Julie meets shopping challenges
The beginning of June brought half term and supposedly our first trip away this year in Lola, our VW camper van.
Unfortunately it was not to be, writes Uckfield News Personal Shopper, Julie Brice, who lives in the town with husband Jason and daughters Daisy and Lottie.
We had been waiting since March for a new engine to be hand-built by a chap in Chelmsford and with a lead time of four weeks this shouldn’t have been a problem, but, for whatever reason the week before we were due to go to Henley the engine had still not arrived and I for one was starting to panic!
To cut a long story short the engine arrived on Bank Holiday Monday at 8pm and it took until 2am to finish fitting it.
My husband Jason spent Tuesday and the best part of Wednesday trying to get it ready to go. And we finally left at 4pm with two very excited children in the back.
We made it to Maresfield!
Massive disappointment as I called the RAC.
Wednesday night Lola was fixed and Thursday morning we set off in convoy with two friends only to make it as far as Nutley before Lola overheated.
You can imagine how annoyed we all were. I decided to cut our losses and drive back to the former Pandamonium in Framfield Road, to see Julian at CJ Campers and put our fate in his hands!
I begged: "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do you have a camper we can borrow/hire for the rest of the week?"
Along came Gilbert to save the day in almost identical colours to Lola. It took an hour to transfer all of our stuff because Gilbert wasn’t actually clean or stocked ready to go out.
We waved a sad goodbye to Lola who was left in the workshop and went on to enjoy a lovely few days.
Gilbert did us proud after a quick clean and sort.
We finished the weekend off with a VW show at Stonor Park, Farnham, Surrey, and then headed home.
Lola's engine has gone back and we have commissioned someone else to build another one. Fingers crossed they come good.
I've been on a few personal shopping missions recently. They include a 40th birthday present, waterproof coat and trousers for a seven-year-old girl and a birthday cake for a little girl who can’t eat cake!
I found an excellent mug in All Wrapped Up, for the 40th that said "I’ll get by with a little help from my friends ... and a large glass of wine at the end of the day!" Very appropriate.
The wets I found in Millets, a waterproof jacket and legs that pack into their own pouch. The mum is delighted and has now given me a new shopping challenge: "I want a really chunky red necklace (long) that doesn't cost the earth. Don't want to spend more than £15".
And for the little girl who can’t eat cake I found the prettiest little ceramic cupcake with a hole in the top for a candle. This came from Carvills and was just the ticket.
Her mum said: "This made a little girl's birthday really special. At last she could have her own cake."
For all those of you who say Uckfield is just full of charity shops I challenge you to do the round and not find anything you would like to buy!
I had an hour spare, and to myself, before after-school pick up one day and thought I would wander around the charity shops. To my utter delight I found loads of things to buy.
For Fathers Day I found a mug saying "Anyone can be a father, it takes someone special to be a daddy" for £1.49.
I also found a new Bench messenger bag for £7.99.
For a friend's birthday I spotted another mug at £1.49, then there were lovely Boden shorts for Daisy for 99p and Next ¾ lengths for £1.99, KNEX for Lottie that looks like new, also £1.99. I saved myself loads of money.
Have you found the new pet shop in Olives Yard? Justine Dunsmore has moved her business, which is now called Paws 'n' Claws, from the Bell Walk precinct and is pleased with the new space which also has car parking. Do call in and see her.
Did anyone see Jason, I mean the Goose, wandering up and down the High Street recently?
Uckfield author Trisha Bridger was signing her book "Why can’t I fly" in Sussex Stationers and the Goose was handing out leaflets with his able assistant Lottie, who was a kitten for the afternoon.
The signing went well and if anyone is interested in the book see Uckfield author signs books.
Last weekend we enjoyed the Rennie Dance Academy’s fantastic ballet show.
Hours and hours of planning, preparation and practising went into putting the show together.
It was held at Clair Hall in Haywards Heath on the hottest weekend of the year. About 160 children with ages ranging from six to 18 years performed their hearts out for three audiences.
There was song and dance in the first half including the lovely little Bluebells, Annie, and an Irish Dance to name but a few.
Daisy was in Happy Feet a tap number which received a great response. She was also an Autumn leaf in the Season's ballet in the second half.
Like all the other dancers she seemed to just take it in her stride. All credit to them as they were wearing full length lycra tights, Velour tutus and hats while the temperature reading on my car was 33°.
School principal Kirsten was delighted: "I am very proud of all the children and students that took part in making the show such a huge success and for performing so brilliantly over the weekend. The feedback from the audience has been fantastic and that makes it all worthwhile."
Jenny Baker, owner of the dance and gymwear shop Limelight in Uckfield, did a fantastic job running the box office for all of us anxious parents worried we wouldn’t get our tickets.
She also brought in goods from the shop for the Sunday dress rehearsal and that was great for those of us who had forgotten our bun nets and found ballet shoes were too tight – thanks Jenny!
By the way Limelight has a new website. There's a link to it from their listing in the Uckfield Directory.
What lies in store for July?
St Philips School summer fair is this weekend, on Saturday, from 12-3.30pm and promises to be a good one with a children's talent show and maypole dancing along with the ever popular cake stall!
The ante-natal girls and I will be having a spa day at the East Sussex National to celebrate two 40th birthdays this year so I am really looking forward to a relaxing day of pampering.
On the theme of pampering there is to be an open evening at The Beauty Spot on Friday, July 9, from 4-8pm. Bubbly and nibbles will be on offer along with special discounts for any bookings taken.
It's also worth knowing that a Thai massage therapist, Balance Thai Bodywork, and a counsellor, Transitions Counselling, have joined Jenny Harvey at her Celtic Touch Therapy studio at The Old Mill House in Mill Lane. They are just above the Back on Track Chiropractic Clinic.
Best of all END of TERM is coming up and I can't wait. There will also be Daddy's birthday and then we are off for a week to Dorset ... stay tuned to see if the engine arrives and we do actually make it!
See also:
Business Scene: The Budget and The Great Escape
The wedding outfit Julie found in Uckfield
Uckfield Festival programme now available
Warning from fire service after blaze in Uckfield
Pictures from a road safety day in Uckfield
(Added to site Thursday, July 1st, 2010)
