Here we are again at the end of yet another year. It is unbelievable, as I'm sure you will agree just how fast this year has flown.

You will all be aware of the painful time both moral and financial that Post Office Ltd is currently enduring. Many of the traditional services that Local communities like this one relied on have now been stripped from The PO leaving it with the mammoth task of changing many of its functions in order to meet the criteria necessary to take it back to profitability.

Some areas to my mind have been handled very badly, like the transition from allowance books to PO card account of  which it's difficulty couldn't have been greater and  could only encourage people to follow the easiest route of simply signing a piece of paper to have pensions paid into Bank accounts. The Post Office is now a sales phenomenon at which many products are available. If you've read our advert over the past months you will know just how many products there are, things like; House Insurance, Car Insurance, PO Home Phone, The Credit card, Personal loans and many more including several investment opportunities with excellent rates of return GUARUNTEED. And on the way later this year. "POST OFFICE BROADBAND" for which all PO Homephone customers will more than likely receive a better deal.

Those from higher management levels have indicated (and quite rightly) that Winthorpe is not achieving enough in these areas. Please always remember to obtain quotes from your PO as well as all other institutions when it's time to re-new any of these,. You will be surprised how competitive the Post Office is.

To add further support to our Post Office we recently changed our personal Bank account from HSBC to alliance and Leicester. The transition was so simple and painless with all transfers of Direct Debits and Standing Orders taken care of by the simple signing of one document to give them authorization. "JOB DONE"

Regarding the government announcement recently I would like to say that this in itself told us nothing other than that which we already know. It was merely a public confirmation. It was also stated that closures are to be sorted by Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail. Remember; They have never ordered closure of any Post Offices. Their policy has always been voluntary.

The Shop side of things tells a totally different story. Over the past year we have pushed lines that give us a good return on our investment whilst giving you money saving items that are consistently available. These in the main are all meat items initiating my past experience in the meat trade. Just a couple of examples of how competitive we can be in this area are our newest item of Barnsley Lamb Chops at 6.99kg s/mkts 8.49kg, Sirloin Steak 10.99kg, s/mkts anything up to 14.99 and Back Bacon 4.89kg, s/mkts 7.96kg or 1.99 for 250 grams. Through the introduction of these our annual turnover has soared by as much as 30% since coming here. Even more amazing is that the pontential for greater growth is still there.

With many of you still only requiring a daily paper and a pint of milk you give us a major challenge to get you to look more and buy more without costing more.  "It can be done" Remember; This is your shop