It's Christ-maaas!
Noddy Holder once famously screamed, “It’s Christ-maaas!” and, blimey, it nearly is, isn’t it? Just 5 more sleeps to go, 4 more sleeps, 3 more sleeps – well you get the idea!
And how quickly it comes around, and it’ll be gone quicker than you can say ‘just one more spoon of cream on that mince pie please’ as we hurtle, full throttle, into 2025. But before that, it’s time for my end of week, and end of year, musings.
First off, a massive thank you to everyone who’s wandered through our doors this year. Whether you’ve popped in to buy a few goodies, the latest local indie beers, some fantastic cheese, or just to have a chat, we’re truly grateful . You’re the reason we’re still here, and we can honestly say we’ve got the best customers in Wokingham. Well, Berkshire. Probably even the World (Feel free to give yourself a big pat on the back!)
But let’s not beat around the bush: it’s been a tough old year. UK retail is, how shall we put it, not exactly in the rudest of health (for that read ‘almost completely knackered’ ). But thanks to you lovely lot, we’ve managed to weather the storm once again.
December got off to a bit of a slow start, with storms and rain and general doom and gloom, and we weren’t sure how things would pan out. But eventually stock started moving off the shelves and were now looking forward to having a good rest at christmas. And speaking of stock, let me just casually mention that we still have some Barkham Blue, Waterloo, Wigmore (rated as one of the top 20 cheeses in the world, no less), Maida Vale, Black Bomber, and a few other bits of cheesy brilliance. In other words, if you still haven’t sorted your Christmas cheeseboard- come and see us quick- it’ll soon be gone!
And now, a glimpse into the exciting world of Phil’s Christmas plans. Normally, we’d have a houseful on Christmas Day—laughter, chaos, and the usual christmas games. But this year, it’ll just be me and Julia, having a nice, quiet one. Boxing Day, however, will be a different story. Think people, noise, and enough cheese to feed a small nation.
But back to the shop - and a special shoutout to everyone who’s come back for hampers this year. Seeing how much they mean to you is genuinely heartwarming—it’s also a great excuse for us to wrap things up and show off our wonderful products.
But before I sign off until 2025 (yes, I’m giving you all a break from my scribbling until January), a quick plea: please keep supporting your local businesses. January, February, and March can be brutal for small shops, pubs, and restaurants, so every visit, every purchase, every kind word helps more than you know.
I need a couple of days off so we’ll be closing at lunchtime on Christmas Eve, reopening on Friday 27th, and then again on Saturday 28th, Monday 30th, and Tuesday 31st. After that, we’re back to our normal opening hours from January 3rd.
So, here’s to a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a 2025 that’s hopefully a little kinder to all of us. Thank you for everything, and may your days be merry, bright, and filled with cheese.
Oh, and one last thing—did I mention I’m in a band? No? Really? Well, let me rectify that immediately. We’re called No!sy Neighbours! and we’re all about playing the kind of covers that get people singing, dancing, and generally forgetting their inhibitions. You know, the ones that start with a little toe-tapping and end with Aunt Brenda dancing like a chicken on a table doing her Mick Jagger impression.
Now, here’s the good bit: we’re happy to play for free at local charity events or club dos—basically, anywhere that could use a bit of live music to liven things up. So, if you’ve got an event in the pipeline and fancy a band to shake things up, just pop in and have a word with me. We’ll bring the tunes, the energy, and some dodgy dance moves.
Cheers!
Phil
Phil’s Good Food in Wokingham, 2-4 Broad Street, offers a range of high-quality, ethically sourced products, from local honey to world-class cheeses, indie beers, wines, chocolates and much more. Our beautifully curated hampers make the perfect gift, or you can handpick your favourites, and we’ll create a bespoke hamper just for you!
We don’t deal in mass-produced plastic nonsense!
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