July 9th

Well into summer now and don't we know it with the downpours we've been having.!!

The last time I wrote I mentioned that I was preparing the window boxes. (Was it that long ago?) Well, they are well established now, as are the hanging baskets which have been up for several weeks now and are at their best in July. I was lucky this year because, despite the hard winter, I had several of the geraniums survive from last summer and so put two in pots and kept the others in their baskets and just hung them from the window bars. This has meant even more flowers in the yard and I'm pleased with the result. In fact this year is the first year that I have entered the yard into the 'Norwich in Bloom' competition. I am excited by the prospect and looking forward to the judging. All the extra flowers does mean more watering and I am thankful that our team take as much pride in the flowers as I do and keep them watered when I am not there.

I also mentioned last time that we had Rebecca, as a work experience. Well she is now a regular Saturday girl and doing well though she is rather soft spoken. We are training her to project her voice more so that the names of the 'characters' that come in on Saturday can be heard by all.!!

The soup has finally come off the menu for this year. It went on far longer than usual as the demand was there and the weather was so cold. However we have now stopped and put the Greek salad back for the summer, in its place.  Sorry for all those who like the soup but it's traditional at Morello's that I get a break from making it for a couple of months and it makes the start in the Autumn a much appreciated event.

The blackbirds in the ivy are still raising young. They had a second brood of two and as soon as they had flown she laid four more eggs and now they are feeding them! It is fascinating to see how hard the adults work and I wonder when they will stop. I had to cut the ivy in the end but as you will notice, the area around the nest site is untouched.

Our daughters have not produced our grandchildren yet. One was due on Monday 5th but is upholding the Halstead tradition by being late. Amy is still at work, as you will know, and keeping well and she has just had a lovely 'baby shower' at the Cafe, organised by Pam. She only has a few weeks to go but hopes to keep working till the end of July. We are giving her lots more breaks now so you may see her sitting down a lot more often. We know now we are expecting TWO girls but the third is still a secret, from everyone!

The business continues to do well and our lovely customers say the nicest things about how they appreciate the service etc. which makes us all very proud to be working in such a friendly environment and we work hard to keep it that way.

That's all for now, so till next time, keep well and cheerful,

Steven

Amy on the other hand is still waiting. !! The due date is this Thursday 27th and all is well and on course. Little Lily is eagerly awaited by us all, including lots of our customers who are regularly asking for updates. Then there is our third daughter, Jennie who lives in  Maryland in the States and has a date for her little girl to be born which is 9th. October so we are hoping to be there for that great event too.

The Cafe has been very busy this summer and we have had lots of lovely customers, old and new, holidaymakers, visitors and locals.  We still have the occasional request for soup but you will have to wait till October for that to re appear on the menu. However, the way the summer is slipping past, that does not seem far away and already I am thinking that next month I shall have to start soup making to build up my stocks because I shall be in the States for the first two weeks of October. 

The Greek salad, which replaced the soup on the menu, has been very popular, particularly with this lovely dry sunny weather we have been experiencing lately. The weather has meant we have been able to open the other internal doors and have lots of alfresco dining. The baskets and containers continue to make a good show. I have even had to cut some back as they were so long as to be almost resting on some of the tables. We have to water them everyday but they repay the effort many times over.

Steven