a%20budget.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzN1iAKcPkU6PgkJuDONj7TGn-4w55q35m_rUQI_Uq0ywf8CBkhTDj3AiobZ3ACTmMMAIiZe3alOWVNEvoOti370FyYRU2Sthn3-sPAuxF78vMUciL_ttfvqfTSSXk3XkP8eY5TN3_j9OQw4KsyIZumY35lCb0PqBXpQgyB1c0uHBRtHw-slv-9D8/s320/Frugal%20tips%20for%20Christmas%20on%20a%20budget.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Frugal Christmas Gifting </u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1. Make presents for family and friends. </u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you have the supplies around your home to make presents then this is a great way to save money. Maybe you have a hobby that means you have particular supplies, such as sewing supplies, beading, model making or woodworking for example. There are many different hobbies that involve supplies that would be useful in making gifts. If you have the supplies and the skills use them! You can personalise the gifts you make to each individual person by making something related to a particular interest of the person you are gifting too e.g. a football team, TV series, Film etc. If you like to make your own jams, chutneys or baked goods maybe you could make extra when making them for yourself and put together a little bundle to gift. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>2. Don't waste money on expensive gift wrapping and bags</u><br />It's understandable to want the gifts you give to look good when presented to their recipient, you don't need to spend lots of money on expensive gift wrapping and bags though. Be thrifty and find low cost wrapping paper then watch a tutorial online that teaches you how to make it look pretty and how to make gift bags with the wrap too. Alternatively purchase plain brown paper and decorate it yourself with pens or stamps. <br />Avoid buying gift tags, save the cards you get each Christmas and cut them up into gift tags for future years. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>3. Make up your own hampers</u><br />Don't get drawn into the 'gift hamper' market where things have been pre-packed into gift bundles and hampers for you. Often the price has been raised beyond the cost of what it would to purchase the items and bundle them up into a gift box or bag yourself. There are many tutorials online that will teach you how to make beautiful gift baskets, bags and boxes using wrapping paper or you could pick up a little basket in a craft store / charity shop cheaply and wrap a selection of goodies up yourself. In most if not all cases it is cheaper to make up your own gift hampers for loved ones, and you can make them more personalised to the person too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>4. Don't be afraid to re-gift<br /></u>If you receive a gift during the year, that isn't personalised to you, that you don't think you'll use don't chuck it away, re-gift it. Obviously don't gift it back to the person that gave it to you, give it to someone else who you think will enjoy it. <br /><br /><u>5. Look on freecycle and local free sites <br /></u>Keep checking freecycle or local free sites on social media for your area to see if there are things being given away that you could use to make gifts for friends and family. Sometimes you'll see things like books or childrens toys being given away during clear outs on 'for sale' or 'free' sites on Facebook. Check throughout the year, pick up what you think will be useful and keep notes so you don't forget what you have got. <br /><br /><u>6. Spread out the cost <br /></u>Planning ahead is a key way to reduce costs when it comes to buying gifts. Start your Christmas shopping as early as you can, look out for things in SALES that might be good to gift to friends and family. <br /><br /><i><span style="color: red;">If you can afford to buy gifts for friends and family this year please try and purchase in small independently owned shops before heading to large chain stores. Family run and indie owned shops are struggling in the current economic state and so your support will be much appreciated by them. <br /></span></i><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAjGO5YuET0CfyDRKfOCnQQalhZUHDBbCBmBeZP7Wt3FvvuEvaMFMn0k_87FvX4IlSFYUNSi1Wi3piTJHCLDcJI5OPiSoTRzKZZsFcXduQ5Bx9EMV87AhLcu8z7lpxg620Wr3rVV_KcJwQ0Ee082nE-ibSN8FT8s7_K4mE13NTCRuUhTlpLK-FXwB/s880/PXL_20210913_120746545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAjGO5YuET0CfyDRKfOCnQQalhZUHDBbCBmBeZP7Wt3FvvuEvaMFMn0k_87FvX4IlSFYUNSi1Wi3piTJHCLDcJI5OPiSoTRzKZZsFcXduQ5Bx9EMV87AhLcu8z7lpxg620Wr3rVV_KcJwQ0Ee082nE-ibSN8FT8s7_K4mE13NTCRuUhTlpLK-FXwB/s320/PXL_20210913_120746545.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><br /><b><u>Frugal Christmas gift receiving </u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>1. Stop turning your nose up at the gift of 'smellies'. </u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Often I hear people moan about receiving gift sets of shower and bath items, as if they are not an extremely useful item to receive. Getting these items as gifts also saves you money through the year, saving you from buying them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u>2. If asked to make a list, think of useful things <br /></u>If you are asked to make a list for a loved one think about the year ahead and what you may need. As lovely as it is to get fancy gifts try and think about more useful items. Things you use around the home on a daily basis for example. If the items you need are too high cost for one person to get think about the place you are going to get it and ask for a gift card in that place. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7Tm96QPTPFiTwS4FNOSiyke2I1osx18q9vGm1fG3X5NIt-gDZw9r5hkLXIWBhYFUZczUQ8xz1nzeuEUW4V7g7ERYjzfsjJ28T6Zj-hAJ8CQe19SlofkHA0Ow-5c-vPVCipj_3ugU_mT4PVXGGje2253u-SqlAgY6Nx8gZx7Lsc9nAZm2Aqa1gJua/s1080/Frugal%20tips%20for%20Christmas%20on%20a%20budget%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7Tm96QPTPFiTwS4FNOSiyke2I1osx18q9vGm1fG3X5NIt-gDZw9r5hkLXIWBhYFUZczUQ8xz1nzeuEUW4V7g7ERYjzfsjJ28T6Zj-hAJ8CQe19SlofkHA0Ow-5c-vPVCipj_3ugU_mT4PVXGGje2253u-SqlAgY6Nx8gZx7Lsc9nAZm2Aqa1gJua/s320/Frugal%20tips%20for%20Christmas%20on%20a%20budget%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Frugal Christmas Eating </b><br /></u><br /><u>1. Share it out </u><br />If you are having friends and family over for a Christmas meal share out the cost of buying and cooking the food. Work together to assign the different things you'll need to those attending, try and make it as fair as possible, people will understand that you cannot buy and cook everything for everyone, especially this year. <br /><br /><u>2. Spread out the cost </u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you can, start saving way ahead of time for Christmas food. Put away a little amount of money each week or month, somewhere you won't touch it, so that you'll have enough to spend come the time. If you shop weekly or monthly as Christmas gets closer look in the shops and see if you can buy some items early. It is important to check the use by dates to ensure the items will last until the date you plan to use them. In most cases you'll be able to buy Xmas puddings and cakes quite far ahead of time and put them somewhere safe until they are needed. <br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Are there any frugal tips you think we've missed? Let us know in the comments. </b><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-33116160844445980542022-10-21T11:09:00.001+01:002022-10-21T11:09:00.208+01:00What is the cheapest way to cook food? | UK Financial Crisis <p>I've been reading a lot of articles recently dedicated to advising what kitchen gadgets are the most cost effective. I've found it interested to learn about how different kitchen appliances and gadgets cost different amounts to run and how they cook food in different lengths of time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmFdjgm5wy7iAi4eQBu9mvz4wrcVoKfarHwWhCNju3pGQgsqnKfvFBpM6fkIfk4sVATbrK8mIM5ROz8MNAIp6a8R9Ori-chf3LluMwMIwQhmc1uAUPMwiIr99U9eDsTHk159rxuihoyGzR6te234zJaljA0WbUrVRjRJkTCb6oZ2QJ1nqkBOVCzdw/s4032/PXL_20221014_111211790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmFdjgm5wy7iAi4eQBu9mvz4wrcVoKfarHwWhCNju3pGQgsqnKfvFBpM6fkIfk4sVATbrK8mIM5ROz8MNAIp6a8R9Ori-chf3LluMwMIwQhmc1uAUPMwiIr99U9eDsTHk159rxuihoyGzR6te234zJaljA0WbUrVRjRJkTCb6oZ2QJ1nqkBOVCzdw/s320/PXL_20221014_111211790.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63317138"> found this article interesting</a>, about how <a href="https://amzn.to/3go9lCu">Air Fryers</a> are more cost effective than ovens when cooking most food. I've had our air fryer now for i think almost a year and it has been great. I realised though i haven't been making full use out of it, there have been times i've used an oven when i could have used the <a href="https://amzn.to/3go9lCu">air fryer.</a> Only very recently did i realise i could cook a frozen garlic bread in the air fryer for a fraction of the time it would have taken in the oven. <br /><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63317138">- Read the BBC article here. </a><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3go9lCu">- Take a look at the double air fryer i use here </a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbOTTdnhJSqPUUv8F33yDrS7ujn39F_osyVGK51ebkTkQ37ufK1b1YPOevplSPQPGr_9is48F0GttLGNL5vunHsMgcyIt6SYqZssEQiPN4vt6-F-bbI366ZLArV3ldE460gkpEjq4ZixsF-a2Ag-KwGsVPe3lWb5mCNT-H6V6IROiffwIveGlAeWU/s4032/PXL_20221019_161019626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbOTTdnhJSqPUUv8F33yDrS7ujn39F_osyVGK51ebkTkQ37ufK1b1YPOevplSPQPGr_9is48F0GttLGNL5vunHsMgcyIt6SYqZssEQiPN4vt6-F-bbI366ZLArV3ldE460gkpEjq4ZixsF-a2Ag-KwGsVPe3lWb5mCNT-H6V6IROiffwIveGlAeWU/s320/PXL_20221019_161019626.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />I've also read a number of articles about how using a <a href="https://amzn.to/3EWFeMH">slow cooking</a> is more cost effective than cooking on a hob. This is something i want to so a little more research on and see some more data evidence before i make a final judgement but regardless i do use the slow cooker more often than the hob out of convience. I can chuck everything in the slow cooking before going to work in the morning, switch it on low and when i get home from work and the kids home from school we have a lovely warm meal waiting for us. So in the sense of time saving and effort saving our slow cooker has been fantastic, if it also saves us money in comparison to cooking on the hob that would be brilliant. <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3EWFeMH">- Take a look here at the slow cooker we have </a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1NU0dZ2Wq8dA2bjDZMz1LKagfX2GVKIi8EIms3j1S44yUNvyETHPaTVNzenyQ8OlPgJJ5djYJGT_P6QItbzwZ8X1ViRWMQNRqQy-hoZ-NjNt6CyIGg8SeKcpQXF8pqQ3AS4EEyH_JxWEYM4zrRdfmrLPM8UNQZgomQXwxTSp3hC_i8AHAyzZuaYz/s4032/PXL_20221017_111859120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1NU0dZ2Wq8dA2bjDZMz1LKagfX2GVKIi8EIms3j1S44yUNvyETHPaTVNzenyQ8OlPgJJ5djYJGT_P6QItbzwZ8X1ViRWMQNRqQy-hoZ-NjNt6CyIGg8SeKcpQXF8pqQ3AS4EEyH_JxWEYM4zrRdfmrLPM8UNQZgomQXwxTSp3hC_i8AHAyzZuaYz/s320/PXL_20221017_111859120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favourite kitchen appliance, or gadget I suppose you would call it is my <a href="https://amzn.to/3sc2S0i">soup maker.</a> I've not seen enough research to know whether it really does save money in comparison to cooking a soup from scratch on the stove but logically it must. In just 19mins this soup maker turns raw vegetables into a delicious soup. I can opt for smooth or chunky soup, i usually opt for smooth, it does the cooking and blending for me. I can't imagine it would be cheaper to use multiple kitchen gadgets to make the soup and i would think it would take longer on the hob too. It is so easy and quick to use that I've not made a soup on the hob since getting this gadget. It is honestly brilliant. The one i have is only big enough to make soup for 2, though there are other size ones that can make soup for 4 people. <br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3sc2S0i">- Take a look here at the soup maker i have </a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXrMJbK_z_kdau6jTbpOfONJyxTi3ZHpq5_IsRrwq_zKH-bJ3nj8Kjw9eutJEecrtPW6kIy-9_fgoKXH39bAZdcLQfIvabaMFQfzel80YXZyHpnv_UPPn2lY66amHL1y1MgSjAaFWMxt4F7CEKcHvQ33zj5wzKtyjmKcrVirP6iMK5Gv82WzBTrOm/s4032/PXL_20220912_115657960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXrMJbK_z_kdau6jTbpOfONJyxTi3ZHpq5_IsRrwq_zKH-bJ3nj8Kjw9eutJEecrtPW6kIy-9_fgoKXH39bAZdcLQfIvabaMFQfzel80YXZyHpnv_UPPn2lY66amHL1y1MgSjAaFWMxt4F7CEKcHvQ33zj5wzKtyjmKcrVirP6iMK5Gv82WzBTrOm/s320/PXL_20220912_115657960.