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Mother’s Day is the contemporary version of the original name – ‘Mothering Sunday’. The occasion has a long history, which dates to as far back as the 1600′s. During that time, the poor used to send their children to work as domestic servants or trainees in the homes of the higher classes. Once a year, these children were given leave for a day, so that they could visit their Mother Church as well as their own mother.
Mothering Sunday is not a fixed day because it is always the middle Sunday in Lent (which lasts from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter Sunday). This means that Mother’s Day in the UK will fall on different dates each year and sometimes even fall in different months.
Mothering Sunday was also known as ‘Refreshment Sunday’, Pudding Pie Sunday (mmm like the sound of that!) or ‘Mid-Lent Sunday’. It was a day in Lent when the fasting rules were relaxed, in honour of the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’, a story in the Christian Bible.
Did you know?
Mothering Sunday is also sometimes know as Simnel Sunday because of the tradition of baking Simnel cakes. The Simnel cake is a fruit cake. A flat layer of marzipan is placed on top of the cake and is decorated with 11 marzipan balls representing the 12 apostles minus Judas, who betrayed Christ.
It was not eaten on Mothering Sunday because of the rules of Lent, instead it was saved until Easter. The word simnel probably derived from the latin word ‘simila’, meaning fine, wheaten flour from which the cakes were made.
Fable Trading Ltd, sole distributor of Trollbeads original charm bead jewellery in the UK and Ireland, has announced a donation of 50p from the sale of each limited edition Trollbeads Kimono bead towards helping victims of the Japanese tsunami.
Fable Trading responded immediately to the disaster appeal following the massive earthquake which hit the east coast of Japan on Friday, 11th March 2011. It will donate monies raised to ShelterBox, a Cornish based international disaster relief charity which provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Visit www.shelterbox.org for more information.
Trollbeads six new limited edition Japanese glass Kimono beads were launched on 4th March 2011 and Fable Trading has also guaranteed to donate retrospectively for all beads sold since the release, a total of £1500 to date. Created by Japanese designer, Nozomi Kaji, the beads are evocative of Japan, reflecting the colours and patterns of a traditional silk kimono. Each bead is priced at £26.
“We were very moved by the tragedy of the recent earthquake in Japan and wanted to do something positive to help the many thousands of people whose lives have been affected” said Sarah Morfoot, managing director of Fable Trading. “Trollbeads Kimono beads present a genuine opportunity for us to donate to ShelterBox, which is already on the ground in Sendai and ready to respond. We hope to raise enough money to pay for at least five ShelterBoxes which cost £590 each and contain vital items for disaster relief”
This is a fantastic opportunity to work for an award winning retail company based in Perth.
Permanent, Full-time, Salary TBA ( but exceeds minimum wage)
Job description
Purchase Ledger
- Invoice checking and verification – attach PO’s and log deliveries/invoices as received
- Reconcile supplier statements each month
- Run suggested payment reports
- Process authorised supplier payments through Sage
- File records regularly and keep records tidy
General Admin
- Reconcile accounts for monies received from payment gateway
- Maintain weekly sales summary spreadsheet
- Maintain spreadsheets for staff holidays/sickness/rotas
- Bank reconciliations
- Other reconciliations and data analysis
- Support the owner/director in various adhoc projects
Requirements
- Prior experience of working within a finance function essential
- Prior experience of working with Sage essential
- Excel and word processing skills
- Good GCSE’s/Highers
- Able to work in a team environment
- Accuracy and attention to detail important
What is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine was a Roman priest put to death on February 14th, AD273 for refusing to give up his Christian faith. The day coincided with the Roman Spring festival, Lupercalia, held in honour of the gods Pan and Juno. Lupercalia was believed to be one of the most important festivals in the Roman calendar, and was brought to Britain by the Romans. The early Christian church frowned upon the festival but unable to prevent people from celebrating it, linked it with the name of St. Valentine, who became the Patron Saint of Lovers.
