Some years ago, I used to work in Pangbourne. I was in my early twenties, and there weren't many people in the village who I knew. The woman in the gift shop would say hello to me, and the chaps in Greens always had some friendly banter for me when I went in to buy a pie, but I didn't really know anyone in the village other than my colleagues.
The shop across the road had closed. Something was going on inside - there were comings and goings, and people were fitting the shop out for something new. I wondered what was coming. I couldn't think what it would be - in a village like Pangbourne, where we already had a fabulous cheese shop - an excellent butchers, and some lovely gift and boutique shops. I started to walk past each day - looking in through the windows trying to work out what it was going to be - when finally the word started to go around... it's going to be a florist shop. Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear; there goes my salary!
I've always loved flowers, and have always struggled to walk past a florist without popping in and buying something, but when Green Parlour opened, it was something different. It was like an Aladdin's cave to me - there was something about the "feel" of the shop which was unavoidable. As soon as I saw that the shop was open, I crossed the road, and popped my head around the door... behind the counter, putting together an amazing hand-tied bouquet, was a lady who was to become one of my greatest friends - this beaming smile greeted me - "Hello, I'm Emma, welcome to our shop". I don't think I've ever had such a heartfelt welcome from anyone in any shop, before, or since. I soon learnt that the reason for this, is because Emma is genuine, she is passionate about her business, and she is passionate about the plants and flowers that she sells. She really meant what she was saying - she was glad to meet me as someone who she would be working alongside in Pangbourne, and she was obviously very proud of what they had created - and rightfully so. The shop was completely unrecogniseable - there were things to look at everywhere you turned, but it wasn't the things to look at which will remain forever imprinted in my memory - it was the absolutely knock out smell! The smell never seemed to change whenever you went in - it didn't matter what time of year it was, or what plants she had in stock - it was just what I have come to think of in my mind as the "Green Parlour" smell - a mixture of fresh flowers, houseplants, and beautiful candles. It is the smell of happiness, the smell of warmth, and overall, the smell of a friendly smile and often a cup of coffee and a chat.
Since that first time of walking into the shop, I have been in hundreds of times. Every time I walk in, it is like the first time - the smell
Instagram #greenparlour