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is worth researching the kitchen appliances you have at home and figuring out which ones you have that are the cheapest to cook with, it could really help you save money. If you don't have access to some of the money saving kitchen appliances and gadgets i've mentioned above it might even be worth saving up for them, looking at them as a long term money saving investments or asking for one for a upcoming birthday / Christmas present even? It's certainly worth thinking about. </div><br /><br /><br />Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-83802588165914492132022-10-20T11:07:00.004+01:002022-10-21T10:30:27.557+01:00Finding ways to keep our family business afloat in ever changing and challenging times <p> <span style="text-align: center;">One of the ways we as a family are adapting to the changing and challenging times is working more on our blogs and YouTube channels. That way people who want to support us but don't have the funds to make purchases in our shop or on our website can still help us without spending a penny. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Clicking on the adverts on our blog and watching, liking and commenting on our YouTube channels all helps. We get paid (a very minimal amount, but every penny counts) by adsense and YouTube when you interact with us on those platforms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you haven't already please subscribe to our two main channels: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVlJiJS0atydxuwkjsjnlQg">Art and design by KB </a><br />a channel dedicated to arts, crafts & books too. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQywkvcr_vI" width="320" youtube-src-id="SQywkvcr_vI"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiCrwhsQ6MTFg10RD1DqboQ">Tomatoes and Tulips Homestead </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a channel about growing, cooking and preserving our own food in an urban setting. About general homemaking and also meal planning and living on a budget. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVb9inBMt10" width="320" youtube-src-id="gVb9inBMt10"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Simply by subscribing you are helping to get the channel seen. When you interact this is when it really helps us so if you have a question about something you see in one of the videos or you have a link you want to share to your own video or blog that relates to what is seen feel free to put those in the comments. All positive interaction helps us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are already starting to rely on this part of our business and I can see it being more and more important as the weeks, months and years progress. <br /><br />If you blog or vlog and would like us to follow your channels add a link to them in the comments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-83618060415154931342022-08-28T15:50:00.001+01:002022-08-28T15:50:00.176+01:00Learning to live within your means | Surviving and thriving on a budget <p>Many years ago I wrote an e-book about living on a budget. I wrote this when I was a single mother to two young boys attempting to survive on very little income having left a well paid job in the months before. I remember I wrote it as a form of therapy, whilst also trying to let anyone else in my situation know there was a way to survive and thrive on a tight budget / low income. I didn't have my blog to share my writing and thoughts then, so I wrote e-books which I self published. I've since taken it down (it did actually sell really well but needed a refresh with new information) so I thought I might share portions of the book on my blog, editing them into articles which I'll share here on my blog as part of a series titled <i>'Surviving and thriving on a budget' </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvJJRnW8bgSgg4h53ALjv9tDHfYO8A528I6Hog5Pk68LJ_R5e3sTexflXq4KOtrqAycf95DHi6sSN5XbJ0pYH51GmRSRXm0mikJ35gnlKzeM9dFzcUQY1ueCebtnbkm77ZlXw5fXt0ewj8i7aBjjloPohyDvL2tQzh4iEW4vh5Wos3D2EpgS6xUBV/s1080/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvJJRnW8bgSgg4h53ALjv9tDHfYO8A528I6Hog5Pk68LJ_R5e3sTexflXq4KOtrqAycf95DHi6sSN5XbJ0pYH51GmRSRXm0mikJ35gnlKzeM9dFzcUQY1ueCebtnbkm77ZlXw5fXt0ewj8i7aBjjloPohyDvL2tQzh4iEW4vh5Wos3D2EpgS6xUBV/s320/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Living within your means</strong></p><p>To live a financially responsible lifestyle means that you are living within your means. This, put simply, means that you are not spending more money than you earn (or receive through benefits). It's very easy to get into the habit of spending more than you earn, especially with credit cards and loans regularly being promoted by companies hoping you will fall into their trap. There are so many ‘things’ out there you feel you need, but really you probably just want. Living within your means is a way to ensure you do not spiral into debt, this can be achieved by anyone, through planning, discipline and keeping to a budget. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHl2umpXDPiakxIgUOKdFPb9s2f4s0JwyCbspLphkXn2VcLXUm8WAEBWK8iT42FNo1b5_s41J_a88yzzU-WkxxRFIPeUE5_3lhyXK51dmDC3iUhYuG6f_g_xInxtJQrN3Ul5zZs8ZXUwKXDA4GWeqo6Uu9tBQIQc4FxK1GjTPKACf_n3yjrPqvEcQ/s1080/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHl2umpXDPiakxIgUOKdFPb9s2f4s0JwyCbspLphkXn2VcLXUm8WAEBWK8iT42FNo1b5_s41J_a88yzzU-WkxxRFIPeUE5_3lhyXK51dmDC3iUhYuG6f_g_xInxtJQrN3Ul5zZs8ZXUwKXDA4GWeqo6Uu9tBQIQc4FxK1GjTPKACf_n3yjrPqvEcQ/s320/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Creating a budget can be done by examining your income and expenditures in order to determine how much money you have coming in and where you’re spending it. I know you're probably thinking ''OK, well I'm going to give up now as there is no way I can work this out because I spend in so many different ways; bank card, credit card, cash, paypal and more!'' But don’t give up, it can be done, it will just take a little more time. Begin your journey to budgeting on the 1st of the month; this is always a nice time to start. To get yourself started you firstly need to; </p><p>- Record all of your regular income, don’t count any little extras you get from selling the odd second hand item as these are not guaranteed each month. (If you are self employed and your income varies each month you may struggle with this step, I'd recommend working out an average income amount and using that to get yourself started) </p><p>- Next you need to document all your outgoings for the month. Get yourself a note book and every time you spend money document where, what on and how (via cash / card etc) It will also help to save your receipts. If you find you don’t get enough information on the first months try, don’t panic, just start again the following month. This process is about becoming more responsible and adapting to a new lifestyle it can take time. </p><p>Once you have a complete months worth of documented information, grab a cuppa, sit down and have a read through of all the information. You’ll probably be shocked how many times you had a ‘cheeky coffee in town’ or grabbed a meal deal when out and about. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJuV0RdL82afODglu4wng_4LOKk96e5Z4_fzJA9JgKTcJ18k5L1hUnEZ4BAPbo_wiiIHaNwCVG9ECrEb0Me0qCbhhYPKs_tFivy-Jku58IcHL5UAjGRgxLhVOub-9h_icO-SNzXYoJfg494BfNg6nAEvEDbfPtw4A5wbtrbx_yHj0uStNhtbM48Z2/s1080/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJuV0RdL82afODglu4wng_4LOKk96e5Z4_fzJA9JgKTcJ18k5L1hUnEZ4BAPbo_wiiIHaNwCVG9ECrEb0Me0qCbhhYPKs_tFivy-Jku58IcHL5UAjGRgxLhVOub-9h_icO-SNzXYoJfg494BfNg6nAEvEDbfPtw4A5wbtrbx_yHj0uStNhtbM48Z2/s320/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops%20(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Now you have all this information your challenge is to set yourself a clear spending allowance for each area of our spending; general bills, food clothing etc. Look at any areas you can spend less, in order to achieve your ideal financial goals. Then set an amount you want to be saving each month. </p><p><br /> Once you have set yourself a budget, get started! Start to make the changes you can now see are needed to achieve a lifestyle where you are living to your means. If in the first month you don’t quite stick to your budget, don’t just give up, keep going. Keep documenting what you're spending and earning and assess at the end of each month where you are getting better at sticking to the budget and where you are not achieving your goals. If you find that actually you can’t deal with cutting out that morning coffee on the way to work keep it in the budget and find a way to earn more or cut back on something else that isn’t as important. </p><p>As a human you are bound to find it difficult to stick completely to the budget on your first month of trying it but stick to it, practice makes perfect! You’ll be thankful once you realise how much you are saving towards all those special treats you’ve always wanted but thought you couldn’t have! </p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-54732871198985501512022-08-26T13:10:00.003+01:002022-08-26T13:10:29.172+01:00Ever thought of running your own shop? Would 6 months rent FREE persuade you to give it a try? <p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj3qEjQnx2jgOTf3POQG6tWt8t7MdCEV6PqXuYf_JJLEyqmgS4aY_t-oI2KhJ9JMc2dTainWTALZIrr6sDYlbmWFCaMRHPe6ysb_kDP73rU9kw1HBy-ZTYdQdPjYpMOsostE0cRzajbmttO7sdKL6867wnu200pS6VQFWqAyys73stxUul01q0s4f/s940/Untitled%20design%20(41).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj3qEjQnx2jgOTf3POQG6tWt8t7MdCEV6PqXuYf_JJLEyqmgS4aY_t-oI2KhJ9JMc2dTainWTALZIrr6sDYlbmWFCaMRHPe6ysb_kDP73rU9kw1HBy-ZTYdQdPjYpMOsostE0cRzajbmttO7sdKL6867wnu200pS6VQFWqAyys73stxUul01q0s4f/s320/Untitled%20design%20(41).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have you ever thought about opening and running your own shop, maybe even in Seaton? <br /><br />I often hear people say how they wish they could give up their day job to open a shop, of course it seems like fun, but in reality it is really hard work running a shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those who are passionate about the idea though and really want to go forward with the idea but haven't yet, I'd be interested to know what has stopped you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />The business rates?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Energy price rises? <br />Rent costs?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stock costs? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not having enough time? <br />Cost of living crisis? <br />Something else? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many things to consider when you are planning on opening a high street shop, it isn't something I would recommend simply jumping into. Take the time to research everything, ask other shop owners their advice and really think about if it is something you can see yourself doing for the long term. Running a shop is a big commitment and time consuming, the hours the shop is open are not the only hours you will end up working. <br /><br />One of the most important things to do is customer research, do the people living in the area you are considering opening a shop want or need whatever it is you are thinking of offering? Are you offering them something different to what is already available in the area? