Jo had decided she wanted to "live her dream" of opening a coffee shop and delicatessen in a market town in East Anglia. An army colleague in Nepal, who comes from Saham Toney, suggested Watton as "a perfect example of a rural market town", so the Myers came to have a look. Jo and her husband, David, bought a former needlework shop on Watton High Street in October and moved in with their four-year-old daughter, Nicola, in February. Just over two weeks later, David was sent to the Gulf with the army to take part in the war against Iraq. This is Jo's personal diary as she tries to open Babaco on time and within budget, while coping with her husband being away and looking after their daughter. Sat 1 Feb
Landed from Katmandu, we went straight to Watton and still like the house which is good news! Shop looks very big and empty. Can’t believe that I have finished in the Army: new town, new life, new job – almost a new identity! 
The empty shop which will soon be a cafe. |
Mon 3 Feb
David starts his new job in Waterbeach – he couldn’t wait to get back into his combats after 2 years out. Deployment to the Gulf is inevitable – advance party of Regiment has already gone – just a question of when he goes, not if.
Nicola started at Westfield Infant School in Watton today – seems very happy with all this change – so far. She comes from good military, nomadic stock, so I am sure she will be fine. Wed 5 Feb
Met my contractor, Chris Broome, on site to discuss start of project. He’ll start a week on Monday. Thurs 6 Feb
49 large packages arrive from Katmandu (our household possessions and the result of two years shopping in Kathmandu – lots of junk!) Looks like loads but they barely fill half the shop – starting to realise just how big this shop is! Have fun unpacking – individual items double wrapped in brown paper, then wrapped in corrugated cardboard and tied up with string, placed in a cardboard box, the box then wrapped in polythene sheets, then wrapped in hessian, then stitched together. It's a bit excessive, but labour in Nepal is cheap and it worked because absolutely nothing has been damaged. Fri 7 Feb
Very large container lorry arrives with our furniture and household stuff that has been in storage for two years – a voyage of discovery and many cries of "What the hell did I keep that for?" Stressed now because the shop floor is almost full and I have to get it cleared again by Monday week. Only hope the house is big enough for it all! Sun 16 Feb
We’ve done it! Nine full days of unpacking, sorting, humping boxes and dumping. Shipped in family help at the weekends and have eventually cleared the shop. A good percentage of boxes still not unpacked and now filling the spare room, loft and garage – it may be some time before they get done. Mon 17 Feb
Big day today. Took David into work this morning – he’s not coming back for a while as he flies to Kuwait at 0200hrs tomorrow morning. Lots of tears – not sure if Nicola really understands, but we talk about it lots on the way home. Nicola started half-term.
David with Nicola |
Builders turned up on time at 0800 – started stripping out immediately and the place looks even bigger, if that’s possible! Met man from coffee company who is supplying my new baby – or perhaps I ought to call it a coffee machine!
Tues 18 Feb
Went to a catering equipment auction near Cambridge – my first auction - bought loads – most of it at really good prices. Got stung on some small things but only bought three things that I didn’t really want or need.
Nicola also got auction fever, but fortunately the auctioneer decided he wasn’t taking bids from the under-fives! Wed 19 Feb
Went to the AGM of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce and got elected onto the Committee. I didn’t see that one coming! Thurs 20 Feb
The new wall is up already! Today was Day 1 of the Intermediate Food Hygiene Course– really good – great text books. Realised that running a catering establishment attracts as much paperwork as running a personnel office! Listened to tales of food hygiene nightmares shown on the TV programme Food Police – must watch that next week! Mon 24 Feb
Meeting with the Barclays Bank local business manager. Put my best sweatshirt on and spent many hours last night refining my cash flow forecast, profit and loss account, and business plan. Went well – just LOADS of forms to fill in now. Wed 26 Feb
Meeting with British Legion local representative today – to discuss application for small business start-up loan from the Legion. Heard from my friends in Katmandu who have a house in Saham Toney. They are coming back here to live in July – good news. Go to the next page» Go to the last instalment» | 
Auntie Dianne has come to stay to look after Nicola. Nicola is very happy about that because "Dianne shouts less than Mummy" (or, more accurately, Dianne is less stressed than Mummy!)
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