Fifteen
Sally parked Frida in Lower Ditchley’s little car park again. She’d managed to avoid the temptation to come down immediately after Fiona had delivered her good news but she found she couldn’t keep away. Poor Frida was really clocking up the miles. However, now that she was going to be a permanent resident, Sally thought it would be worth getting to know the area better and maybe work on meeting some of her future almost-neighbours.
She walked up towards the bookshop as the lady in there, Jenny, had been friendly on her last visit and it might be a good place to start.
There were a few customers browsing around and waiting at the till when she walked in the door so she loitered close to the café entrance, checking it out until Jenny was free.
‘Hi, can I help— Oh, you’re the lady who was in recently, asking about Bramblebush Farm.’
‘Hi, yes, I was. I’m Sally.’ She put her hand tentatively over the counter.
‘Lovely to see you again, Sally, I’m Jenny. Although you already knew that from my card.’ Her grin was open and friendly as she gave Sally’s hand a firm shake. ‘Did you find out anything more about the farm?’
Sally gave a small shrug.
‘A little but not much. There’s next to nothing on the internet about it.’
‘Well, I did some asking around and I was able to glean that it’s called Bramblebush because the woodland on the property is full of bramble bushes. Original, eh? Anyway, a long time back, there was a village tradition that on the last week of the school holidays, the children in the village would go there to pick the berries. For every three pots picked, they got to keep one. They’d bring home their “wages” which would be made into pies, tarts, chutneys, and jam to be sold in the local markets over the winter season thus supplementing the household income in the leaner, colder months.’
‘Wow! Really?’
‘Apparently it stopped when the farmer retired about… twenty-odd years or so back?’
‘Oh, that’s a pity. I may have to look at reinstating that one.’
‘I’m sorry?’
Sally looked at Jenny and said, ‘I’ve bought the farm. Well… I’m in the process of doing so. And, apart from the estate agent, you’re the first person I’ve told. Oh, no, second person. I had to get a builder to look at it.’
‘Right, I see.’ Jenny had a bemused look on her face at this information.
‘I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to blurt that all out. I’m still getting my head around it, if I’m being honest. It’s been a bit of an impulse buy but I found the farmhouse and just fell in love with it. That probably sounds daft to you.’
She dropped her head, feeling more than a little embarrassed.
‘Actually, that I understand all too well!’
The gentle tone of Jenny’s voice brought her head right back up again.
‘You do?’
‘Oh, yes. This place did that to me.’ Jenny swept her hand around, indicating her shop. ‘I was waiting at the bus-stop across the road, loved the style of the building, saw it was for sale and now, here I am. So yes, I really do understand how it feels. Although, if I may say, you don’t look like a farmer – are you looking for a career change?’
‘Haha, no, I’m definitely not a farmer although, unless I hear back from the landowner, I may end up being one.’
‘How so?’
Sally shared her hopeful intentions for the farm with Jenny and was surprised at the woman’s response.
‘Oh, that’s a WONDERFUL thing to do. I don’t think you’ll have any problems getting the permission you’re seeking but… hang on, give me a moment.’
Sally’s surprise was enhanced even further when Jenny picked up her mobile phone from beneath the counter and gave it a couple of swipes.
‘Hi, Sukie, how are you? Everything good?’
She smiled widely at Sally as the voice in her ear answered her questions.
‘Sukie, I know it’s short notice but are you and Pete at home this afternoon? I have a lady here in the shop who’s in the process of buying one of the local farms but she has other plans for it which she needs to clear with the lord of the manor.’
Jenny continued to smile at her as the voice in her ear responded.
‘She has sent an email but has not had a response yet. However, she’s just shared her plans with me and you definitely want to hear them. Trust me…’
Sally walked away to give Jenny some privacy as it felt all wrong to be listening to the conversation, especially when she was the subject of it.
When she heard Jenny end the call, she turned back to see the woman beaming in her direction.
‘Well, that’s that sorted. Sukie and Pete will be home just after four and have said they can meet with you then to discuss the change of use with you.’
‘What? Just like that?’
‘As the landowners, they live locally and are very hands-on, unlike some who run their investments remotely. For reasons which are not mine to divulge, I think you’ll get a fair hearing.’
‘Right. Well, err… thank you so much for setting that up, I really appreciate it. Once I get this resolved, I can move onto the next stage of the plans – sorting out my builder.’
‘I have two cats, both of whom came from a rescue, so I’m more than happy to help you in any way I can. And if you’re looking for a builder, I can recommend a local company who are good and honest. They helped to renovate this place.’
‘I’ve been in discussion with a local gentleman, Matt O’Brien?’
‘In which case, you’ve already met one of them. His partner, Robbie Doherty, is married to my business partner, Sam, who runs the tearoom there.’
‘Oh my, is everyone related to everyone else around here?’
Jenny laughed along with her.
‘Not quite but small villages are more like an extended family. We all know each other and we all look out for one another too. It can take a little getting used to but once you do, you won’t want it any other way. Now,’ Jenny looked at her watch, ‘you’ve got a little under an hour till you meet Sukie and Pete so why don’t you grab yourself a coffee and I’ll draw you a little map on where to go. You could drive if you wish but, from here, it’s only a ten-minute walk.’
‘Then I’ll walk, thank you.’
‘No problem. That also means you can treat yourself to some of Sam’s homemade cake which I highly recommend.’
Jenny gave her a conspiratorial wink before pulling a piece of paper from the printer and beginning to write on it.