Folk Tales and Customs
There are many folk tales and customs surrounding the celebration of Valentine’s Day in the UK. Today it is a more commercial venture than was seen in Britain in the Middle Ages when February 14th was believed to be the day birds paired up ready for the mating season.
One of the first records of Valentine’s Day linked with romance was a poem by Chaucer in 1382. The poem celebrated the anniversary of – the 14-year old – the King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. And, the first Valentine was believed to be a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife whilst being held in the Tower of London. I suspect they didn’t have a romantic dinner for two that evening!!
In British folklore there are many ‘spells’ to be cast, rhymes to be sung and rituals to perform to supposedly find your one true love. Two popular ones are bay leaves on the pillow before sleep and repeating ‘Dear Guardian Angel, let me have what I so earnestly do crave, a Valentine imbued with love, who will both true and constant prove.’ before sleeping and your one true love will appear in your dreams. Or, to attract love in to your life, scratch ‘All my love come to me’ into a white candle using a thorn from a white rose bush. Watch the candle burn down and picture your love coming to you.
Flowers
The sending of flowers on Valentine’s Day is reputed to be the busiest day of the year for florists. But there is a language associated with which flowers to send. Red roses declare true love, but a white rose means I Love You Not! Yellow depicts jealousy with pink for innocent love. Red Tulips are a declaration of powerful love and Snowdrops bring hope.
Phew! Who knew it was so complicated?
Well, it’s Friday evening and there is nothing on TV apart from rugby ( not even Scottish but English!) so there was nothing else for it but to clean my Pandora bracelet. I’m now feeling extremely smug and my bracelet is sparkling like new !!
Please,please take care of your Pandora bracelet and clean it regularly. It’s not difficult and you can do it whilst watching TV, helping kids with homework, nagging husband etc!! When silver is exposed to the air, perfume and day to day dirt it will start to oxidise and become dull. DON’T PANIC !!!…. all you have to do is get a bowl of warm soapy water and a nail brush. Take all your charms off your bracelet and clean them and your bracelet with the nail brush then dry them off with a tea towel or kitchen roll. Finish your cleaning by polishing each charm with a soft jewellery cloth (you can purchase these at Bertie Browns for £1.95) and prepare to be shocked at how much dirt has been taken off! There is nothing left to do now but to admire your sparkling clean bracelet…..and perhaps dream about your next Pandora charm!
Pandora Valentine Bracelet
Pandora Fall Launch 2010 Brand new Pandora charms for your Pandora bracelet including gold clips, gold and silver charms, new wooden beads updated with gold inserts, charms with gemstones and diamonds, chunky new glass beads, and new Breakthrough Breast Cancer products.
Pandora Silver and Gold Stars Charm 790563 £115
Pandora Gold Flowers Clip 750507 £300
Pandora Gold Classic Charm with Rhodolite 750508RHL £290
Pandora Gold Classic Charm with Onyx 750508ON £275
Pandora Gold Ruby Sun Dangle Charm 750588RU £225
Pandora Gold Melanite Sun Dangle Charm 750588ME £180
Pandora Silver Butterfly Friendship Charm 790531 £40
Pandora Silver Witch Charm 790544 £23
Pandora Silver Santa's Sleigh Charm with Garnet 790562GA £30
Pandora Silver Plane Charm 790561 £25
Pandora Silver Cow Charm 790565 £25
Pandora Silver and Gold Wedding Rings Charm with Diamond 790549D £65
Pandora Love Hearts Charm with Coral Red Enamel 790543EN17 £40
Pandora Love Hearts Charm with Purple Enamel 790543EN21 £40
Pandora Love Hearts Charm with Black Enamel 790543EN22 £40
Pandora Silver Charm with Black Crystal 790545CZK £65
Pandora Silver Charm with Salmon Coloured Crystal 790545CZS £65
Pandora Silver Charm with Clear Crystal 790545CZ £65