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If all of the above hasn't put you off yet and you have an idea for a shop that you really want to try what would persuade you to give it a go? <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Would 6 months RENT FREE persuade you? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> If you had the opportunity to open up a shop in Seaton, Devon and get the first 6 months of your rent FREE so you could focus on the other costs related to opening a business would this be enough to convince you to give it a go? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd be interested to hear from anyone who would be tempted by this idea. What sort of high street shop would you open in Seaton? Let me know in the comments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-58412952232602280142022-08-24T11:16:00.000+01:002022-08-24T11:16:06.683+01:00Is there such a person that exists? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw8Tv9WECk5PMDdJMkU0eE9byaKTVegoOIBIkH1YZ19TBBLdGNdceP5ePXqoKBjZqtVvTarF9iwX8ku7BI8KS4W_lpzkXvyaU2ppNS7z3HTFx88gtxF0ldcaT5ewlxjbqjBh8SThwMeaJtC_xchM6LHnMRtEEma41uaJAkrg-ddEwZAj8IhY69Tal/s1174/PXL_20220309_133925091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw8Tv9WECk5PMDdJMkU0eE9byaKTVegoOIBIkH1YZ19TBBLdGNdceP5ePXqoKBjZqtVvTarF9iwX8ku7BI8KS4W_lpzkXvyaU2ppNS7z3HTFx88gtxF0ldcaT5ewlxjbqjBh8SThwMeaJtC_xchM6LHnMRtEEma41uaJAkrg-ddEwZAj8IhY69Tal/s320/PXL_20220309_133925091.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />I'm worrying about so many things all at once that I can't actually bring myself to do anything productive. I'm sat here, looking at a screen knowing there are things I could and should be doing but i can't figure out where to start or which will help more. <br /><br />I've got noone to talk to who will understand, noone to bounce my ideas of off. I feel lost and alone. I feel like nothing is ever going to improve and that I'm going to be stuck here in this loop of unhappiness for the rest of my life. I know I should be grateful for what I have and I do try my best to focus on the positives when I can but right now I just can't. All I can see are the negatives. The issues and the hurdles in the way of me getting the life that I want and wish I could live. The life I want for my family, that they deserve to have. </p><p>This can't be it, surely? </p><p>There must be a way for me to make things better. To work towards the goal. There must be a way that I can move forward. I feel like there has to be. It's like I know there must be a route there I just can't figure out what it is yet. I need help working out how to get to where I want to be. </p><p>I wish there was a person you could hire, someone who would listen to the goals you have and help plan ways to work towards achieving them. No matter how far fetched they may seem. Is that a thing, is there such a person that exists? </p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-67205913939760563042022-08-20T10:39:00.003+01:002022-08-20T10:43:07.170+01:00Spooktacular Family Fun in Seaton this...August (I know, you were thinking October!) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftEvkrLp8eqtGBA0PrpgYjJkiWjZckl7uS2TD2IqGqderliIdKx1Tp22Vvj61_eNgrIRVHS_nYoBebTSy9zWjiE1NsZcXHHCe0LWPbu-ERApdgTAu0lKJfVhcCWRV1Y3QyiBqMFo2GcBx98WpllenyUOFFGb_BtxkUwnaDw5WHueJmUO8ugIKGBkH/s600/dracula-bloody-truth-review-york-theatre-royal-main-600x315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhftEvkrLp8eqtGBA0PrpgYjJkiWjZckl7uS2TD2IqGqderliIdKx1Tp22Vvj61_eNgrIRVHS_nYoBebTSy9zWjiE1NsZcXHHCe0LWPbu-ERApdgTAu0lKJfVhcCWRV1Y3QyiBqMFo2GcBx98WpllenyUOFFGb_BtxkUwnaDw5WHueJmUO8ugIKGBkH/w400-h210/dracula-bloody-truth-review-york-theatre-royal-main-600x315.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />(Image sourced<a href="https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/yorkshire-theatre/dracula-bloody-truth-review-york-royal/"> here</a>) </div><p>Over the coming week on the run up to 'Dracula: The Bloody Truth' showing at The Gateway you may well come across some rather strange looking spooky creatures wondering around the town shopping in our independent Seaton shops. If you spot them be sure to say hello as although spooky looking they are in fact family friendly, just like the show is. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTV3-wJbtC9EfM6_XaXKXkx3NWJPuIMDwvfcvs_Y6Rob-ZsgrgidLNFQQMBt0cPMSkhBImKvRdIiEHQ-NBzVFZ_wwfUDkqqyPqBfYPukpCMecKFEW_00k4kihwrw6VAD4xOKodhwCppdoSFFRQTF5codm_qAFKdOtsPgDnVN4n6UfFUrCgprs7QOj/s1000/8iO98LHWwsxTRb5txCnd8vMxFlT15z-metaZHJhY3VsYS5wbmc=--article.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTV3-wJbtC9EfM6_XaXKXkx3NWJPuIMDwvfcvs_Y6Rob-ZsgrgidLNFQQMBt0cPMSkhBImKvRdIiEHQ-NBzVFZ_wwfUDkqqyPqBfYPukpCMecKFEW_00k4kihwrw6VAD4xOKodhwCppdoSFFRQTF5codm_qAFKdOtsPgDnVN4n6UfFUrCgprs7QOj/w400-h266/8iO98LHWwsxTRb5txCnd8vMxFlT15z-metaZHJhY3VsYS5wbmc=--article.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>If you enjoy comedy theatre and are looking for an entertaining show that the family can enjoy together (age 8+) then get yourself tickets for either Friday 26th August or Saturday 27th August before they sell out. <br /><br />I've been looking at the reviews of the show, which seem to be very positive, some of the online reviews I found are: <br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Lato; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">''Bloody hilarious'' ''</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Lato; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">a gloriously stupid comedy'' ''</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Lato; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">a fresh spin to that well-worn story'' ''</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Lato; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">deserves to be seen by everyone who loves sublimely stupid comedy.'' </span><br /><br />You can watch the trailer for the show here: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qb7auTy5xEw" width="320" youtube-src-id="Qb7auTy5xEw"></iframe></div><br /><p>You can read more about the show below: <br />(Information soured from the <a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/gatewaytheatreseaton/e-yvbxlm">Seaton Gateway Theatre</a> website)</p><div class="grid-x grid-margin-x" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: #121212; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; font-family: Poppins, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px -0.9375rem; padding: 0px;"><div class="large-12 cell" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin: 0px 0.9375rem; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 0px; width: calc(100% - 1.875rem);"><div class="heading" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="eventTitle" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "GT Super Display", "Times New Roman"; font-size: 2.2rem; line-height: 2.5rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Dracula: The Bloody Truth</h1></div><div class="grid-x" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="eventMeta" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="eventLocation" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="far fa-map-marker-alt" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Pro"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> Seaton Gateway Theatre, Devon, EX12 2LE</div></div></div><div class="grid-x" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="eventMeta" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="dateTime" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="far fa-calendar-alt" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Pro"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-rendering: auto;"></span> Fri 26th August 2022 - Sat 27th August 2022</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="grid-x margin-top-1" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; font-family: Poppins, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="padding-top-1 small-12 medium-9 cell" id="eventInfoLeft" style="-webkit-box-flex: 0; box-sizing: inherit; flex: 0 0 auto; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; min-width: 0px; padding: 1rem 1rem 0px 0px; width: 877.5px;"><div class="eventDescription padding-bottom-1 clearfix" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem;"><div class="eventBannerMediumImg" style="background-color: #121212; box-sizing: inherit; float: right; margin: 0px; max-width: 18.75rem; padding: 0px 0px 1rem 1rem;"><img alt="" class="eventBannerMedium" src="https://cdn.ticketsource.co.uk/images/promoter/banner/57571-16506437434588-m.png" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div><div class="eventText" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #121212; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit;">STOP!</span><span style="background-color: #121212;"> It is of vital importance that you stop what you're doing and read this very carefully. Your life may depend on it...</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br id="isPasted" style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: #121212;">You must have all heard by now of the recent novel, 'Dracula', that was released three years ago in 1897 by that dreadful man Bram Stoker, yes? I gave that money grabber, Mr Stoker, all of my research notes, letters, diary entries to write up to warn you...It wasn't a fictional story at all, no! It was fact, true, real, I was there! I saw the madness, the supernatural. I saw the vampire.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: #121212;">Excuse me, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Professor Abraham Van Helsing, MD, D.Ph., D.Litt., etc, etc, of Amsterdam. I have put together a theatrical performance, along with three other actors I have hired, to warn you all of the dangers of vampires and how to deal with one if the situation arises. Now what are you waiting for? It is imperative that you book your tickets right this instant! It's a matter of life and death.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: #121212;">Exeter based Le Navet Bete (Dick Tracy, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) are committed to creating hilarious, physical and totally accessible comedy theatre using creative and engaging storytelling. This brand new comedy theatre show will take audiences on a journey across Europe from the dark and sinister Transylvanian mountains to the awkwardly charming seaside town of Whitby whilst the frantic Van Helsing and his three amateur actors try to stage a life-changing, factual theatrical production of the events of Dracula. Directed by one of the UK's most exciting comedy directors, John Nicholson (Peepolykus) and designed by Phil Eddolls (Mark Bruce Company, Improbable Theatre), Dracula: The Bloody Truth promises to have the vampires back in the ground and leave audiences flying high.