End of an Era.

I have grown up in my mother's businesses. Since I was old enough to remember she has had a shop. Firstly The Gem Den at Whitbarrow, a lovely little spacious shop in a holiday development. Many happy days were spent at that shop. 12 years ago we moved the business into town. I spent my Christmasses, school and university holidays and free time working in the shop.

Now my mum is ready for something new, not quite retirement but a life without the added pressures of running a shop. So, we've had a retirement sale and tomorrow morning hundreds of people in Penrith and surrounding areas will be opening gifts from our shop. Some of them gifts their family or friends may not have previously been able to afford.

On Christmas Eve we open the shop at 10 and then work until the town quietens down. We then crack open a celebratory drink and a range of tasty nibbles and by 3pm we close up and go home. With it being the last ever day in the shop, Granny had asked if she could join us. The plan was that we'd collect her when it got quiet but by 1:45pm there were still 3 to 4 people being needed to serve so we thought it best just to bring her in. By 3pm we cracked out the nibbles and booze despite still serving customers and for the first time ever we were still open after 4pm on Christmas Eve. 4:20pm we'd served our last ever customer and locked the door. It was then time to open the Champagne and get some photos.

The end of an era but the start of a new one as my mum will now be able to continue making one off and commission jewellery and focus on her photography.

Mum used her remote to get us all on her shot but I went round behind the camera to get mine.