Anyway, here’s an exclusive snippet!

Chapter 1 – The mysterious thing…

Matthias attempted a wry smile but it looked like a frown. Joyce took the envelopes and thought about when they had first met. It was really nice.

A bit of a work in progress, but I think it’s a step in the right direction! At least, it’ll certainly help me keep my mind off business. Who knows, it could even help with the product descriptions for the new yoghurts I’m selling. They’re from Greece!

“My recipe for dealing with anger and frustration: set the kitchen timer for twenty minutes, cry, rant, and rave, and at the sound of the bell, simmer down and go about business as usual.” – Phyllis Diller

After the initial barrage of inquiries regarding my singledom, it would appear that interest in me has died out. I don’t know if I’m upset at the lack of response, or relieved that I am not receiving anymore. I just can’t put my finger on exactly why the emails have dried up.

Well, maybe I do – I didn’t reply to any, but only because there was no one who I thought I’d like to get to know!
Oh well, back to business I guess. Things are still slow and I still have a sneaking suspicion it’s because of the summer. Hebden has remained very quiet, bar the odd family coming down for the day. I often wonder what my life would have been like had I stayed with my ex and tried to raise a family.

Whenever I think that, however, I’m instantly reminded of the horrible things my ex used to say about children. Nobody should ever be called “little human dogs”. He wasn’t a very nice man, and if he popped up in my internet dating account I wouldn’t ‘wink’ at him no matter how hard his internet eyes fluttered!

If there’s been one saving grace this week it’s been that the weather has been OK. Sporadic, but OK. I don’t so much mind a wet August, as the temperature more or less stays the same. Probably sums up the frustration of my life at the moment really – lots of rain, lots of sun. Now, where’s that rainbow???

“I can’t go on anymore bad dates. I would rather be home alone than out with some guy who sells socks on the internet.” – Cynthia Nixon

“Soulmates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you.” – Anon.

I’ve had a slew of responses to my advert on the dating website, so many that I feel almost embarrassed! Who would have guessed that there were so many single men on the internet?! I certainly didn’t. You always hear that it’s mainly single men looking for women who spend the most time on the internet, but I thought that was just a stereotype? After all, by that logic and the amount of time I spend online, I may as well be a single man! Haha!

Everybody who has so far been in touch with me has seemed thoroughly lovely, although I must admit no one has particularly leaped out at me. Then again, maybe it’s time I took some chances…

Men from around the UK have been in touch, and I’ve even had messages from wealthy men in Africa. Apparently they’ve been going through some financial trouble and need some help, but I’m not in any position to give away money just yet. I’ve replied and offered some organic chutney instead. That might help.

There’s a point – would my courier services deliver that far? Well, hopefully they’ll reply and I can get the chance to find out.

I also had a strange message from somebody who seemed to take my interest in astronomy as an indication that I have psychic powers…

“We’re an 88% match, which means you should have dreamed about me last night. Can you let me have Saturday’s lottery numbers?”

I didn’t reply… I wonder if he saw that coming???

Like I said, I’ve still not found my Prince Charming, but I’m happy to hold on for a few weeks until something comes along. I’ve been waiting 39 years after all!!

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.” – Zora Neale Hurston

“Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it.” – Lily Tomlin

A lovely project put together in Hebden.

I don’t recognise anybody though!

“Reality is merely an illusion, although a very persistent one.” – Albert Einstein

“Quietude, which some men cannot abide because it reveals their inward poverty, is as a palace of cedar to the wise, for along its hallowed courts the King in his beauty deigns to walk.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

This is what I wake up to every day! Michael Aspel at this best…

“The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” – Albert Einstein

Life doesn’t move too quickly in Hebden, and that’s just the way I like it. In the city I found everything so hectic and it all went by so blindingly fast. Even in the quieter, bohemian areas everyone seemed to have an agenda, whether it was buying a house, burrowing a career or starting a family. Of course, there are nothing wrong with these things, I just wanted the still life. I think I’ve found that here in my own life, and with my business.

Things have been going steadily since my last blog. There have been no problems as of yet with the courier service I’ve opted for, and all bar one of the purchases I’ve made have had some nice feedback. Dare I say it, I think I’m making some headway and a bit of a name for myself around these parts!

I’m glad to see the weather letting up a bit this week. I’ve been roasting for the last month, and goodness knows how the cats are getting on. It might be an idea to get them shaved in the future – I don’t want them to bake!
There’s a thought. Is there a vets in Hepden? I haven’t come across one. I’ll have to ask around although, if I’m honest, I rarely see anyone to ask!

So, yes, life does move a little bit slowly in Hebden Bridge, but to be honest that’s the way I like it!

“A happy life must be to a great extent a quiet life, for it is only in an atmosphere of quiet that true joy dare live.” – Bertrand Russell

“I wanted control over the merchandising, the actual packaging of the product. That was a big factor. The only way for me to exercise control on all those levels was to start my own label.” – Helen Reddy

As you might have guessed, I’m going to talk about packaging today. Basically, I’ve now finally decided on the best way to present my products to the world. I’ll have some pictures up soon (camera permitting!) but I’ll describe it for you now.

