VERY EXCITING

Just had a flyer through the letter box about the new Marks and Spencer store that is opening in Morpeth next week. Hooray!! It's going to have clothes - including Per Una - and a much bigger food department than the old store.
I actually can't wait for the new shopping development to be finished. It's looking really impressive already, but there's obviously still a fair bit to do. At least there are always lots of contractors in site and the place seems to be a hive of activity whenever I'm passing. Mind you, I imagine James will be pleased when it's all finished as it has meant that access to his flat is a bit chaotic with all the disruption to parking and pedestrian access.
I don't really know which shops are going to be opening, but apparently there's going to be a Laura Ashley store, which is great news. I've always liked Laura Ashley, ever since I was a student in Oxford and, I think there were only three stores in the country, one of which was at the bottom end of Little Clarendon Street. It was a bit of a trek to get there, but it was where everyone bought their ball gowns and I remember getting a gorgeous black full length dress that cost me the vast sum of - wait for it - £10! (It seemed a fortune in those days!!) The good thing was that this was in the seventies, when maxi dresses were all the fashion, so I wore the dress for the ball and some parties and things, and then just wore it as an everyday dress, so it was certainly good value for money!!! I do think that some of the early magic of Laura Ashley has worn off a bit, but it'll still be nice to have it in Morpeth.