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="background-color: #121212;">The performance includes pulsating lights, pyrotechnics, haze, loud sound effects, some mock horror and words that sound </span><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;"><span>rude (but are not!). </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span><table id="isPasted" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-sizing: inherit; empty-cells: show; font-family: Poppins, Arial; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-right: 625.344px; max-width: 100%; width: 511.641px;"><tbody style="background-color: #fefefe; border: 1px solid rgb(241, 241, 241); box-sizing: inherit;"><tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 192.25px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Event</span></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 318.406px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Live Theatre</span></td></tr><tr style="border-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 192.25px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Times</span></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 318.406px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Doors 6:30pm, Show 7:30pm </span></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 192.25px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Tickets</span></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 318.406px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Adult £15.00, Under 16 £12.00</span></td></tr><tr style="border-bottom: 0px; box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 192.25px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Age Rating<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 318.406px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">8+</span></td></tr><tr style="box-sizing: inherit;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 192.25px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">Running Time:<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 5px; padding: 0.5rem 0.625rem 0.625rem; user-select: text; width: 318.406px;"><span style="background-color: #2b00fe;">2 hours 20 minutes (Including an interval)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: #121212;">Please note we have a licensed bar and bringing drinks in is strictly prohibited.</span></div></div></div></div>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-80383641028134399242022-08-19T15:22:00.003+01:002022-08-19T15:31:27.936+01:00Why I've been quiet here on this blog and what I'm up to now <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCBQRtnCpT5Os2jnegYrEzwBYCO8e0t7NjjZ9s6JoBy4xptXP0jQcvNQoxw-KqakFo7RD14WF2lLYHSTaPeX-t3DEEE2nADyXDOlVZ8fJyeUwTat1-m4Fh-t8iFv_WA5PlDCudsD-cX4WxTj8oJDdBkdKnrfvTBnkQE35Rg-QeI5qwNz_Bm4CMb0e/s3264/PXL_20220819_141846668.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCBQRtnCpT5Os2jnegYrEzwBYCO8e0t7NjjZ9s6JoBy4xptXP0jQcvNQoxw-KqakFo7RD14WF2lLYHSTaPeX-t3DEEE2nADyXDOlVZ8fJyeUwTat1-m4Fh-t8iFv_WA5PlDCudsD-cX4WxTj8oJDdBkdKnrfvTBnkQE35Rg-QeI5qwNz_Bm4CMb0e/s320/PXL_20220819_141846668.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Firstly, yes, I have had my hair cut short! Some of you may have noticed and been shocked to see me with a very short haircut. I decided to have it cut short after months of suffering with headaches, I think because my hair was tied so tightly. It was very long and the weather has been far to hot for me to wear it down so was always tied up out the way. Though I'm not sure this short haircut suits me, my head feels better, so I'm happy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uyEvHP7XGeNAr22AGxOQge8PmtTc16ADP2P7Yw4wgLqxGRMcNy1TQ-A94xvkfG7bWClnQbjOMX-IDlByFUpiCxxAPg3iqG54lsGo9bEFL_sfSKfPcU-1wM-ngZKmEHHRT_W9w1aTy1lRlw2vPfs_jXPTVHgzrKQYqYKJEMnz_bjv6CCBamca2ZRN/s3264/PXL_20220818_171427108.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uyEvHP7XGeNAr22AGxOQge8PmtTc16ADP2P7Yw4wgLqxGRMcNy1TQ-A94xvkfG7bWClnQbjOMX-IDlByFUpiCxxAPg3iqG54lsGo9bEFL_sfSKfPcU-1wM-ngZKmEHHRT_W9w1aTy1lRlw2vPfs_jXPTVHgzrKQYqYKJEMnz_bjv6CCBamca2ZRN/s320/PXL_20220818_171427108.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>There are many reasons why I've been more quiet than usual: It's the summer holidays and my children are off school so I'm trying to spend as much time with them as possible, I've been busy working in the shop and working on some new work ventures too. <br /><br />I've not been using this blog as much as usual in the past few months and that is because I've been busy building up my other blog and YouTube channel dedicated to all things homesteading. <a href="https://www.tomatoesandtulips.co.uk/2022/05/what-is-urban-homestead-what-makes.html">If you are not sure what a homestead is take a look here at this blog post which explains the term and what it is i mean. </a> </p><p><a href="https://www.tomatoesandtulips.co.uk/">The blog is called Tomatoes and Tulips, you can read more about it here. </a>I've been blogging there for a few years now and have an Instagram with the same name where I've shared photos but I've not promoted it up until now. </p><p>You can also c<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TomatoesandTulips">lick here to see my NEW YouTube channel. </a>I'd be grateful if you would subscribe to the new channel and take a look at some of the videos, I'm hoping to build the channel up and use it to document our journey as urban homesteaders whilst we are saving to purchase land or a smallholding. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTnjqIkQKo0" width="320" youtube-src-id="CTnjqIkQKo0"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The video above will give you an idea of the types of homestead vlogs to expect on the channel. I will be sharing my garden and allotment harvests, cooking and preserving and all other things related to urban homestead life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The video below will give you an idea of the types of nature and wildlife videos to expect to find on there. As many of you will know I'm a keen academic and one of my many interests is in ecology, environmentalism and nature. I'm currently reading some really interesting books around those topics written by Dave Goulson who I also follow on YouTube, he is an amazing man and has done so much for wildlife, especially bees. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_dQeLytVBk" width="320" youtube-src-id="o_dQeLytVBk"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The goal it to get the new channel monetized so that it becomes a new income stream, one that we can use to save towards the land or smallholding we hope one day to invest in somewhere in or near to Seaton. <br /><br />I'm still creating <a href="https://www.artanddesignbykb.co.uk/">art with both traditional mediums and digitally with procreate, you can read more about that here</a> and watch my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVlJiJS0atydxuwkjsjnlQg">YouTube videos over on the channel here. </a> I've finally sorted out my editing software which means the videos will be much more streamline from now on (hopefully!)<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n-nBj-JhXEw" width="320" youtube-src-id="n-nBj-JhXEw"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.writtenbykb.co.uk/">I'm still writing, you'll be able to see what I'm working on here on this blog dedicated to writing.</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZFgpAxgiI7LXIyKesmuOV98U43jtLktcCVkQjTxKpT2mhw6YUuzGi4A2iamCrpVfaqNW3n4yh_s23ZLMf-bsE-VkWGmCSJ9_miyct5K14uTqD2viTIxXgo8875txhBpYxQQDZT1_NWJFuG8xC9dQEwBNcXd5R5jo1SRRwntZky-USJ-SRq5mLeDM/s1080/Written%20by%20Kerri-Ann%20Betty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZFgpAxgiI7LXIyKesmuOV98U43jtLktcCVkQjTxKpT2mhw6YUuzGi4A2iamCrpVfaqNW3n4yh_s23ZLMf-bsE-VkWGmCSJ9_miyct5K14uTqD2viTIxXgo8875txhBpYxQQDZT1_NWJFuG8xC9dQEwBNcXd5R5jo1SRRwntZky-USJ-SRq5mLeDM/s320/Written%20by%20Kerri-Ann%20Betty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.kabriggs.co.uk/">I'm still reading, book blogging and bookselling in Betty's Books, you can read about that here on this website. </a><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ju1kJ6zXzu1o_NQCzjVjLLqbRQPfSEciLfxITvjROZ-8imIcsleGeoUsjq81mU7pyAR6qlKdQe2gB8UWUaUn_d2jhsMSOq3a8-bN79trl2oFJ5kxOmnxpDBibRlFv7dTN9jbfYJFw9sc5Zf5b2Jiz27VyW1htbWIm9X0vaZCqXFB5Hh11IFg3Hnj/s1530/logo%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="1530" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ju1kJ6zXzu1o_NQCzjVjLLqbRQPfSEciLfxITvjROZ-8imIcsleGeoUsjq81mU7pyAR6qlKdQe2gB8UWUaUn_d2jhsMSOq3a8-bN79trl2oFJ5kxOmnxpDBibRlFv7dTN9jbfYJFw9sc5Zf5b2Jiz27VyW1htbWIm9X0vaZCqXFB5Hh11IFg3Hnj/s320/logo%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So as you can see I'm keeping very busy which is the main reason this mish-mash of a blog hasn't been updated in a while. I'd love it if you'd take a look at one or all of my other blogs though and follow those or if you are feeling extra kind subscribing to both my YouTube channels would be a massive help. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks as always for reading and for your continued support. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kerri-Ann Betty </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br />Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-80208210112416918382022-08-11T15:06:00.002+01:002022-08-24T11:22:17.327+01:00Financial crisis and looming recession in the UK, what will it mean for non-essential shops? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWCqmQl9impjzJfwCdohbi9iRhkmpiLdd56m2QHZYA5mGDdv-pkace24X6nPWIrwslH6t7X-bls4nPDnrO3Zy_IU070AIwe48kHxhRjLS8t0pGKr7O1mJurO8stRI6VHg10MIBCEqZEK-zk_HMUXBhg2wr_RK8mFYW3WoiIJlf7BGaP-7u4xAipiz/s1080/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWCqmQl9impjzJfwCdohbi9iRhkmpiLdd56m2QHZYA5mGDdv-pkace24X6nPWIrwslH6t7X-bls4nPDnrO3Zy_IU070AIwe48kHxhRjLS8t0pGKr7O1mJurO8stRI6VHg10MIBCEqZEK-zk_HMUXBhg2wr_RK8mFYW3WoiIJlf7BGaP-7u4xAipiz/s320/Financial%20crisis%20and%20looming%20recession%20in%20the%20UK,%20what%20will%20is%20mean%20for%20non-essential%20shops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />As if non-essential shops haven't had enough to deal with over the past few years with being forced to close due to a global pandemic, yet another crisis is taking hold, a financial one. It has been predicted by financial experts that the UK is heading towards a recession that is likely to hit towards the end of 2022. Already prices are climbing at a rate unknown in my lifetime. Energy costs are one of the biggest issues, they are rising rapidly and they are predicted to keep on rising. <p></p><p>People are already worrying about how they are going to pay for essentials like energy, food and water, so where does that leave the shops selling non-essentials? </p><p>As a non-essential shop owner myself i have already noticed a decline in sales since prices began to rise </p><p>Unfortunately it is going to be small independent shops that are hit hardest as they do not have the buying power of larger non-essential shops. This means they don't get the advantage of the big discounts large chain store companies do and have to pay the full price to wholesalers, prices which are rising rapidly. This means they are having to sell the products at RRP prices and cannot slash prices or discount them like some large retailers do. Its a double blow to those running small shops and businesses. </p><p>The question of whether small independent shops selling items other than food, drink, clothing and basic essentials will survive the on-going financial situation is one noone can answer yet. Only time will tell. <br /><br />Are you already feeling the difference? </p><p>Have you already begun to make changes to your lifestyle due to rising costs? <br /><br />I'd love to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments. </p><p><br /></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-50240276637926761112022-07-29T14:03:00.001+01:002022-07-29T14:03:02.558+01:00Where is the best place to purchase stamps for stamping? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrIwZAMfBlU666W1MEgqrBs0cv_jni5PcvoG0TeJ-A_4f8brcGGIDxtDbRESofUSwJAyf3bv0l2j7GtJeHI-2XV-qWUS-5HYsyKK14ZNOK2DrvL_cNrI69zTdHVVhZXkwG8UXxSAu6l6C49nb7nrJxmLla0jY-AT3C96PnX1vy5L4Y9RxPZCzqlUF/s4032/PXL_20220602_094510397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrIwZAMfBlU666W1MEgqrBs0cv_jni5PcvoG0TeJ-A_4f8brcGGIDxtDbRESofUSwJAyf3bv0l2j7GtJeHI-2XV-qWUS-5HYsyKK14ZNOK2DrvL_cNrI69zTdHVVhZXkwG8UXxSAu6l6C49nb7nrJxmLla0jY-AT3C96PnX1vy5L4Y9RxPZCzqlUF/s320/PXL_20220602_094510397.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you love stamping or are thinking of giving it a try then you need to head over to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ImagineDesignCreate2">ETSY</a> now where you'll find the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ImagineDesignCreate2">Imagine Design Create</a> range of stamps. