March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. I have always thought that this was in relation to the weather. Perhaps it is, but why is it not in like a bucket and out like a windmill? We have inclement weather whatever that means and local

Resolution. A forgotten word. Now. From the Latin resolvere, ‘to loosen, undo, settle’. Ooh look italics! One New Year’s resolution done! Use more italics. Sophisticated. Tick. But not too much more, that would be a slippery slope. Like the letters themselves. (should the word italics be written in italics?) The word ‘determined’ is often

The Situation Over the last few years Sandford Community Stores has had to endure a great deal of barriers and obstacles to our operation as a village shop. Whether it be austerity, Brexit, Covid, the price of fuel, war or inflation. This cost of living crisis affects us as a

Ah, the red, white and blue! It’s been flagged up recently somewhat! Let’s wave it about a bit more. The red could be Devon Red, that noble apple drink made by Sandford Orchards. Labelled ‘a supreme cider’. A supreme leader indeed. Red as in Rooibos? It means ‘red bush’ and

Beware heavy plant crossing. You will notice that the front of the shop has come alive with colours, smells and greenery. Spring has sprung! Plants from Robert at Lydcott Nursery. Robert Plant? As Shakespeare once wrote in that famous scene in Julius Caeser where Casca and Cassius, whilst discussing their

Let’s talk nuts! What? Honestly. Butter Bike Co are based at The Boatyard Bakery in Exeter. Alliteration! The company started off with Jeni, a peanut butter fanatic on an old bicycle delivering round and about. Business has blossomed somewhat but, no, she doesn’t pedal along the A377 with a basket

April showers? More like April baths. Mud baths! Good for the garden? Yes, if you’re planting rice. How about planting something else? Spring has sprung. A spring is where water comes from anyway and Spring is a time of planting seeds and plants and sprucing up the garden, and even,