Bob's Blog: Bluebell Walk

Bluebell Walk Bob's Blog

8th July 2019

Finally we have building warrants and can start construction of the shops. Fortunately, much of the background work has already been carried out. There has been endless activity on things nobody thinks about (including us). Like sprinklers, fire escapes, wiring, lighting, CCTV, lifts, roller shutter doors, door locks, alarm systems, water, toilets - the list goes on with bills to match.

29th July 2019

We have awarded the contract for shop construction to a local firm whose price is competitive. They appear to have a lot of experience and come across as friendly and helpful. Work is due to start on or around 19th August 2019 and be completed by 7th October 2019

5th August 2019

We have about 15 people expressing strong interest in taking a shop and have already agreed a letting of shop G08 to a lady who wants to open a fruit & vegetable shop (she has a lot of experience in this field)

Personally, I prefer to wait until we have something to show people but I guess if the shops are to open for Christmas we need to get on with it! The shop keepers will have plenty to do and need to get started ASAP.

13th August 2019 - Tuesday

Philip is on site today. Give him a call if you want to look round. His number is: 07956 171605 and is up on the sign at the front

14th August 2019 - Wednesday

I discover to my horror, that the layout plan on this site is the wrong version - I will try and get in right in the morning

Philip meanwhile, has met several people on site and we now have serious interest in five units

15th August 2019 - Thursday

I have now changed the layout plan on this site to the correct version - let's hope nobody notices, otherwise I'm going to look like an idiot

20th August 2019 - Tuesday

Phil and I spent a couple of hours on site and met John who is organising the Phase I subdivision into ten mini shops - he seems extremely well organised and I think this will work.

Mural Sketch

We also met Oscar who is going to do a mural at the front (see the concept sketch above) where there is a big blank space seventy feet long (about twenty metres). We should have thought of that before but better late than never. The slots are where you can look through and see what is happening during construction. There will be four slots at varying heights.

Please click on images to see a larger version

The photos above show, from the left, the frontage to Oak Mall where the new mural will go, the new roller shutter doors right behind the new mural that separate Bluebell Walk from Oak Mall. And the final shot shows the back of one of the shops - note the mains water, drainage, power and emergency lighting.

Go and take a look while Oscar paints the mural - he is due to start work on Monday 26th August but may not be there all the time as he collects paint and materials. It will take him about a week to do it. When we open Bluebell Walk, the mural will be moved to the back of the store so it won't disappear!

23rd August 2019 - Friday

We are going to install two live 24/7 webcams in Phase I so you can see what is happening any time of the day or night. This will help with security and also means that you can check what is going on generally - we may well have people doing interesting things - acrobats, musicians, comedians, artists - all kinds of free fun stuff. Free in the sense that you don't have to pay to watch.

So if you can juggle or stand on your head or tell jokes, we want to hear from you. If your jokes are actually funny, then even better. Which reminds me of a joke I made up last week which concerns a girl called Alice who drives a taxi in Germany - Deutschland Uber Alles. If you can do better than that (not difficult), get in touch.

Bear in mind that if everybody in the world said something original and funny once in their lives that would be seven billion new jokes. And at one minute per joke it it would take you over one thousand years to hear them all - no laughing matter.

29th August 2019 - Thursday

Oscar is on site painting as we speak - these shots are from 10am this morning. Meanwhile, John is putting together steel and glass for the shops.

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5th September 2019 - Thursday

When I arrive I am amazed to see a ship being built down the road (my grandfather was a ship's carpenter and I love ships). I am also surprised at how much progress John and his guys have made on site - he expects to finish early in October.

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From the left, the mural almost completed (when we open it will be moved to the inside of Bluebell Walk), a general view of construction of the shops, a close up of one of the shops.

Phil and I spend all day talking to an endless succession of people and drinking endless cups of coffee.

17th September 2019 - Thursday

The mural is finished and the viewing slots have been made (at the wrong height but never mind). John and his guys are beavering away inside and still look to be on schedule to finish in early October

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26th September 2019 - Thursday

Ewan from our building surveyors has just sent me some photos of the ten shops in Phase I - thanks Ewan!

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10th October 2019 - Thursday

Almost finished - the mural will be moved to the back and we will be open for business. Hurrah!

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16th October 2019 - Thursday

Action replay "Almost finished - the mural will be moved to the back and we will be open for business. Hurrah!"

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1st November 2019 - Friday

The mural has been moved to the back and now needs repairing (right) and we are almost ready to open ...

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29th November 2019 - Friday

We are now open! A couple of the shops are now operating and we have more about to be occupied with a bit of luck! The mural is now at the back ...

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21st January 2020 - Tuesday

The Turkish Barber is up and trading and the Jacket Man is also trading! The Frozen Yoghurt outfit is ordering equipment and the Machine Guy is on holday but organising to move in.

So the front four units are now taken - if you want a unit we are now quoting £200 per week for "easy come - easy go" leases. No hidden costs apart from your goods insurance and your electric power (on some kind of clever card system). Give us a call for more details!

1st February 2021 - Monday

Oh my goodness! A year has gone by and I did not even notice. Fortunately, both Philip and I are still alive and well and with a bit of luck the vaccine will defeat the Covid plague. I had my first shot last Wednesday and felt a bit feverish for a couple of days so if you have a shot take it easy aftewards.

We have made zero progress but are now getting geared up to let a few units - realistically we are letting them at £100 per week for a while (technically £200 per week with a year at half rent). So give us a ring and we will work something out - I hope.

7th October 2021 - Thursday

When the virus nonsense sort of ended in July 2021 we had only let a couple of units but now we have 8 people signed up and only two units left! Yes, that surprised me too but then I am a pessimist - that way I only get pleasant surprises ("wow - the cheque actually arrived in the post - who would have thought it?")

Right now our contractors are replacing all the overhead lights as the electricity bill is astronomical - I think we must be paying to light the whole mall or something. Once that is done we will start on Phase 2 ... watch this space

19th November 2021 - Friday

The overhead lights have all been replaced so let's see what happens to the electric bill ...

9th December 2021 - Thursday

We are now making excellent progress and we have 8 out of the 10 shop units occupied! Here are 6 of them - the other two are in a state of flux as people move in ...