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSoN0mblNDwoRB14x-FkqvblsFAAzRzBf9yHxJTBkL8TwghPBXukGz1cgF2hUCYV7qWx6pmPVE1S9zYygqJpK2j2GNfDpgXa5PaSiLmjB4AiZVLIbs6B-KsraxLm8gJWty8WHwS4zn-HraBOeS7aCtBRjexxli7MGwJekux_jqms57l9r7gDZUPIi/s4032/PXL_20220602_094528078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSoN0mblNDwoRB14x-FkqvblsFAAzRzBf9yHxJTBkL8TwghPBXukGz1cgF2hUCYV7qWx6pmPVE1S9zYygqJpK2j2GNfDpgXa5PaSiLmjB4AiZVLIbs6B-KsraxLm8gJWty8WHwS4zn-HraBOeS7aCtBRjexxli7MGwJekux_jqms57l9r7gDZUPIi/s320/PXL_20220602_094528078.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not only is there a great selection of stamps suitable for using with ink, paint and other mediums they are great prices too. You will find stamps for making birthday cards, Christmas cards and cards various other occasions. You could use them to decorate wrapping paper, make gift tags, create mixed media art or use in a journal. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eYyyXE7DNFDI7nf5KJu0cu4A9URjevkIB8ZYj47ihGB4sxtaUg7WOLoIDhHzjpzkoH0VP1yr0CS3IoCYRUHHVv6lWrolig51_sa6bs5ALz1xwilC5VGprN1i5Fytmc_VPw5je6UXykxc2keirUnZG3ANUkUSQrSVldVEBgtywkBTc6_nhVLn2jIa/s4032/PXL_20220602_094452040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eYyyXE7DNFDI7nf5KJu0cu4A9URjevkIB8ZYj47ihGB4sxtaUg7WOLoIDhHzjpzkoH0VP1yr0CS3IoCYRUHHVv6lWrolig51_sa6bs5ALz1xwilC5VGprN1i5Fytmc_VPw5je6UXykxc2keirUnZG3ANUkUSQrSVldVEBgtywkBTc6_nhVLn2jIa/s320/PXL_20220602_094452040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are stamp sets in different sizes A7, A6 and A5. Each contain a different number of stamps and different sizes too. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2C5PHbkGT0EHH1QLSaajhrcNmCoKXH5CSFuhAhQwXcsFELfuChHYTBgJA3lmIqERI3jWsANGLhd0g6QX1BFCc0KeFcJ2tQlJdIUPE_NYb_lnPO_vMfSfh4ym3Ykbj6A8YAoYuOpsuRlsBC5-alzy0o45aw-urj12XjpEay1VEI0YlkRcphNDFvDG/s4032/PXL_20220602_094502055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2C5PHbkGT0EHH1QLSaajhrcNmCoKXH5CSFuhAhQwXcsFELfuChHYTBgJA3lmIqERI3jWsANGLhd0g6QX1BFCc0KeFcJ2tQlJdIUPE_NYb_lnPO_vMfSfh4ym3Ykbj6A8YAoYuOpsuRlsBC5-alzy0o45aw-urj12XjpEay1VEI0YlkRcphNDFvDG/s320/PXL_20220602_094502055.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The birthday balloon selection featured above is one of the best selling sets. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb_Rokzg1YoP8ljZDiGxFYugv8RdpsPuTPmndHXOkD8obEc4atnOcChqQ29liuy8dEcH51NtkQB_ok9NtUotPWq2hcFWFDelBoyWkiNA4RjN1N2qdgOmkBS44IY4TfjRMV80c02Txa2jrVisVbCh8PHpN2gyd7LO09HKj-5SYr5GUmObPqIYjFYBc/s4032/PXL_20220602_094638381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidb_Rokzg1YoP8ljZDiGxFYugv8RdpsPuTPmndHXOkD8obEc4atnOcChqQ29liuy8dEcH51NtkQB_ok9NtUotPWq2hcFWFDelBoyWkiNA4RjN1N2qdgOmkBS44IY4TfjRMV80c02Txa2jrVisVbCh8PHpN2gyd7LO09HKj-5SYr5GUmObPqIYjFYBc/s320/PXL_20220602_094638381.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ImagineDesignCreate2">So click here now to take a look at these great stamps </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They can be shipped worldwide too! </div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-7650395161145319722022-06-22T11:10:00.005+01:002022-06-22T11:10:56.244+01:00Pop up shop space in Seaton, Devon I started my business back in 2010, since then I've relocated, developed and adapted to suit the needs of customers and the challenges facing high street shops. I've always done my best to offer support to fellow business owners and start ups and with this in mind I'm currently considering letting a space within my high street shop as a 'pop up studio' space. As you can see I currently use the space to display some of my artwork and photography but due to time restraints and since selling much of it I will not have the time to keep up with demand and make enough products to fill the space whilst also keeping up with my other work commitments so the idea of letting the space on a temporary pop up basis seems like an idea worth exploring. <br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatYM-QzlZxlp2ePyu5R-YjqonHjcUUY5AjpMbu6ZVUDNY-SDat0BbnvYcAg5jiCK6W4HL1VLwtQ-s3LyTz-QE9yTQLkZAnhlJAhWHiNWjr2fl3CyidkpEleFxfoSOoUIAIMGq7W1_c0GJ-pMQDQsHusnbcEUtd6RMIeBEdVQ9IzXPQ5QQBbkNoQ-j/s4032/PXL_20220622_095621221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatYM-QzlZxlp2ePyu5R-YjqonHjcUUY5AjpMbu6ZVUDNY-SDat0BbnvYcAg5jiCK6W4HL1VLwtQ-s3LyTz-QE9yTQLkZAnhlJAhWHiNWjr2fl3CyidkpEleFxfoSOoUIAIMGq7W1_c0GJ-pMQDQsHusnbcEUtd6RMIeBEdVQ9IzXPQ5QQBbkNoQ-j/w400-h300/PXL_20220622_095621221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The studio space is accessed through the main shop, through double doors (there is a small step up) and it has an adjoining courtyard garden which I would be happy to also be used whilst running a pop up. An A-board could be put up outside the front of the shop to inform potential customers of what is in the studio on each given date. There are some display units currently in there which can be used. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPn2CCEVKTtEHGSB4J8G9bQNZULy9XvMLKQVHybpe7i0fzdjVxU_k50uU5dKghEXiHDupcSoOQZxdEa3JQGFQO0cVt4R4yFU0eG561MFm7zMRrxQ-sytG3upYCzabGyIsYgsAicA61y1S4NuQ6a1bfqQetO0dbjwRkpMM1aU8TNeDPekMZ6T58UTA/s4032/PXL_20220622_095635962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPn2CCEVKTtEHGSB4J8G9bQNZULy9XvMLKQVHybpe7i0fzdjVxU_k50uU5dKghEXiHDupcSoOQZxdEa3JQGFQO0cVt4R4yFU0eG561MFm7zMRrxQ-sytG3upYCzabGyIsYgsAicA61y1S4NuQ6a1bfqQetO0dbjwRkpMM1aU8TNeDPekMZ6T58UTA/w400-h300/PXL_20220622_095635962.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This sort of opportunity might suit a small business owner who currently sells products online or at table top fairs but wants to run one off events so that customers can visit and purchase in person. The products do not need to be book or art related though obviously those selling items that appeal to book lovers and art lovers will have an advantage in that we have an establish customer based and presence that attracts customers who like books and art. </div><div><br /></div><div>The person using the space would need to set up their own displays, be on site whilst using the space and in a position to look after their own customers and take payments themselves. They would also need to market their pop up to promote themselves to their own customer base and potential customers (which of course we would also do on our own social media too) because relying solely on passing trade doesn't usually work for pop up shops according to my research. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dates and times of opening is something we may be flexible on and can work with the interested person on arranging something to suit. </div><div><br /></div><div>At this stage we are purely assessing interest, is this you or someone you know may be interested in using? </div><div><br /></div><div>If you would like more information please get in contact with us on info@devonartsupplies.co.uk or pop in to 30 Queen Street, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2RB to have a look at the space and discuss your interest. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiSQr-D5j966whNwyDcVzzfraui--MVGQscb-E8AIg4nHrW2J1SbgXDas8CNS1yGrkpHQZgsbS_W268Xqv_OgFrttNa8-StZCSfyzd_rNZ3eeLN2fDXeg6_JR0BiBzXNziFjQF0QUoIfPi4q_fdDaf6VVXHbLt_Wxy1E2ufr8FlsY524VEwG9P6Ke/s4032/PXL_20220622_095626585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiSQr-D5j966whNwyDcVzzfraui--MVGQscb-E8AIg4nHrW2J1SbgXDas8CNS1yGrkpHQZgsbS_W268Xqv_OgFrttNa8-StZCSfyzd_rNZ3eeLN2fDXeg6_JR0BiBzXNziFjQF0QUoIfPi4q_fdDaf6VVXHbLt_Wxy1E2ufr8FlsY524VEwG9P6Ke/w400-h300/PXL_20220622_095626585.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><br />Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-90647300776566725292022-06-17T11:43:00.001+01:002022-06-17T11:43:00.178+01:00Making food with pre-teens | Get kids cooking <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCrq0x0cmwhxD-ztMPcDS5uNqqU2j8pRR6rqsfq7ZwJsZnJlA8uDbBtb0veQVsSJMTUS5VcDg6Qn8IYgx0UKSo1hhTVvaw0KwkXuV8Q3O_i5dyjfgpkzfQOD1N7_IBfigdwvry7p4N1EYCqlBQnPSqbIGkKurNNXVhN06NOB1VECQMkQLZzwg5WqM/s4032/PXL_20220502_145353317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCrq0x0cmwhxD-ztMPcDS5uNqqU2j8pRR6rqsfq7ZwJsZnJlA8uDbBtb0veQVsSJMTUS5VcDg6Qn8IYgx0UKSo1hhTVvaw0KwkXuV8Q3O_i5dyjfgpkzfQOD1N7_IBfigdwvry7p4N1EYCqlBQnPSqbIGkKurNNXVhN06NOB1VECQMkQLZzwg5WqM/s320/PXL_20220502_145353317.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My eldest son will be turning 12 this year and I'm starting to worry I haven't taught him enough in terms of looking after himself and making his own food. I spoke with some others who have children the same age and I'm pleased it isn't just me who feels this way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My son can make a sandwich, a cup of tea and other basics but I really would like him to learn more so that he can feel more confident in the kitchen so this year I plan to try and encourage him to bake and cook with me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When i asked him what he would like to make this week he said he'd seen some recipies for protein balls online and wanted to have a go at these. It's something he made once when visiting the secondary school he'll soon be going to, they do cooking lessons there and they did a demonstration so he knew he could make them and that he would like to eat them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We found a recipe to follow online, they were really simple and he was able to do most the steps on his own. I did help him with the blitzing of the oats. <br /><br />Chocolate & Peanut Butter Protein Balls <br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What we used was: <br /><br />Oats<br />Granola<br />Peanut butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chocolate liquid (Sweet Freedom) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJmVvteFC7B858WA2DUdkxuw2vOgHd-HPvJoGMy2i4BH9qW0UQ18mfyntBSOzTi2cfH8agcrrHZJJehc3NIYXE3yZbmLmqFw3HbqGD5H4heMqfOVwgnpe4LH9PWdaKc8JOeBAK6hwqDxD5IQ21mKMzyB7wmo22KSje0JAyHtTZF_eTErlgeoKU5rJ/s320/PXL_20220502_152232231.jpg" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To make them it was pretty much a case of chucking it all in a bowl and mixing, there wasn't really much for him to do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They don't look great, in fact I would say they look horrible but he was happy and he said they tasted good. <br /><br /><br /></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-7752835603899120292022-06-10T12:44:00.000+01:002022-06-10T12:44:01.806+01:00What service or product can you not find in Seaton, Devon? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP-osMc9OI1iw2eUrEswzyg_DoQps4fYDmFkoyNy6uSLx4Lf-qciGFBqhgbNdF5kcwczgq8TlpoOJ_jXR0IyTxxhvEm5Vr1_MkCCxFkXYJ4Ze0U7xI8fU5uQ3MD3J8dwYOcNatbHJIPYy0BkBodQX_5O1M2wpcLxZ0q7pkchIHUMRZVz-cMyas_CY/s4032/PXL_20220530_085300439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP-osMc9OI1iw2eUrEswzyg_DoQps4fYDmFkoyNy6uSLx4Lf-qciGFBqhgbNdF5kcwczgq8TlpoOJ_jXR0IyTxxhvEm5Vr1_MkCCxFkXYJ4Ze0U7xI8fU5uQ3MD3J8dwYOcNatbHJIPYy0BkBodQX_5O1M2wpcLxZ0q7pkchIHUMRZVz-cMyas_CY/s320/PXL_20220530_085300439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br />I find it interesting how in Seaton, Devon there are so many services and products that local independent shops offer that people, both the local community and visitors, don't know about. I'm often asked 'is there anywhere that sells this' or 'does Seaton not have a..' and I can usually think of at least one place that either sells the product or offers the service. </p><p>So I thought it would be interesting to put the question out there and get the conversation flowing. What product or service are you looking for in Seaton but haven't yet found? Maybe it isn't available or maybe it is but you've not come across it yet and someone else can help by informing where the said product or service can be found. </p><p>Feel free to comment on this blog post or in the comments on Facebook where this post is shared and I'll do a follow up post, probably next month to share some of the findings of what's being asked for and places others are recommending to find those things if they are already available. </p><p>Seaton is such a wonderful place to live and to visit, let's try and be positive about it as much as possible and share with each other the things we love about it. </p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-28270787489475699842022-05-29T14:21:00.014+01:002022-06-10T12:40:24.263+01:00“There is nothing for kids and teens to do in Seaton” say some parents, are they right? