Flights of Fancy Newsletter

The little note…

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:50:27 +0000

The little note…

Complaints

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:49:19 +0000

It comes to something when you get a request from an old customer for product you discontinued over 10 years ago. He did send us a little note… ‘To send to a difficult customer (or to a good customer with a sense of humour)’ - is he trying to tell us something?

Photo

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:04:00 +0000

Not so hardy Scots

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:03:37 +0000

Well, in 20 years of Flights of Fancy we’ve had a record of staff off sick - and would you believe it, not one with swine flu!

First our woodman, then packer, then production, then altogether - and we thought Scottish folk were hardy. So we’ve taken on extra staff to keep the orders flowing out of the door. Deryck’s been making owls and ducks and Sarah has been relearning the art of packing (so guess who’s wrapping the Christmas Presents this year)!

The Evidence

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:45:24 +0100

The Evidence

Mail Delivery

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:44:19 +0100

I really don’t know how our dear Post Office did it! All I can imagine is the post bag was tied behind the van and driven the 300 miles or so from Leicester to Selkirk being dragged all the way on the road. Anyway the contents were unreadable and it was only a bill after all - is this what they mean by dirty mail?

Sample sound of a British Robin

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:21:53 +0100

Sample sound of a British Robin

A small selection of UK and American cards

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:14:00 +0100

A small selection of UK and American cards

Sounds Wonderful...

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:12:38 +0100

We’re really pleased to be working with ‘Really Wild Cards’ who have chosen Flights of Fancy to distribute a range of new sound cards. We are asked by quite a few companies to sell their products but it has to be something very ‘special’ to accept. These are a range of wonderful sound cards featuring ‘real’ recordings of birdsong supplied by ‘Cornell Lab of Ornithology’ who receive a royalty from each sale.

So if you want to hear the familiar hoot of an Owl, the melodic song of a Blackbird or the chirping of a Northern Cardinal, look no further. There are 12 different UK birds or 14 North American cards to choose from, check out the cards page on the website for images and details.

The evidence

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:04:06 +0100

The evidence

Eaten out of house and home...

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:02:40 +0100

We’re on the move again. After 6 months in a rented cottage we found a lovely Victorian house in the centre of Selkirk, so back to the toils of packing and unpacking again, hopefully for the last time.

During the repacking in the food larder we saw some mice dropping all concentrated in one area. On closer inspection we found the little blighters had desimated a stock cube, then for dessert they’d nibbled through wrapper, plastic, and foil to gorge themselves on a luxury Christmas Pudding saved from last year, a whole 2 lbs of it. When you consider the pudding was too much for eight people to eat… the mice obviously have stronger constitutions than we do.

Our ‘home from home’ every January and August.

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:21:48 +0100

Our ‘home from home’ every January and August.

Optimism back in fashion

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:19:21 +0100

Having just returned from the New York Gift Fair, it was so nice not to hear that ‘r’ word once! I went a whole week without hearing ‘recession’ from any of our US customers, the TV, newspapers or in fact anyone… is it over?

Yes there have been casualties, some exhibitors around me have disappeared, some regular buyers were absent, but the general mood was quite buoyant. I don’t think its time to throw caution to the wind, but the signs are there to at least be hopeful that the ‘holiday season’ will bring us all some ‘comfort and joy’.

Photo

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:46:49 +0100

We're Coming

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:45:48 +0100

Just to let all you hungry buyers know, we’ll be at the New York Gift Fair August 16th - 19th Booth 2976 Museum Source (Just listen out for the bird song at the back of the main hall)! As a little ‘thank you’ for coming to the show we’ll be offering FREE FREIGHT on all orders placed at the show. Hope to see you there…

The long awaited 2009 catalogue

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:20:26 +0100

The long awaited 2009 catalogue

It's Here

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:19:26 +0100

A wee bit late with apologies, but our new catalogue is now out. Our elves have been stuffing the envelopes and the cheery postman will be delivering one to you very soon.

If by chance you don’t get one before the end of June, please let us know and we’ll make sure you’ll see all the exciting products from the Flights of Fancy range. Unfortunately our American buyers (and other distant lands) will have to wait an extra week or so as the postman has a bit further to go, but be assured they’re on their way.

If you can’t wait, well just click on the website button and browse away at your leisure.

A new Scottish delicacy

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:52:00 +0100

A new Scottish delicacy

Pies

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:50:52 +0100

Last Friday on the way home from work we decided to do some necessary shopping, and for a change headed to Hawick. A good time to shop as the supermarket needs to clear the shelves and reduce their prices, and not wanting to walk past a bargain we spotted the last remaining bag left on the the rhubarb pie shelf.

When home we noticed that the bag says ‘Butter’ Pies, but no bother, we’ll just heat them up and pour some nice custard on top. After me taking the first bite Sarah asked what’s it like? A hint of onions I replied. Sarah sampled a bite, a pause, then a glance towards each other as we realised they weren’t rhubarb, nor were they butter…

I know the Scots are famous for putting anything in a pie and we have had a few strange Scottish delicacies while we’ve been here but I think potato and onion smothered with custard tops the lot!

Photo

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:48:48 +0100