Pandora Silver charm with Amber Zirconia 790548CZM £40
Pandora Silver Charm with Red Crystal 790548CZR £40
Pandora Silver Charm with Clear Crystal 790548CZ £40
Pandora Silver Swirl Clip with Citrine 790560CI £45
Pandora Silver Swirl Clip with Iolite 790560IO £45
Pandora Silver Swirl Clip with Onyx 790560ON £45
Pandora Silver Charm with Cornelian 790564CAR £40
Pandora Silver Charm with Moonstone 790564MSG £40
Pandora Silver Garden Flowers Charm 790566 £23
Pandora Silver and Gold Branches & Twigs Charm 90568D £165
Pandora Silver and Gold Charm with Black Diamond 790569DB £145
Pandora Silver and Gold Charm with Natural Diamond 790569DN £145
Pandora Flower Shaped Wooden Bead Coracao De Negro 790712 £30
Pandora Flower Shaped Wooden Bead Muiracatiara 790713 £30
Pandora Carved Wooden Bead Pau Amarelo 790714 £30
Pandora Wooden Bead Muiracatira with 14ct Gold 750706 £200
Pandora Wooden Bead Muirapiranga with 14ct Gold 750707 £200
Pandora Wooden Bead Coracao de Negro with 14ct Gold 750708 £200
Pandora Murano Glass Orange with White Pattern Bead 790751 £50
Pandora Murano Glass Green Pattern Bead 790754 £50
Pandora Black Leather String 150cm with Tassels 390954-150 £25
Pandora Black Leather String 150cm with Gold Tassels 390956-150 £135
Pandora Double Pink Leather Bracelet with Silver Clasp 590705CPK-D £40
Pandora Silver Breakthrough Breast Cancer Clip 790571 £25
Pandora Murano Glass Black and White Bead 790752 £50
Pandora Murano Glass Pink with Pale Pink Pattern Bead 790753 £50
Pandora Silver '4' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA4 £55
Pandora Silver '3' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA3 £55
Pandora Silver '2' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA2 £55
Pandora Silver '1' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA1 £55
Pandora Silver '9' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA9 £55
Pandora Silver '0' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA0 £55
Pandora Silver '8' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA8 £55
Pandora Silver '7' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA7 £55
Pandora Silver '6' Dangle Charm with Garnet 790550GA6 £55
Pandora Sterling Silver Ring with Pink Opal & Marcasite 190617POP £90
Pandora Sterling Silver Ring with Green Amethyst & Briolite 190620GAM £90
Pandora Sterling Silver Bubble Ring with Carnelian 190157CAR £35
Pandora Sterling Silver Bubble Ring with Grey Moonstone 190157MSG £35
Pandora Sterling Silver Bracelet with Grey Moonstone 590401MSG £225
Pandora Sterling Silver Bracelet with Cornelian 590401CAR £225
Pandora Sterling Silver Ring with 14ct Gold and Natural Coloured Diamond 190159DN £195
The girls at Bertie Browns (that’s us!) are planning to Go (even more) Pink this October to support the pioneering charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We are raising vital funds for breast cancer research by holding 2 Pink Ladies’ weekends (1st & 2nd Oct and 29th & 30th Oct) at the South Street store. We will be dressed up as the Pink Ladies from Grease(!) and will be offering bubbly and pink cupcakes to customers for a donation of a £1. Customers can also enter a prize draw, for a donation of £1 per entry, to win a selection of fabulous jewellery from the award winning shop. In addition to this, all throughout October customers will be able to donate their change and purchase pink ribbon pins to support this worthy cause. Jane , owner of Bertie Browns, recently spoke at an event at Perth College and is donating her £150 speakers fee to this worthwhile cause.
Pandora Pink Leather Bracelet and breast cancer charm
As an official Pandora stockist, we sell Pandora’s gorgeous pink leather bracelet and breast cancer awareness clip and charms. Pandora has undertaken to donate 15% of all sales of these products to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
At Bertie Browns you can also purchase the 2011 Letts pink Breast Cancer Diary. For every diary purchased, Letts donates £1 to the charity.