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZkyHrWgvgYMjcwnZsAQjR-v3O46oxMFJ6Fk4XCMc1aZpJSRYKTwylOUZmZq-Rt_qcK64rQqtnrayrP2JbYNKZHIFVtko1GTc_3Itl_cXB538VJEzHpElaVKZUcpSQTZ7MJ8npSxLIjzttse4BdD-mrlK95-XR4om3nO6NTfT8PdI0xmavdd_pRm3/s880/IMG_20190808_101412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZkyHrWgvgYMjcwnZsAQjR-v3O46oxMFJ6Fk4XCMc1aZpJSRYKTwylOUZmZq-Rt_qcK64rQqtnrayrP2JbYNKZHIFVtko1GTc_3Itl_cXB538VJEzHpElaVKZUcpSQTZ7MJ8npSxLIjzttse4BdD-mrlK95-XR4om3nO6NTfT8PdI0xmavdd_pRm3/s320/IMG_20190808_101412.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p><br />This is something that I often hear and read on social media and it appears to be a very emotive subject. I personally have children who are now nearly 10 and 12 as well as three step children between 11 and 14 who regularly stay here in Seaton with us. <br /><br />Though not born and raised in Seaton I've lived and worked here now for 8 years so feel that I have got to know the place and it is home for me and my family. The opinion that ''Seaton has nothing to offer children and teenagers'' in my opinion is quite wrong. There are a number of things that Seaton has for children and young people, of course there could be more, of course there are some things missing, especially indoor activities but this is the same for most towns around the UK. I wouldn't say that Seaton is completely without anything for youth to do. </p><p>Seaton has a variety of things on offer for children and teenagers to get involved in, depending on their personal interests, here are just a few examples of the things I know about though I'm very sure there are many more... <br /><br /><b>Local Parks </b><br />Seaton has a number of different parks and open spaces for children and teenagers to enjoy. Depending on if they like a particular sport like football, basketball or generally using park equipment would depend on which I'd recommend. Elizabeth Road park for example has the basketball area and the Jurassic park has a good football set up. <br /><br /><b>Skate Park </b><br />Seaton has a skate park for those who like to use bikes, roller skates, scooters etc It is located at the Jurassic park. There are even events hosted there sometimes, for example <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/325426099672466">this one,</a> that was there in May 2022. <br /><br /><b>Running <br /></b>If your teen enjoys running there are a number of clubs they could get involved in including <a href="https://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/">Axe Valley Runners. </a>You should be able to find out more information <a href="https://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/">here. </a><br /><br /><b>Drama </b><br />I'm not sure if these activities are still running since the pandemic but i know they did before at The Gateway, if you are interested in finding out more about drama clubs and performances for children and teens to get involved with I'd recommend contacting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gatewayseaton">The Gateway. </a></p><p><b>Dance Clubs </b><br />There are probably a number of different dance clubs in Seaton, <a href="https://www.jmdancefit.co.uk/classes/childrens-dance-fit/">here is just one company worth contacting to find out more about dance in the Seaton area for children and teenagers. </a></p><p><b>Martial Arts Clubs</b><br />I'm not full aware of all the different ones on offer in Seaton but i do know there are a number of different ones because i'm always seeing posts about them and the different types available in the area. One place you could look and find information would be <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seatonmartialartscentre">here</a>, but a quick search on google and i'm sure you'll find more. </p><p><b>Art & craft workshops, clubs and activities </b><br />There are a number of venues in Seaton that offer arts and crafts related sessions. <br /><br /><b>Seaton Wetlands <br /></b><a href="https://eastdevon.gov.uk/wildeastdevon/">Seaton wetlands</a> is a great place to enjoy for all ages, there is a lot to learn when visiting, they often host events for families or it can just be enjoyed as a place to walk around. <br /><br /><b>Indoor and outdoor gym </b><br />Seaton is lucky enough to have an outside FREE gym for teens and supervised children who are keen to keep fit. You'll find it at Seafield Gardens. <br />There is also an LED run gym, you can <a href="https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/">find out more information on that here.</a> <br /><br /><b>Crazy Golf </b><br />You can find out more about the crazy golf at <a href="https://www.ledleisure.co.uk/our-centre/seafield-gardens-seaton">Seafield gardens here </a><br /><br /><b>Football </b><br />Seaton has a football club and I know there are a number of football clubs for different ages in Seaton. You should be able to find out more information on<a href="https://www.seatontownfc.co.uk/"> football related activities for children in Seaton here. </a></p><p><b>Cricket <br /></b>Seaton has a cricket club and they often run clubs and activities for children and teens to get involved with. <a href="https://seaton.play-cricket.com/home">You can find out some information here. </a><br /><br /><b>Tennis </b><br />I believe there is a tennis club for children, teens and adults in Seaton though I don't know much about it you should be able to find out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Seatontennis/">some information here. </a>There are also tennis pitches which i believe you can hire to use via LED. </p><p><b>Youth Club </b><br />Seaton's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeatonLibraryDevon">library</a> offer a youth club, you can find out more about that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SeatonLibraryDevon">here. </a></p><p><b>Gaming clubs </b><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/itemdropped">Item Drop</a>, a shop in town offers clubs and activities for gaming fans and I believe a weekly drop in session. You can find out more about what they offer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itemdropped">here.</a> </p><p><b>Fishing </b><br />If your children or teens are interested in fishing then it may be worth contacting the over by the harbor who might be able to help and advise. I also came across <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/819813755092846/">this fishing group </a>on Facebook who might be able to help and advise more. Another place to look for information would maybe be<a href="https://www.axeyachtclub.co.uk/"> Axe Yacht Club. </a><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=dance%20club%20seaton&sxsrf=ALiCzsYhHSZGrO4p5ADELKTS7Gbjcn4dPg:1653747220122&source=hp&ei=Dy6SYv2YPM3GgQbN2Y9I&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAYpI8IAWqMNTWcB74sboGm6zERZ0AOVjS&ved=2ahUKEwj16Om8sIL4AhWLTMAKHXD6BCAQvS56BAgHEAE&uact=5&oq=dance+club+seaton&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBQghEKABMgUIIRCgAToECCMQJzoKCC4QxwEQrwEQQzoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6CwguEIAEEMcBEK8BOhEILhCABBCxAxCDARDHARCjAjoRCC4QgAQQsQMQgwEQxwEQ0QM6BwguENQCEEM6CggAELEDEIMBEEM6BAguEEM6BAgAEEM6BQgAEIAEOggILhCABBDUAjoLCC4QgAQQsQMQgwE6CAguEIAEELEDOggILhCxAxCDAToLCC4QgAQQsQMQ1AI6CAgAEIAEEMkDOgUIABCSAzoICAAQgAQQsQM6DgguEIAEELEDEMcBENEDOgoIABCABBCHAhAUOgYIABAeEBY6CAgAEB4QDxAWUABYsBNg-RRoAHAAeACAAXGIAbwLkgEEMTIuNZgBAKABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:2&tbm=lcl&rflfq=1&num=10&rldimm=17707254266980460275&lqi=ChFkYW5jZSBjbHViIHNlYXRvbkiMyv_2lK2AgAhaIxAAEAEYARgCIhFkYW5jZSBjbHViIHNlYXRvbioGCAMQABABkgEEY2x1YqoBEhABKg4iCmRhbmNlIGNsdWIoAA&sa=X&rlst=f#rlfi=hd:;si:764788374043784277,l,ChFkYW5jZSBjbHViIHNlYXRvbkiDxYmOkauAgAhaIxAAEAEYARgCIhFkYW5jZSBjbHViIHNlYXRvbioGCAMQABABkgEEY2x1YqoBEhABKg4iCmRhbmNlIGNsdWIoAA;mv:[[55.4534449,-1.0138703],[50.086690399999995,-4.3256817]]">Also Axe Valley Angling club. </a><br /><br /><b>Watersports and related activities </b><br /><a href="https://www.axeyachtclub.co.uk/">Axe Yacht Club </a>would be one place I would recommend taking a look for information on water related activities and clubs in Seaton and Axmouth. It looks like they have information on sailing, boat hire and everything else water related. <br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/seatonbaywatersports">Seaton Bay Watersports</a> are a local business offering activities too and well worth contacting if your family, child or teen want to try out paddle boarding or a kayak. </p><p><b>The beach </b><br />An obvious thing would be the beach, we are lucky in Seaton to have a beautiful blug flag awarded beach that doesn't ever get too busy and always has space to relax and enjoy. As long as children and teens are safe and respectful of others the beach can be a great space for then to enjoy. Rock pooling is great fun at most ages and at certain times of the day, when the tide is just right there is a whole world to experience in amongst the rocks. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSR5QdoWuXBafcGRvWVmbikJA5VxIxllFBlPi8RuTPEHEgVDAC8ebGxWRYhZfKO8pBdLSPk9R_PRx9gjKHkn9U02G9QHJLN-mYIUP0zT21pR5seCTeA5WmG7ZSOCX2OMLgldOztEghx2udobh43prd1PZWse-FiGs1jJr4L8-Itg2-ppFmy1KqrlP/s1174/IMG_20190808_102545.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSR5QdoWuXBafcGRvWVmbikJA5VxIxllFBlPi8RuTPEHEgVDAC8ebGxWRYhZfKO8pBdLSPk9R_PRx9gjKHkn9U02G9QHJLN-mYIUP0zT21pR5seCTeA5WmG7ZSOCX2OMLgldOztEghx2udobh43prd1PZWse-FiGs1jJr4L8-Itg2-ppFmy1KqrlP/s320/IMG_20190808_102545.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Hopefully the information above will help you find things to do for children and teens here in Seaton, Devon. As I mentioned previously there is likely more that I've missed. </p><p>If you are looking for more information on what is available to children and teens in Seaton then there are some other places you can look for information<br /><br /><a href="https://seaton.gov.uk/tourist-information/">Seaton Tourist Information Centre - by visiting them on the seafront or taking a look here online. </a><br /><br /><a href="https://seaton.nub.news/">Seaton Nub News - a local online news outlet which often lists information on events and worth checking for information. </a><br /><br />Seaton Facebook pages for example:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/518095581629975"> Positive development for Seaton</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/145886572607671">Seaton Notice Board </a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445768118895156">Totally locally Seaton </a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-27090247016570773372022-05-28T14:00:00.002+01:002022-05-28T14:18:13.716+01:00The 3 best cafes in Seaton, Devon | May 2022 <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--pKkAkYKnFxz9L_cZN16ENQk76mHGzuGKKnKQ4wGIxRIgn3OQvlc-5mnFW08LZHy87cKKxC0Y6AfPjrbQCD9raPqIv4LXEQLHpSNZgr4nB5iTTtAzrb4q6e2OjkIpC8B0L7Gz7l85-mGtzXNXfpinnDp_MlFFaLrCw_YtGLIh92pwMOvR47x-K8d/s1174/IMG_20201105_115845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj--pKkAkYKnFxz9L_cZN16ENQk76mHGzuGKKnKQ4wGIxRIgn3OQvlc-5mnFW08LZHy87cKKxC0Y6AfPjrbQCD9raPqIv4LXEQLHpSNZgr4nB5iTTtAzrb4q6e2OjkIpC8B0L7Gz7l85-mGtzXNXfpinnDp_MlFFaLrCw_YtGLIh92pwMOvR47x-K8d/s320/IMG_20201105_115845.