Happy New Year to you all. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and an excellent start to 2024. January has arrived with a soggy start and then a few days of cold crisp mornings, with beautiful blue skies. I know which I prefer.

January is filled with lots of root vegetables and citrus fruits for all to enjoy. Eating seasonally is best for us, the environment and supports local suppliers. We have leeks, parsnips and various types of kale. Plus, not forgetting our sunny “Seville” oranges now ready for marmalade making.

Once again, we are in search of Bledington’s Marmalade Champion! So, wash down your pans, dig out your recipe books and get bubbling!

Please do bring us your jar of homemade unlabelled marmalade, to be crowned Bledington Marmalade King or Queen. All entries will be judged blind. The deadline is noon Friday 16 February 2024. The winner will be announced on Monday 19 February 2024.

Have you seen our fantastic range of soups from the Real Soup Company? When it comes to a tasty soup, we know that everyone’s choice is different. From lentil to butternut squash, tomato and basil to leek and potato. They are available in ready to heat containers. All their soups are allergen free, vegetarian and vegan varieties available. They all go extremely well with a warmed up slice of Mark’s Sourdough.

In the coming weeks Spring will be here so lots of new fresh fruit and vegetables will be arriving, plus local seasonal flowers. Love will be in the air for Valentines Day, on Wednesday 14 February. Don’t forget to spoil your special valentine with a gift. We will have Dee’s cards, Stow flowers, Cotswold Carress lotions and potions and Cotswold Chocolate Co. chocolates.

Our community shop is the hub of the village. We are here for everyone who lives in Bledington, Foscot and surrounding villages. The fantastic volunteers and I are not only here to sell you groceries and serve you yummy food and drinks, we are here to help you. Our café is a warm and welcoming place, so if you fancy a chat and a cuppa, please do pop in. If you are new to the village and could spare some time, we are always needing additional volunteers. It’s the perfect place to meet new people and feel part of a community. We look forward to seeing you soon.