AT the very moment Georgina, Philippa and Anna were recovering from a busy Christmas, packing away the decorations and dismantling the Jeyes ‘Surprise Northamptonshire’ Christmas tree, those dreaded words are spoken.
‘I’ve come to do the Christmas card order for this year’ – the first greetings card representative chirps with a cheery smile, as he appears in the shop doorway. He is met with a groan, are they tears of delight or sheer despair rolling down Georgina’s cheek? He bravely soldiers on. ‘And don’t let’s forget the calendars and diaries too. Christmas 2019 will be here before you know it’.
“But,” stammers Georgina, “we have got Valentine’s Day, Mothering Sunday, Easter, Father’s Day before then, and what about the cards for birthdays, hatch, match and dispatch, thank you, good luck and congratulations – there are greetings cards to choose and order for so many special occasions before Santa even gets back from his summer holidays.”
“Come on,” he urges, “You can do it.”
2018 was the successful year of the robin and the Brussels sprout. “What should I choose for 2019?” Georgina asks. “I’ll do 12 months of Christmas and go cold turkey!”
With that job done, the Jeyes family can continue with their exciting new plans for the year, developing the Pharmacy Heritage Centre and the Kinky Boots Showcase to welcome even more visitors, tourists, groups and children in the Tractor Ted play area and Jeylatos Ice Cream bar.
Philippa and Anna are busy creating a new menu for The Apothocoffee Shop which now seats up to 50 customers for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea.
“We have always gone out of our way to have a varied choice, bearing in mind dietary requirements, allergies, likes and dislikes,” they say, “but this year our challenge is to provide an appetising selection for vegans too.”
With imagination, continuing to support the local food and drink producers of Made in Northamptonshire, Jeyes aims to please all its customers. As they all look across the Square the daffodils are about to bloom – Spring is in the air at Jeyes of Earls Barton after all.
Jeyes of Earls Barton is on The Square, Earls Barton, telephone 01604 810289 or visit the website www.jeyesofearlsbarton.co.uk