Greetings from Málaga, Spain.
Yes it's true.. the time has come to start the journey.. Last week I was telling you about my travel plans and all about saying goodbye to everyone in the UK. You can read about it here.
I had hoped that our new offices would have been completed before leaving but in these covid/brexit days everything takes a 100 years to get done.. anyway since I left it's all happening. Our new super cool office space, complete with collaborative zone, chill-out space, kitchen and media room has begun to finally spring to life.. It's great but also frustrating that I'm missing all the action..
On Friday last week, I went to see as many people as possible in the flesh - wished them well and said my goodbyes. Late afternoon I had a (business) lunch with Tomas & Katka, my fellow directors at AW. A little emotional, with much laughter, love and warmth - I feel lucky to be able to work with my best friends. Katka I might not see for a long time, but hopefully I will catch up with Tomas in Slovakia in a few weeks.
I arranged an Uber for 2am - to T1 Manchester airport.. went to bed early but simply could not sleep.. the excitement of finally travelling again.
I had my Spanish covid forms filled, tickets printed and because I'm going back to the EU outside of the new Brexit 180/90 ruling - a special visa obtained at great effort. Plus due to all the news that travelling to an Amber List Country was tantamount to treason, and you cannot travel for anything but absolutely essential reason. So I have papers (stamped & signed) showing I need to sign off the accounts of our AW Artisan at a board meeting (which I do). So with all my papers, triple checked, with lots of stamps and neatly arranged in order.. I was ready to do battle with any bureaucracy that came my way.
In Manchester airport at 4am, a sleepy Ryanair lady barely glanced at my passport, no-one she wasn't interested in any papers. There is still no passport control OUT of the UK.. (is that right?).. and when I arrived in Spain - the passport control guy was not the slightest bit interested in my papers either. A quick covid scan of my QR code to show I'm double jabbed and I was back in the EU!! All that stress over nothing..
Here people still wear masks in the streets, the shops, public transport and even cars if there is more than one passenger. Those rules are due to be relaxed this weekend.. so it is a grand coming out party.
On Monday I drove to Málaga to visit the AW Artisan team. The plants outside in our garden have grown quite a bit, and the stock in the warehouse has also grown, the confidence and chattiness of the team.. wow so much louder. Last time I was here three months ago we installed another section of racking.. It's great to see it fully used and the warehouse and offices buzzing with activity. While I'm here we will plan the next leg of expansion..
Toni has been hard at work on a range of projects, one of which is becoming an expert importer of Palo Santo items from South America, we have suppliers from Peru and Mexico.
To be honest I never really understood this form of incense. But sitting in the office here as I type today's newsletter I'm engulfed by the Palo Santo aroma. Boxes of samples of incense cones, raw chunks of wood, oils and even jewellery. Palo Santo in Spanish means "Holy Wood", and the aroma really seems to reduce stress..
It's my new favourite fragrance.. I have been wearing a Palo Santo bangle and I can report feeling calm and chilled.. or maybe that's just the effect of being in the Spanish sunshine.
The other big thing at the moment is Smudge Sticks.. and this is a similar experience. A whole culture has built up around smudging and the ceremonial uses.
Check out our selection below..
There are lots more things happening here in Spain. Some very interesting developments.
I will update you next week.
Take care and stay calm..