Chapter 14 - Coasting along by the coast

Finally, at the end of November I opened the shop.

Not the whole of the shop, just the front part that was partitioned off to hide the ‘Lake District’ on the other side.
Our building is soaked, from top to bottom but, having finally had the go ahead from Building Control, we have put in a huge steel at the back of the building and now we can finally put the roof back. That should be done by the new year.

 

(Image: steel propping up the back of the building!)

 

 

 

My shop is a little haven of gorgeousness! Even though it is only a few weeks old I have had some lovely comments from visitors who welcome something new and different coming to Bexhill. The words ’ Congratulations, I hope you manage to survive’ is a little dispiriting, but I have no doubt we will survive AND flourish.

(Image 1, taken on a good day when there was no slashing rain and force 9 gale and image 2, taken despite slashing rain and force 9 gale winds!)

I have plans……


Next year we should have the whole 2000 sq ft of the shop and the gallery on the lower ground floor, completed and ready to open. I have linked up with an old friend of mine, who is an agent, and will have a small wholesale collection on offer PLUS I will be re-launching Jaadu Travel with our first trip planned for March 2026. It’s all ’go’ and the new adventure begins in March with a trip to India to find all sorts of interesting and unique things. I will be visiting Kolkata for the first time which I am very thrilled about. Shameful that in all the years I have travelled to India I have never been there before. Not just to discover the city but also to visit Santanu Das in his studio. The designer and founder of MAKU, the wonderful womenswear collection we have in the shop - can’t wait!

Thank you to all my customers and followers for keeping me going with kind messages and thoughts this year. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and I hope that 2025 will be joyful, fruitful and peaceful.

See you next year!

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