Please please please come along and pay £1 per entry to our fabulous prize draw to be in with a chance of winning some of these gorgeous pieces of jewellery:
Love Hope Strength Heart Necklaces
Sterling Silver Pink Murano Glass Heart Bracelet
Supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer is important to us at Bertie Browns , not only because an increasing number of people know someone who has been affected by the disease, but quite a few of our customers have had breast cancer and their strength and bravery is outstanding. We’re really looking forward to Going (even more) Pink this October and raising money for Breakthrough so please come along and help us make this a success!!
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and nearly 1,000 women die of the disease each month. Breakthrough Breast Cancer is leading the fight against the disease by developing new treatments, raising awareness and campaigning for better services for patients. Money raised from the Go Pink fundraising campaign will be spent on this vital research, campaigning and education work. 
Silver friendship bracelet by Spoke 925
Once the preserve of teenage girls everywhere, friendship bracelets have just hit the fashion radar - and this time round you don’t have to DIY!
Friendship bracelets by Chambers & Beau
This summer, adult versions of these woven fashion accessories have been seen on the hippest of wrists, and publications from Vogue to Nylon have been heralding the return of the friendship bracelet one of the hottest fashion accessories of 2010 and beyond.
Exquisite friendship bracelets by Chambers & Beau and Spoke 925 are top of our wish lists. The modern versions of these bracelets come in a variety of styles from simple thin weaves to pieces featuring beading, charms, and gems.
To make your bracelets cool rather than juvenile (and for maximum impact), wear them stacked and mingled with your grown-up jewellery or a statement watch.
So, if you’re looking for a little bohemian whimsy to add to your wardrobe this Autumn then grab a few bracelets and stack them on……and don’t forget to get some for your friends too!
Friendship bracelets available at www.bertiebrowns.co.uk
As most of you will know, the Bertie Babes hosted a Pandora special event on Saturday which was a huge success! Champagne was flowing , choccies were being nibbled ( well, ok , wolfed down!), and Pandora charms purchased by the dozens!! Everyone seemed to agree that our new Pandora department was a success and we all LOVE it!
Laura, Linda, Sadie and Debbie ( a few of the Bertie Babes)
Once Debbie had figured how to put her Pandora sash on (!?!), Laura had the balloons and champagne under control and Sadie had her heels on …… we were ready for our public!!
Laura - balloon and champagne girl!
Sadie - ready for the day ahead!
Lots of customers benefited from our special offer and went home the proud owners of a FREE Pandora leather bracelet ( RRP £35) It was lovely to see so many of our loyal customers and catch up with all their news!
Pandora leather bracelet
This pandora charm looks fab on the leather bracelet!
By about 4pm things had started to calm down a bit and Sadie had to choose comfort over glamour ( not a common occurence!)
The flatties were out!
Then, the champagne and choccies kicked in and things started to get a bit silly. How many different ways can you wear your Pandora sash? Well……
Perfect as a skimpy top!
Karate Kid eat your heart out!
A stylish belt!
Graduating from Pandora School!
A fantastic, but tiring day was had by all so we decided to retire to The Bothy for a well deserved G&T……..
It was all too much!
Never mind, there’s always next time!
Layering is the fashion pack’s secret weapon so it’s no surprise that the trend has spread to jewellery. So far, this season is all about stockpiling fine charm necklaces and skinny bangles..and the next new must-have is mix ‘n match rings. Paris designer Xavier Di Giorgio has created a fabulous collection of stackable rings in silver and gold, designed to be worn together. Customers can choose anything from the colour of metals, size, colour and type of stones, loading up their fingers to create their own unique stories and composable designs.
You can also add some of the stackable rings to rings you already own, creating a whole different look. the possibilities are endless.
Funky rings from Di Giorgio available at www.bertiebrowns.co.uk
