one day I'll find the time for a proper blog post but in the meantime.......

....will photos do?

Pink

Just a quick update - I am so busy both in the shop and back at home placing orders to make sure Patch has enough stock to fill the space behind these very pink doors, I am struggling to find time for much else.
I had to have a pink front door - I toyed with the idea of pink masonry paint for the whole of the outside but the man who generally leaves me to it, very firmly said NO! I can't wait for the signage to go up..this week...next week....as long as its before 5th March!!!

The whole interior has been painted white - new lights have been fitted in the upstairs space, it looks fab and very clean and bright...I just need to clean the floors and stairs ready for the shelves to go in..but we are definately on the home straight!

I have a cutting table..my friends hubby built it for me at the weekend. I just need to paint it, although I am reluctant to as I love the way it looks and don't want to spoil it!!! Its made from MDF....can you just varnish over it to seal it?

Back to the shop tomorrow for the carpet fitting in the workshop space and for B(useless)T to perhaps show up and get me connected..phone and broadband!! Last week was a no show and it will be a whole month from ordering the line to an engineer showing up, because they need to prepare at the exchange (they can't even guarantee the number either)..did I wake up in the 1950's..is he going to show up on a bike with a basket?? Best bit...I can see the exchange and Open Reach depot from my shop front window.
Back soon with updates...I think I am 2 days away from being able to burn my painty jeans and go to work in proper clothes!!

a start....

So...I am in (huge grins).
I really didn't know if I would get the keys on the right day, in fact the repairs were still being done when I got to the premises to pick up the keys but (deep breath)it all happened.
On Wednesday I did the school/nursery run and spent the whole day clearing out. This shop has been empty for 3 years. It is filthy. The landlords hadn't cleared out all their old gubbins so we have removed it and it will be in a skip on Saturday morning!
My mum has been amazing. My stepfather was rushed into hospital on Wednesday afternoon(he is okay, its an existing problem..which imo is always better than a new one!) and as she couldn't do anything she has kept herself busy by pulling up carpet and cable clips....as you could tell from the first shop picture it was previously a tv shop - and oh my you have never seen so many plug sockets, aerial sockets, cables, etc etc in your life!
Anyway these pics are on day 2 - the end of a busy day 2....

this pic is from the door in the retail area looking at the staff area, its just a corridor with a kitchen worktop down near the back door and a loo....

heres said loo! AFTER cleaning - seriously you don't want to see the before *eek* this toilet will be going tomorrow, I have a local firm in to do the work we cannot do. Priority, this nasty non flushing loo! Maybe another day I'll tell you the tale (tail) of this toilet...........

kitchen (ish) area - I have picked up another wall cupboard today and we have a worktop fridge in which I can keep salad to keep me out of the choice of - sandwich bar - chip shop-restaurant all in a 30sec to 1 min walk away!!!

Now I'm standing at the back door looking down (bored yet?)

in the shop stood at back wall - this counter was shifted by me and mother 5mins after I took the photo

standing at the right of shop looking left!!! That pile of shizzle will be in a skip on Saturday morning...

left looking right (them there cage things are what we have taken off the big window - the rest will be off at the weekend and taken away)

And now for the upstairs - standing at the front windows

standing at the top of the stairs....

and again...those 2 openings are store rooms....

the staircase.....
It needs a good clean and a good paint but more than ever I see Patch finding its home here. Still a way to go, but I wish I'd taken pics when I first got keys, but tbh after seeing the loo I just didn't have the stomach!!
Back tomorrow..new loo going in *fingers crossed*, I'm painting the bottom end of staff corridor so new cupboard and fridge can go in. I'm knackered. Already. The online stuff still has to be done. So is getting done after my day at shop has ended. But in 4 weeks and 1 day time - Patch Fabrics, Lowestoft will be open and I can go to work. And home will (mostly) be home.