Music and Colour Therapy

Yesterday was such a gorgeous December day - mild and sunny - very much a feel-good day. Over the last week my emotions have been in all directions!...when I was finally given the keys to the shop I became frightened...Had I made the right decision and would all this financial outlay be money well spent?...I also kept questioning myself as to whether I was capable of doing all of this on my own; but I do feel that this is the right time for me, this time, and I aim to give it 100% effort.

As I mentioned in the post below, hubby and I started cracking-on with the renovation work inside last weekend and I slowly became more optimistic, but was constantly looking out on to a grey, rainy and very quiet high street.

Then yesterday the sun came out...along with this fantastic busker...He was playing his saxophone right outside my shop, and to have music whilst we worked was such a tonic... suddenly the high street seemed more alive as well. There were many more people out and about and each one didn't fail to smile as they passed by the saxophonist. He had lots of money thrown in to his case and even sold a few of his CD's during the hour or so that he was there.

I started on the interior painting yesterday, whilst hubby continued sorting out the damp windows. It was good to start to get a fresh coat of colour on those walls...it felt more like mine. The warm weather meant that we could have the door open all day, so the music was wafting in. This open door also prompted lots of local people to come in to introduce themselves, to ask what I was planning for the shop and to generally wish me luck. Everyone was so friendly and encouraging and it was like a weight being lifted.

Shepton Mallet had become quite a rundown town and I think that these local people were happy to see another empty shop being taken over. I'm now much happier about the whole prospect and am raring to go...Roll on the New Year!

I would also like to thank all of you for your very encouraging comments, cards, and emails that you have sent to me regarding my last two posts. I feel very lucky to have so much support.

First thing this morning I had a meeting with my landlord. I hadn't met him before, but was pleased to find him to be a fair man and one who has Shepton's best interests at heart. I told him of the problems we had discovered in the window niches and he has agreed to have them completely rebuilt - I am so excited. Any structural changes have to be OKed by the council first, as the shops are in a conservation area and so alterations need to be in keeping...does make you wonder how these two brutes below were allowed to be built in the first place!...(the wonders of poor 1960's/70's architecture and that love of concrete strikes again(!))...thankfully in time they will be replaced with something more sympathetic.

** Today was market day (every Friday) on the market square, and again the Shepton buzz was present...I kept being sidetracked from my painting as I watched people buying their Christmas wreaths, bunches of holly, mistletoe and fir branches, as well as their fruit and veg!

I've given the big double doors that I started painting yesterday their first coat of eggshell, (took me ages cutting in around all those tiny panes of glass!) - but they'll need another coat and I have also painted one of the walls...lots more to do, so I'll be very busy this weekend...

Hope you'll have a more relaxing one! Have fun!

Niki x