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THE NEW 'NORMAL'

Where do I start?! I’m writing this post at the end of week 12 in lockdown here in Wales. A global pandemic has broken out all over the world! Who would have thought 16 weeks ago that we would be living a new ‘normal’? It’s very surreal, and it has had its affect on so many lives, in so many different ways. So many lives have been lost, young and old, healthy and frail. Businesses have disappeared, and the economy has been shattered. Covid-19 has been brutal.

I’m writing this blog from my perspective and the way it’s changed my little business…

On March 22nd it was Mothering Sunday. It was an especially busy one this year, with lots of online orders as people couldn’t visit their Mums. Days later on March 24th, the flower market I use closed it’s doors after the announcement from Boris Johnson, that we were in lockdown. This meant that there were no flowers coming in from Holland. I mean we couldn’t go out delivering anyway, but I had two funerals wanting flowers that week, and I couldn’t get my hands on any! I totally accepted the situation, but it also made me feel extremely guilty as I knew the flowers for those funerals carried extra importance as family members attending funerals were limited. I also had weddings booked in and they had to be cancelled, one after the other, with disappointed couples having to rearrange for next year. Some only had weeks to go before their big day and they had to make the difficult choice to postpone. My heart really went out to everyone who had to move their wedding day and I tried to support and accommodate new dates.

So I put down my floristry scissors and turned my full attention to my children. As well as being a mum I was now a primary and secondary school teacher all in one! Home-schooling took off and brought a new set of challenges!

Fast-forward to now and we are at the end of week 12 in lockdown and we are living a new ‘normal’. Since the beginning of May the flower market has re-opened, offering a reduced service. It is a very different experience visiting the market. It’s usually a very busy market, full of laughter. But now, with most of the staff furloughed, hand sanitisers as you enter the building and a non-contact service, the flower market is a very different place. But this isn’t forever, and it has allowed me to re-open on a very reduced service. I am now offering a delivery service on Thursdays and Fridays only. I have absolutely loved having flowers back in my life, and the amount of support people have shown me has been incredible.

I have been doing this for the past 6 weeks, roping the children in as well, and we have had a lot of fun! I have written lots of notes to go with the flowers, some that have made me laugh and some that have made me cry.

I have also taken this downtime to think about my business and the ways I can improve things. My notepad has been by my side and I’ve been jotting down ideas. I have also taken this time to rebrand my business, creating a brand new logo and website! So I’ve tried to take the positives out of a very difficult time.

14th June, 2020