06 Jul Smiles are free

Buckinghamshire today, and a stop in the most fabulous teashop in and amongst the work stuff. Well, what’s a girl to do?

Unfamiliar surroundings, but no desire for a corporate coffee today. Strolling along the High Street we spot the usual suspects proffering caffeine and fancy sandwiches, but the choice is clear once we spot Mrs Dolly’s.

A passionate baker as we soon discover, Mrs Dolly can’t wait to tell us all about her menu – suggesting specials and recommending little treats, smiling all the while. Who knew bread was so interesting!

We only wanted a cup of tea and a sandwich, but once she mentioned the hedgehog rolls* we were hooked. Now we know our way around a bap, a barm cake and a teacake, but a hedgehog roll? We can now confirm that it is a particularly delicious yeasty cob, adorned with little pointy golden crusty peaks. (Or is that peaky crusts?) Either way, it was marvellous!

So marvellous that when Mrs Dolly recommended a cake, we knew it was going to be equally good. So we had one. And another cup of tea.

Having spent twice as much as we’d originally intended (but boy was it worth it!) we headed off to pick up a cat toy in the independent pet store a couple of doors down.

No Mrs Dolly here, just Mr Smelly.

Far be it from us to comment on another’s personal grooming choices, a distinct waft greeted us as we walked in. And no smiles here, just smells.

Every available flat surface was stacked with stuff, including the floor, which kind of ruled out browsing. A ladder leaning precariously against a ‘display’ of pet food acted as additional storage space for bales of straw.

“What do you want?” barked Mr Smelly.

“A cat toy”.

“Try the box on the left”.

Guess what, we didn’t. We left. Without spending anything.

The whole experience was genuinely unpleasant (we’re leaving out some of the more salacious details for fear of upsetting those with delicate constitutions.)

Sadly it would put most pet owners off using their independent pet store and send them scurrying for the bright lights and wide aisles of the nearest big green pet store.

It’s so easy to get it right and build a loyal customer base who are happy to spend regularly with you, and tell their friends. Mrs Dolly’s doing it without even trying.

“Smile and the world smiles with you” boasts the chalkboard at Mrs Dolly’s.

Smell and the world stays away from you, we say.

* No hedgehogs were harmed in the writing of this blog.