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I've lived and worked in Seaton now for over 8 years and though I don't get much time myself to visit the local cafes (I wish I did but I'm always working) as I'm a shop owner I do get to overhear and be told about experiences both locals and visitors have in other local shops and in cafes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Just for a bit of fun I thought I would share with you the top 3 rated cafes in Seaton going on the information I get told and overhear as a shop owner in Seaton. So not my personal experience of the cafes but that of others who are directly sharing their opinions with me or who are talking about their experiences with friends, family and other people whilst browsing in my shop. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The best 3 cafes in Seaton right now in May 2022, as per what I'm hearing are...</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>3rd place - Barista Fourteen </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFaCweqo3tnZKAZeDBq9bQOqoxmJBW7i7sLWMN-3y6qLfVd4-ELZFFJdf7L-Bdjz1pjELWUafq7ZD72QZS0AHne_1AJJvdRmMS8A7QO2qWDpYoYTgaKHGPmtZUdmhdExYCpTSO9y-dANr-3U12xhZMlinuhewdx6qza_hhPZzjeVpliLxjJaANx2y/s1024/277750919_10228107784225767_2351182726646968417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFaCweqo3tnZKAZeDBq9bQOqoxmJBW7i7sLWMN-3y6qLfVd4-ELZFFJdf7L-Bdjz1pjELWUafq7ZD72QZS0AHne_1AJJvdRmMS8A7QO2qWDpYoYTgaKHGPmtZUdmhdExYCpTSO9y-dANr-3U12xhZMlinuhewdx6qza_hhPZzjeVpliLxjJaANx2y/s320/277750919_10228107784225767_2351182726646968417_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately I couldn't find a website or open Facebook page for Barista Fourteen online, only a closed private Facebook group. I don't know much about the cafe though I believe it is quite new, it is tucked away in a corner on Cross Street but from what I'm hearing is a very sweet little space that offer wonderful cakes. I am hearing that it is a 'lovely little surprise' to find and very nice and calm for people who want a cuppa in peace. It looks like they may also offer private hire. <br />It sounds like it is well worth a visit if you are looking for super scrummy cake and a cuppa. <p></p><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><b>2nd place - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Pebblescoffeehouseseaton">Pebbles Coffee House</a> <br /><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSC3nI7ANzSmpP-M_In2I2XuyyYyCyrKndZ1MaJZxchNPFMU_x81E62j1ll6j5GSvscJhcIrBT1ak-BGk5ZswI4zTBhfoJEQ2w9dGA6IX2T2_Q97hKFiUMv2nvs88iZexfK5dbErFNbubIt3QfHpUJKRhfF6RFUR0WMsjAV3jXbcCBFuuPybHtlGW/s960/36521315_925267627653725_2076673076241629184_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSC3nI7ANzSmpP-M_In2I2XuyyYyCyrKndZ1MaJZxchNPFMU_x81E62j1ll6j5GSvscJhcIrBT1ak-BGk5ZswI4zTBhfoJEQ2w9dGA6IX2T2_Q97hKFiUMv2nvs88iZexfK5dbErFNbubIt3QfHpUJKRhfF6RFUR0WMsjAV3jXbcCBFuuPybHtlGW/s320/36521315_925267627653725_2076673076241629184_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />(Image copyright to Pebbles picture as seen on their Facebook page) <br /><br />Pebbles Coffee House is on Marine Place and offers a variety of food and drink. I've heard so many great things about Pebbles over the years. Not only is it a great place for a coffee & cake or a lunch stop but it also offers special Sunday lunches and meal clubs which the community and visitors staying in the area seem to love. It is run by a really lovely couple and some great staff who work hard to make every customer feel welcome. <br /><br />If you are visiting Seaton and looking for somewhere nice to eat or drink then I'd recommend a visit to Pebbles because from what I'm hearing the food is not only really tasty but great value too. </div><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1st place - </b><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Passiflora-Coffee-Shop-107858351899062">Passiflora </a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZpMgH-9hixFbdBB1XmyYx-gm3ANiBuIMhDg_fv5kS_KoW2UUW_WwPIqf_qDO8FT8nELu4TOxKYOhJruMN2nEjFGw5iJCL6GPvT10XblOCffcFSsANp736b-OqroP9TVxMHrUb1v_eOivBnZ01MJ3gfDsIPUD0r2ob6iBIDfllH1vcXrndjjx3mSz/s960/278394641_107859178565646_6068581097685419673_n.jpg" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZpMgH-9hixFbdBB1XmyYx-gm3ANiBuIMhDg_fv5kS_KoW2UUW_WwPIqf_qDO8FT8nELu4TOxKYOhJruMN2nEjFGw5iJCL6GPvT10XblOCffcFSsANp736b-OqroP9TVxMHrUb1v_eOivBnZ01MJ3gfDsIPUD0r2ob6iBIDfllH1vcXrndjjx3mSz/s320/278394641_107859178565646_6068581097685419673_n.jpg" width="319" /></a><br />(Image copyright to Passiflora, as seen on their Facebook page) </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Passiflora-Coffee-Shop-107858351899062">Passiflora</a> is a beautiful little cafe on Cross Street. As well as being a cafe it also sells a selection of house plants, clothing and home decor. I've heard only great things about Passiflora since it opened. It changed hands recently and now has new owners from when it first opened but the praise and love for this little coffee shop continues. Visitors and locals alike seem to love the coffee, the vibe that the place has and the cute little courtyard garden. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are visiting Seaton and are looking for top quality coffee then I would highly recommend a visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Passiflora-Coffee-Shop-107858351899062">Passiflora</a> as from what I'm hearing it is the best cafe in Seaton. <br /><br /><br />Please note that there are many other cafes and places to eat and drink in Seaton that I'm sure are fantastic. I'm just sharing information on 3 places that I hear positive things about most often to spread a little positivity about Seaton. <br /><br />Some other great cafes in Seaton that I've heard of...<br /><br />Coast Cafe Bar <br /><br />The Terrace Arts Cafe </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hideaway </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finishing Touches <br /><br />Daisy's </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">there are probably more that I have missed and I apologies. <br /><br /></div><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-90591567714368714492022-05-28T13:10:00.003+01:002022-05-28T13:12:02.724+01:003 ways to earn a passive income working from home with no set up costs <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77NZ1F2FIpVW5kISYFwfLBfiATMIbKaLD-Z9DK4EglMlrhS89d5NlZcSZzOVMJGHrKyQ8RIHsQO4GnBPbZAtkxYA5Ta9fFVaoLnnEaw_8yDnjVZqv2Gz9sBRGvF94WHIXEb2mVXP66BXcgD6e4DdrOVUoIf5yWGSUwG0iTwtp3aLs9s-wzzPb9lli/s1500/Feminine%20Minimal%20Business%20Blog%20Pinterest%20Pin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77NZ1F2FIpVW5kISYFwfLBfiATMIbKaLD-Z9DK4EglMlrhS89d5NlZcSZzOVMJGHrKyQ8RIHsQO4GnBPbZAtkxYA5Ta9fFVaoLnnEaw_8yDnjVZqv2Gz9sBRGvF94WHIXEb2mVXP66BXcgD6e4DdrOVUoIf5yWGSUwG0iTwtp3aLs9s-wzzPb9lli/w266-h400/Feminine%20Minimal%20Business%20Blog%20Pinterest%20Pin.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b><br />What is passive income? <br /></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">According to good old google ''Passive income is a type of unearned income that is acquired automatically with minimal labor to earn or maintain. It is often combined with another source of income, such as a side hustle.'' Some passive income streams require a 'set up' or 'start up' cost and some require no outlay, those are probably the best ones to start with! </span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">Do </b><span style="color: #4d5156;"><b>I</b></span><b style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;"> need to declare my passive income? </b><br /><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">Whether you need to declare your passive income will depend on where you live. </span><a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-additional-income-tax" style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">If you are in the UK this site</a><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;"> will help help you to work out whether or not you need to declare your income. </span><br /><br /><b style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">How can </b><span style="color: #4d5156;"><b>I</b></span><b style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;"> earn a passive income? </b><br /><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">There are a </span><span style="color: #4d5156;">number</span><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;"> of different ways you can earn a passive income, in this post </span><span style="color: #4d5156;">I'm</span><span style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> going to talk about 3 different ways that are ideal because they benefit from have no set up cost (though do require you have access to the internet) </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Creating low content books on KDP <br /></b></span>Easy to do. No set up costs you just need to sign up. Though you do not require special software there are some free software programs worth downloading that will make things easier for you to create books for KDP. <br />If you are wondering what is considered to be low content and interested in learning more about what and how to make books for KDP then check back soon to see my post about creating KDP content where I will go more in-depth about the process and how you can earn money with KDP. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Blogging</b> <br />No set up costs, unless you want a personalized domain name. Easy to get started and no special equipment or software needed. <br /></span>Blogging is one of the easiest ways to earn a passive income though you do need to have the ability to come up with interesting and captivating content. It is usually best to have a niche blog and focus on writing content specific to this niche. You will also need to set the blog up and add content to it in advance of linking it with your chosen advertising platform (which is how you can make a passive income) as they require the blog to be active before approving as a site worth linking with. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Designing and '</span>drop shipping<span style="font-family: inherit;">' </span>physical<span style="font-family: inherit;"> products such as clothing, </span>accessories</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> and homeware. </b><br />No set up costs. Requires you to be creative and to set up an account with a drop-ship style company. <br /></span>There are a variety of companies out there that offer drop shipping, once you have found one that suits your needs it is about creating the product designs that people will be interested in, loading them to the platform you choose and then promoting to get people buying them. <br /></span><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVx56bLYVaQ9zLSvQFja13saNl4_mmtFRMpZ9iPVZQnMufEAzFcUYBo3Aak82JdieM1E6YEn0iY_y-2kErBSOmIVCuKZTA0kWtTjmzYyVv0iV0GpsJzBXsM44J6nlKSdxNamLZtTJdtIWC0IAZz6uj1GGmcX1YO-_ciVkAySpFCFN2q-rCZVUUYqb_/s1080/Passive%20Income.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVx56bLYVaQ9zLSvQFja13saNl4_mmtFRMpZ9iPVZQnMufEAzFcUYBo3Aak82JdieM1E6YEn0iY_y-2kErBSOmIVCuKZTA0kWtTjmzYyVv0iV0GpsJzBXsM44J6nlKSdxNamLZtTJdtIWC0IAZz6uj1GGmcX1YO-_ciVkAySpFCFN2q-rCZVUUYqb_/s320/Passive%20Income.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-36701663627076849372022-05-26T13:26:00.000+01:002022-05-26T13:26:15.652+01:00Is it the end for independent high street non-essential shops? | Can Seaton town center survive? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirySyP8LJlf010Deb1Zuv2rfGoPmBBXXDzrTpXsXJjNm-tnJDk4bpHvG1zcO-CcPCHYORCuXtSPBv_jG0OX_8ZD-VPRz8mXUFmdbA_ec6MlHI1tdJ25rWi3mbNjSDfswPbg5_YcN2pymEl0dtTdwDNQGaR0ZdANVqSkN7huQuKmZAl6dYc7ZVMHp1Z/s1174/IMG_20201105_115405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirySyP8LJlf010Deb1Zuv2rfGoPmBBXXDzrTpXsXJjNm-tnJDk4bpHvG1zcO-CcPCHYORCuXtSPBv_jG0OX_8ZD-VPRz8mXUFmdbA_ec6MlHI1tdJ25rWi3mbNjSDfswPbg5_YcN2pymEl0dtTdwDNQGaR0ZdANVqSkN7huQuKmZAl6dYc7ZVMHp1Z/s320/IMG_20201105_115405.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Is the time of high street shops ending? