Today is National Kindness Day.
According to research, about half of us have experienced a random act of kindness in the last 12 months. Apparently, women are more likely to receive a random act of kindness than men.
From what I heard on the radio, it is hoped that 20,000 random acts of kindness will be inspired today. Being kind has a really great impact on both the giver and the receiver. So, what could you do today? Could you pay for the lunch of the person in the queue behind you, or help someone put a bike/pram into their car, or simply make a cup of tea for a friend/work colleague/ family member? Being kind doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time, but the impact will be remembered.
'...the Lord Jesus Himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."' - Acts 20:35, NIV
'...and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?' - Micah 6:8, MEV
Be blessed
- SOPHIE xx

Just a heads up that it's Mother's Day tomorrow, in case you haven't noticed all the stuffed bears, bouquets of flowers and pink balloons in various high-street chain-stores!
If you need any last minute cards, presents or yummy edibles to give to a mother-figure in your life tomorrow then, do call in! We still have a selection of Mother's Day cards available and as always, plenty of gift ideas!
- SOPHIE xx

This bar was launched for yesterday, International Women's Day 2017.

Check out a new, very chocolatey, fairtrade recipe on our recipes page! :) Rich and fudgy brownies studded with juicy raspberries, nuts and white chocolate chunks.
- SOPHIE xx

My notes from a fairtrade fortnight event I attended last Monday. Enjoy! :)
- SOPHIE xx

In order to get the fairtrade logo (on a cookie for example) every ingredient that can be fairtrade has to be.
When you see the fairtrade logo it means that the producers are guaranteed a minimum price (this can increase),
The people have safe working conditions (Fairtrade auditors (inspectors) will not accept a pat on the back to look the other way),
No child labour or forced labour has gone into creating the products,
The environment is being cared for,
The terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world are fair.

Thank you to everyone who took part in our 15th birthday celebrations today! :) We hope that you enjoyed celebrating the goodness, faithfulness and provision of God with us.

Please also note that we now have outside seating for any coffee bar customers that wish to sit in the sunshine!
- SOPHIE xx

Come in today and enjoy a free piece of fruit cake and tea, coffee, or fruit juice on us! :)

Join us tomorrow as we celebrate our crystal anniversary!

Last month I read 'Elin's Air' by Emily Stanford. It is a roughly 200 page fiction book written for older children and teenagers.
The book is set in Wales around the time of the Welsh Revival in the early 1900s.
I absolutely loved reading this book partially because it is set in Wales. It is rare enough for me to read a British-based fiction book (most of the ones I read are American), so to find something that is not only UK-based, but actually set in Wales was a wonderful thing for me!
The imagination that Emily has poured into this is incredible, the descriptions of the Welsh landscape are simply stunning and even the historical details are made engaging.

In Emily's book, we follow Elin as she grows up. Elin starts out as an innocent child but grows and matures both physically and spiritually. She faces betrayal, loss and confusion but ends up finding love and security of both the romantic and eternal kind.

When reading this book I grew to really feel for and care about the characters. I definitely plan to buy a copy as a present for a friend!
- SOPHIE xx