January 2012
It’s been a slow start to the year as far as apple juice is concerned, but a fantastic start to my retirement. That happened on December 24th 2011 and my retirement is only from Royal Mail. I can’t say that I’m sorry not to be working for them any more, but that has more to do with the last 3 years and not the previous 8 years. Good luck to Royal Mail-you’ll need all the luck you can find- and an awful lot more besides- if you’re going to survive in these times-much cheaper to send an email than to buy a stamp!
But enough about the past. Now that I have much more time, Cuddybridge Apple juice is going to be good this year. We have already launched our new mix-APPLE and SCOTTISH SEA BUCKTHORN. It’s gone down well, but we need to put a great deal of publicity behind it and we don’t have sort of cash!
I’m into doing much more of the accounts-although we have found a great help in that area and she’s called Christine. I think that without her knowledge about Sage I would be wallowing in paperwork. Great lady!
We are currently re-painting and re-doing the new pressing room at Kailzie Gardens. Our biggest problem is the floor. We painted it, but it has lifted so now we are about to put down a synthetic resin floor. Don’t know how it will work-trial and error, really.
Exciting times in the autumn that will involve The National Trust for Scotland, and we want to go for a few awards this year. We’ll be busy next month getting everything in place.
February
January was always going to be a difficult month-it is usually is, but it doesn’t help to have most of the Press telling us that we don’t have any money! I do find it difficult to get my head around the squabbling between Labour and the current ’lot’ that we have over what should be done to relieve the problem. As far as I can remember it was the Labour crowd that got us into it and now they appear to suggest that they have the answers! I suppose that politics for you!
Anyway, we have some new apples and a load of new, good orders and that always brightens me up. The Apple and Sea Buckthorn drink is starting to sell well-we;ve only anoth month an bit before the berries will be no more until October. Time to get the freezer filkled up. However you need a good freezer, as the Buckthorn juice won’t freeze until it reaches minus 18 degrees!
The Cuddybridge glass saga has finally been resolved-they should all be ready by the end of next week. I think they look great, but I maybe a trifle biased!!
Pressing room floor is still not down-it needs to have all the old paint removed or the resin won’t ‘take’ to the concrete floor. Another weekend gone.
We have to arrange a photo shoot for all manner of uses,but the first event is the Scotlands Food and Drink Awards and our photos are all a bit jaded. I have some ideas and so I’m looking forward to seeing what the results will be like.
Been asked to take a stand at the Foodies event in August at Holyrood Park. For very obvious reason that is a very busy time of the year for apple juice and we only have just enough time to supply our growing number of customers. Last year we doubled our output from the end of July until mid September, so I’m afraid we had to decline.
However on the plus side,we are going to take a stand at the weekly Stockbridge Market. Just need to sort out the dates but hopefully we’ll be there before the end of February. Really looking forward to it, as I have always enjoyed taking part in markets and exhibitions. I suppose it goes back to the days when I exhibited at the Paris Agrictural Show and SHEM( the superb Paris clothes and fashions exhibition). In fact the site of the Stockbridge Market reminds me of the daily French markets that abound in that capital.
Come along-it should be great fun!