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can independently owned high streets shop survive another financial battle? <br /><br />Those are just two of the questions that I hear almost daily being debated, both online and in person. Everyone has their own views and opinions on the current situation but i think one thing people can agree on is that things are difficult in the UK right now, for everyone, in different ways. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;"><br />According to <a href="https://www.powertochange.org.uk/news/britains-high-street-crisis-reaches-tipping-point/#:~:text=A%20record%2016%25%20of%20shops,for%20more%20than%20three%20years.">this article</a><br /><br /><b>''A record 16% of shops on Britain's high streets stand empty and one in every 20 vacant units across the country have been shuttered up for more than three years</b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;">.''</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />This is just one of the signs that high street shops are struggling to survive, but why? </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">If independent high street shops survived the pandemic how come they are struggling now, in 2022, when lockdowns have been lifted and the public is free to go shopping, some ask. Well the reason is that the general public, those that shops depend on are either struggling financially already or are unsure of what the coming months and years are going to hold and so are reducing their non-essential spending. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Shops that sell food, clothing and other essentials are unlikely to be feeling the extreme effects that non-essential shops are right now (though they may be getting a taste of it). Over the past few weeks leading now into a month, every single non-essential shop owner I've spoken to or read about is struggling and is very concerned about the future. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">There are less people out browsing, I'm assuming to try and avoid being tempted to spend, and less people out actively buying in the high streets. Now from the articles I'm reading this is UK wide and is not limited to one specific area. The location here cannot really be blamed, it is about the current financial situation in the UK. <br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHosjkuRNCgqoP1VTOUVLVR28ggLUcqbDV6veSvbtIwqoS9kjiFaBEPvJWnM4D-2oSWfEJVi2UgOS4iB-XRiKpsy24JOAm-idF17skW0XUzKV6Z7DHjWIikBGA4YS-dHiv3_kkpt4a9lMzy7uDd8tZJXd6lg68aEBAhU2rGVKKXWEq5zt9OIDq2ZT/s1174/IMG_20201105_115845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHosjkuRNCgqoP1VTOUVLVR28ggLUcqbDV6veSvbtIwqoS9kjiFaBEPvJWnM4D-2oSWfEJVi2UgOS4iB-XRiKpsy24JOAm-idF17skW0XUzKV6Z7DHjWIikBGA4YS-dHiv3_kkpt4a9lMzy7uDd8tZJXd6lg68aEBAhU2rGVKKXWEq5zt9OIDq2ZT/s320/IMG_20201105_115845.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><p></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/1568060/cost-of-living-crisis-inflation-high-street-retail-ons" style="color: #292221; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -0.17px;">''High Street faces crisis as millions of brits struggle - new warning issued'' </a><br /><span style="color: #292221;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.17px;">The article above by The Express goes into even more detail about the challenges faced by indie businesses. Not only are they faced with turnover falling due to customers spending less but also a rise in costs for energy, staffing and products. Most businesses, especially high street shops are seeing a strong increase in costs at the same time as a </span></span><span style="color: #292221;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.17px;">decrease</span></span><span style="color: #292221;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.17px;"> in turnover. <br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JnaVLy0wqp8RgIZOT7xnUt-f3kUgCEZTCSq0m2BsOG2habLsaARWgjvjwDZd7n-Fksopw05-ICsWRlljYASBnnPQ1q0nNEv5hG56M1wLnkGiTnDf1qXHRQM6GVF9pvQ0VL718CAt0HjwAxgWL811mSs-HWxkPTmjYzxU5Tn-nUTfIe3Vgx2sxvVV/s1174/IMG_20190720_180836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="1174" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JnaVLy0wqp8RgIZOT7xnUt-f3kUgCEZTCSq0m2BsOG2habLsaARWgjvjwDZd7n-Fksopw05-ICsWRlljYASBnnPQ1q0nNEv5hG56M1wLnkGiTnDf1qXHRQM6GVF9pvQ0VL718CAt0HjwAxgWL811mSs-HWxkPTmjYzxU5Tn-nUTfIe3Vgx2sxvVV/s320/IMG_20190720_180836.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Whether high street shops will survive will depend on a number of factors for example:</b><br /><i>- The support of the local community<br />- The shops ability to adapt and diversify<br />- The financial situation of the business, whether it has access to funds to keep it going whilst going through yet another rough patch. </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some who believe that high streets do not matter, that they were going to fade away soon anyway with the internet taking over and people turning to the web to purchase rather than to high street shops. There others who don't want this to happen and who see the importance of high streets and independently owned businesses. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Personally </span>I<span style="font-family: inherit;"> think that high streets are </span>important<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and are worth saving, this probably has a lot to do with the fact that i own a high street business but that aside the community element to high streets, the fact that they bring people together and can when structured well create a social space that promotes physical and mental health i feel is something worth saving. Do to this though i think our idea of high streets might need to change. Shop owners, like myself, need to be willing and able to adapt. We need to be thinking about what we can do, what we can offer that people will want and need, that they cannot get or experience online. Whether each individual shop owner does this alone or whether shop owners work together will i think make a difference. If shops are willing to get together and make a plan on what they can all do to make a town </span>center<span style="font-family: inherit;"> / high street interesting, captivating and worthwhile visiting then i think they will have more success than those unwilling to work together. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The government response to the on-going situation with high streets is an interesting one, if you have the time to read this document, then it is an interesting read. I was particularly interested in the point made in section 5 of the document: </span><br /><i style="font-family: inherit;">5. It remains the case that resilient, thriving high streets and town centres of the future will
be planned in the round in collaboration with local authorities, the business community
(including Business Improvement Districts), property owners and the local community.
Strategies for high streets and town centres should <b>combine a mix of uses</b> including
housing, offices (including shared workspaces), retail, hospitality, leisure, arts and culture,
healthcare, physical activity, green space, seating, and child’s play. These plans should be
based on experiences and not just transactions, and be <b>tailored to the needs and character
of the individual area. </b>Principles that local planners of high streets and town centres
should explore include: <b>creating experiences that cannot be found online</b>; generating
social value and not just economic growth; and supporting residents to move around
because they want to, rather than because they have to.<br /></i><br />There are parts in the document i agree with and some i don't, the parts here I've highlighted above in section 5 seem to a-line with some of what I've said too. About the importance of adapting and of creating 'an experience' that can't be found on the internet. <br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are interested in reading more about </span><a href="https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/The%20future%20of%20high%20streets%20and%20town%20centres%20-%20trends%20analysis.pdf" style="font-family: inherit;">'The future of high streets and town centers' this is an interesting read. </a>This is a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> document prepared for the LGA that discusses in depth issues and potential short term and long term action plans. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 46px; margin: 17px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; transform: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /><br /></span></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451107586538998698.post-88941208712061040562022-05-25T11:34:00.002+01:002022-05-25T11:34:53.932+01:00Why is my bipolar friend / family member always tired? <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc1tFAqGFN3tahIc2HHVrr3uxmtvCw_h_xoc4Eq-WbnmRXuwkX_zgolBR55N3ToJDXdjti9xMCRQalELADFig2WvOLcX_p9KomaTk5h_jKPxJGuoMX7k4Y-KHlDXJTIa5Rj1SrvBON0iFKVQK-iQ_upbFNnyk2hX5T-3I62cItqqQH9_pZq_FrsQV/s4032/PXL_20220326_142137073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc1tFAqGFN3tahIc2HHVrr3uxmtvCw_h_xoc4Eq-WbnmRXuwkX_zgolBR55N3ToJDXdjti9xMCRQalELADFig2WvOLcX_p9KomaTk5h_jKPxJGuoMX7k4Y-KHlDXJTIa5Rj1SrvBON0iFKVQK-iQ_upbFNnyk2hX5T-3I62cItqqQH9_pZq_FrsQV/s320/PXL_20220326_142137073.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have you ever wondered why your friend or family member with bipolar is always tired? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well i can't speak for everyone who has the condition I can only speak for myself but you might find that their reasons are the same or at least similar. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are a few reasons why those of us with bipolar, and other mental health conditions can always appear to be tired but the most common I would expect is because masking is exhausting! <br /><br /><b>What do I mean by masking? </b><br />Masking it a term sometimes used by those of us with mental health conditions to describe how we mask, or hide, our symptoms in social situations. I for example mask my true self, my feelings and my stims as best I can throughout the day whilst at work and around my children but once I'm alone i usually fall apart. This can be in a variety of ways sometimes i cry, sometimes i get angry, sometimes i get restless, sometimes i get too much energy and bounce around and sometimes i just collapse in exhaustion. Masking it very tiring, it tasks physical and mental effort to try and control our outward actions, spoken words and facial expressions. <br /><br /><b>Why do we mask? </b><br />We usually mask in order to make other people feel more comfortable around us, to not show our true selves as we worry others could not handle us and in some cases masking it important in order to stay employed in certain job roles. We have to ensure that we appear level and 'normal' at all times and not let too much of ourselves shine through. <br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Masking isn't the only reason though. Life with bipolar is exhausting enough even for those of us who don't need to mask or who can't. Daily life with bipolar is enough to tire us out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Though it is widely known that depression can cause fatigue is isn't as commonly known how manic / mania episodes too can result in fatigue and extreme exhaustion. The hours and days after a manic episode can be the hardest as our bodies try to recover from the insomnia and restlessness that mania brings. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/fatigue">A really good site to read more about Bipolar and why those of us with it suffer with fatigue can be found here: Healthline </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kerri-Ann Briggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04648584085939101994noreply@blogger.com0