Right. So customer X places an order. I take payment and gather the items. Then I put everything together in a recycled cardboard box. I then use my gold pen and stencils to write out a special thank you note and put that in with the items. Next I wrap the entire box in a crepe paper and use my parcel delivery courier service to make sure it gets to the right address quickly and easily.

The great thing about the courier service I’m using is that I can keep track of everything online, meaning that any queries regarding missing or late parcels can be resolved using the internet very quickly. I allow myself working hours of nine until five every day, but I’m certainly not opposed to staying up late if one of my customers has a problem that needs resolving. I believe in good customer service and, while I may not be able to compete with the volume of demand the supermarkets have with their online delivery services, I think customer service as personal as mine will not do my business any harm whatsoever.

More so, it helps me and the cats sleep better at night if I know I’ve done all I can to provide the best service possible!

“Sometimes life gives us lessons sent in ridiculous packaging.” – Dar Williams

“I get mail; therefore I am.” – Scott Adams

It looks like my St George’s cakes really did the trick! I’ve had a number of enquiries from Hebden residents asking about my organic food delivery service, and handed out a couple of menus. I wasn’t expecting anything back, to be honest, but a couple of days later I received an order for three crates of jam (two flavours – strawberry and blueberry) along with some thyme from the garden. It’s strange how people don’t want to grow their own herbs, but will happily buy it from someone who will. Oh well, can’t complain!

Anyway, I’ve been especially conscious of how much I’m spending on delivery costs, so I’ve decided to use a courier service just to make sure everything gets there without a hitch. I’m also considering changing how I package my items, even if it’s just a few little touches like a bow or a more elaborate receipt – something customers wouldn’t get from a Tesco or a Sainsburys.

So that’s been my week really. I’ve spent it revising my business, which is how I wanted my time to be spent when I first moved to Hebden Bridge. I’m very pleased with my cake exercise – I really managed to get myself out there and show my face to everybody. It was a good idea in that I managed to introduce myself to the people of Hebden Bridge and also give them something to remember me by.

Next time I blog I’ll let you know how my feedback goes. Hopefully my food will go down a storm!

“One serious drawback about letters is that, in order to get them, one must send some out. When it comes to the mail, I feel it is better to receive than to give.” – Joseph Epstein

“Spending time together, talking, visiting on the way up, eating up at the lodge and just enjoying all the colors.” – Kelly Klein quotes

I’ve realised that it’s been far too long since I’ve had a good look around Hebden. I’ve become very comfortable in my little cocoon with the cats, and it’s about time I really breathed in my surroundings. So yesterday I took a trip out by train to some of the local attractions…

Bankfield Museum

Bankfield Museum was originally the home of Britain’s largest wool manufacturer Edward Akroyd. He built it up more or less from scratch, turning it into a lavish Italian-style mansion before his death. His vision still remains today, with Bankfield Museum exhibiting international costume and textile collections from all around the world. There really was some smashing stuff in there. I was particularly intrigued by the Anicent Egyptian mummy wrappings, as well as the woven African cloth. It really makes you think.

Shibden Hall

My little trip also saw me visit Shibden Hall. It’s an all-purpose open house really, with lots going on included arts and crafts and even concerts. I took in a lovely walk around the Hall’s 37 hectares of parkland before having a cup of tea and a scone in the cafe.

All in all, a day well spent I think. I had a little bit of trouble figuring out the transport links, but luckily the speed of my VPN connection more than makes up for any hitches my general incompetence throws up! LOL

The cats were very pleased to see me when I came in, and we all snuggled up on the sofa with a book to end the night. A lovely day.

“Friendship increases in visiting friends, but in visiting them seldom.” – Francis Bacon, Sr.

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” – Oscar Wilde

I’ve had a lovely, smashing few days in Hepden recently. So much so that I’ve barely had time to blog! The internet is a wonderful invention, and has been a godsend for me getting my business off the ground, but sometimes it’s great to put away the laptop and read a good book. It’s not like the internet is going to disappear or anything – not with my VPN set up anyway. By the way, my old work still hasn’t taken away my access rights to the company network.. shhhh!

I’ve been making my way through the Zig Ziglar book Secrets Of Closing The Sale and have picked up a number of great insights into developing relationships with potential customers in the area. I hardly consider myself a lady of big business but I do think it’s important to understand all of the elements of what makes things tick. In that respect, Zig has been a real help!

The cats have been in good spirits ever since I bought How To Look After Your Cat and it’s written by a man named Alan Edwards. Edwards is an International Guest Judge with the Cat Fancier’s Federation in the USA. He also breeds British and Oriental shorthairs, so you know he’s good. (piccy below)

I like to read, and it’s something that I’ve got back into over the years. Dad wasn’t a keen fan as me being a ‘bloody bookworm’ when I was young and insisted I got a job in a factory or down a mine. I remember him having blazing rows about it with my mother actually. He was from a different time I guess. Different values.

“We read to know we are not alone.” – C.S. Lewis