Well it’s been three and a half months since our last outing in ‘Florence’…..she has been safely tucked away for the winter, staying clean and dry. I thought we would have a quiet few months, but it seems I have thought about ‘Florence’ and ‘Polly’s’ Parlour’ more than I anticipated. The latter half of 2012 seemed some what of a whirl wind, our feet didn’t really touch the ground. Then suddenly it stopped…………… ‘Florence’ can’t be out in the frosty weather , she really doesn’t like the cold……. No more scooping ice~cream for a while, and just as I was starting to get the hang of it!….. Mr polly’s parlour was like a duck to water, scooping hundreds of ice~creams in an afternoon.

My mind started to wonder about 2013, we had already taken bookings for weddings and festivals….It was shaping up to be a great year….i was getting super excited…….if not a little nervous!

We were very privileged  when Volksworld  in December asked ‘Polly’s Parlour’ to come to their show in March….One of the biggest VW shows in the world!….I instantly felt honoured but also a little scared!…..I felt like ‘Florence’ was going to be on show, amongst some of the most beautiful VW’s in the world & their owners who would also have a keen eye!

These few months have given me time to finish the little jobs that we hadn’t got around to…. I am having a new oilcloth made that will fit over ‘Florence’s’ hatch this can be fitted if it rains, no more drips inside ‘Florence’  Yaay!………we have also sorted out our lighting…..this will be an essential part of our outings as we have lot’s of evening weddings…..‘Florence’ will look so pretty lit up with her lights on……We have finally got around to our signage, we really didn’t want a flag as I felt they were too corporate, but we also needed to be seen from a distance, so we decided to design our own,  keeping with our theme of Polly’s Parlour……I think it looks wonderful…..a happy solution!….♡

We found time to play in the snow during the long winter and managed to sculpt a 8ft ice cream……along with a snow ‘Florence’…….frosty fun!

We had an outing in ‘Florence’ to Dubfreeze on the 17th Feb…..a sunny late winters day….she started 1st time and drove like a dream…..It was great to get her out after being tucked up for so long…..to top it off we came back with these wonderful trophies……

I love her so much…..I’m really proud of Mr Polly’s Parlour and I for staying true to ourselves…..Thank~you to everyone who has supported our dreams and is loving Polly’s Parlour’ and ‘Florence’ as much as we do……Hopefully see some of you guys in the summers ahead…………

Bye for now….Polly……♡

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Towards the end of the year we were invited to several weddings at beautiful locations…….the bunting was hung……the ice cream scooped and the cameras were snapping away…..!                                                                         Our brides and grooms enjoyed scooping and sitting in the drivers seat……such fun…♡

Our most unusual booking was driving up through an enchanted orchard…..into a lost glen with yurts and a wooden lodge……we were greeted by a wonderful random group of festival addicts who’s organizer ‘Wiggle-bum’ was throwing a birthday party for her best friend  ‘Day-Glo’……..we even got to meet ‘Sparkle’……how wonderful!

‘Save the date’ magazine invited us to show ‘Polly’s Parlour’ in Derby and we had a lovely day with a wonderful staged shot being taken with five beautiful brides…….

We’ve had such a busy year……and to top it off ‘Florence’ won an award at ‘Dubfreeze 2’…….a VW show in Stafford……I was so proud.

We’ve had such support and encouragement from our ice cream loving Facebook and Twitter friends……this has really helped our  wonderful journey.

We have tried to stay local and support local events……..we will be involved with exciting opportunities in 2013. We are really humbled that you have taken ‘Florence’ to your hearts…..

The pic below was taken at The Ashes Exclusive Country House Barn Wedding Venue Staffordshire

http://www.theashes-venue.co.uk

Please keep following ‘Florence’ and her adventures….bye for now…..Polly ♡

We managed to enjoy every moment……the morning breakfast of hot tea and sausage bap helped me on the way……..♡

with over 25,000 people attending and a great spot we scooped and scooped…….thanks so much to the team and especially Beth.

Next up was the Nantwich Food festival……..a three day food bonanza…….having already attended Ludlow we already knew what to expect…….or did we. The food festival was situated in the town and was free to attend……there were lot’s of food demo’s and eating competitions……all fun stuff…….we met some truly wonderful people and talented chefs…..

Once again the weather was kind and we had a great weekend…….♡ More soon on the journey of ‘Florence’….

Polly…..x

Our first event was in Audlem….at the Classic Car rally…..our first scooping experience….in at the deep end as they say!……what a fantastic day. We hope to be back next year….♡

Next up was our first wedding at Rookery Hall in Nantwich……the sun was out and a great experience….such a lovely day with Debbie and Richard……♡

We made a last minute email to VWNW at Tatton park near Knutsford…..a fellow high-top owner (hope you got home safely Darren) had also contacted them to display his van and because there was now two of us we were allocated a spot……..yipeeee!

We did not serve but enjoyed being among some of the most beautiful VW’s in the country…..‘Florence’ got so much attention…..♡

We then had our work cut out for us at the ‘Magnalonga’….Ludlow’s walking festival…..we served 650 walkers in 3 hours…….a beautiful setting near the river and everybody loved the Ice cream…..♡……thanks for having us.

We then spent the entire weekend at The home restoration and salvage show in Cheshire…..there was so many wonderful things to buy from all across Europe………a real busy weekend….♡

I love projects that are executed and finished well……..‘Florence’ is my baby and I want to spend the next decade of my life along side her..!

The interior refrigeration was complete and I loaded ‘Florence’ on to a trailer…….next stop Vaughn at Custom Classic and Retro……….I decided to pay homage and use original VW headlining mixed with stitched vinyl door cards……..and what was soon to be her infamous ‘candy striped hatch’…..♡

Meg at Scribe was great to work with…….and it was not long until she had hand painted our logo’s and designs on to ‘Florence’…….this really made all the difference…….I really wanted to see the brush strokes in the logo’s……it really is fantastic work……♡♡♡

Ice cream…………….it’s so complicated………a real learning curve. The ice cream tasting was fantastic …..but when it comes to serving, you have to consider whether people are allergic to nuts, wheat, gluten or lactose intolerant…….and can the suppliers provide quality natural ingredients that are free from…….’oh my giddy aunt!’, in the end we decided upon Winstones ice creams who make their ice creams from organic milk and are free from….♡ ohhh and of course it tastes great too….

Its funny…….I’ve never scooped an Ice cream…..but I had an idea……a scooping bonanza at Hope Hospice in Oswestry…..free ice cream for the children and we get the much needed practice!……..the children won’t mind if its upside down and falling off (hopefully!!!)