Local Jems

20/08/2025

What a year…..

Can you believe it’s been an entire year since I made the sad decision to ‘temporarily’ close?

I’m so grateful for the improvements I have made, especially the last couple of months. Sadly, we’re still not able to commit to a date to opening.

For those who wish to know more…..

I still wake up every day feeling like I’ve pushed myself through a gym workout 🏋️ it’s not pleasant but it’s bearable now. It’s so much better than the months of pealing my body off the bed just to go to the toilet.
I get up every day and I’m making the most of the small amount of energy I do have.
Here are just some of the improvements

-Being upright - pretty much all day. Although I do rest after lunch for a couple hours and this is generally laid on the sofa watching a film or listening to an audio book.

-Steps - I can now walk a slow 1/2 mile with a walking stick (I get wobbly) . I only need my wheelchair if I am going further which means I can pop the shop or local cafe/restaurant to meet friends without it.

-My energy levels have increased from 3 to 5.5 hours a day which means I am able to do more than just get up and feed myself.

I have recently cooked some of my old LJ favourites- a pie 🥧 , cakes 🎂 , prawn toast, gyoza’s 🥟 and a pizza 🍕 . Which is great progress towards getting back to normal. I’m really hopeful that my recovery will continue and I’ll be back in the future!

02/04/2025

If you only do one good deed today let it be this one!

https://www.justgiving.com/page/michael-taylor-83 =fddb373a8b1072130&domain=www.justgiving.com&is_canvas=false&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Ffb0934d486614a020&relation=opener&frame=f08de9e7facfe5091&result=%5B%5D&e2e=%7B%7D

25/03/2025

Local Jem’s Update:

Gosh, where has the last 7 months gone! For me, my life has pretty much been on hold while I am recovering. This is all moving in the right direction and I very much hope to reopen Local Jem’s one day, however as you can see from my update below - I still have quite a way to go and this is a slow moving recovery.

For those who would like more details of what’s going on…..

As many of you know I have had M.E(Myalgic encephalomyelitis) for quite some years (although I only found out what it was 3 years ago), but I had been managing it around the business which I could do 4 days a week. Sadly, in the span of 1 year I had covid twice, really damaged my ankle and broke 3 toes - that’s a lot of healing for someone with M.E - never mind the stress from everyday stuff like running a business, being a mum and a new step mum.

After my last bout of covid I kept getting worse and by September last year, I was so ill that I struggled to leave bed most days. The most I could walk in one go was 60 steps, I couldn’t shower, cook or leave the house by myself. I needed to be cared for but luckily it wasn’t permanent. In December I got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in addition to the M.E. - which complicates things a little bit because they both require the opposite treatment but they are both life long incurable conditions that have to be carefully managed.

Here we are now at the end of March and I am glad to say I am able to get up out of bed every day! I get my self dressed and I can make my own breakfast, lunch and snacks. As my husband cooks dinner, I can also do other limited things (20 mins max) of baking, reading, gardening, or chores and I can socialise with people for a couple of hours now. Last month I started driving again, just 10 minutes every week so I finally feel like I am not prisoner in my home. I do have an electric wheelchair which means I can go outside by myself - I don’t need it in the house only when I leave as I can now walk 600 steps in one go at present. 600 steps is 10 times what I could do but doesn’t get you far.

Every aspect of my life is better than it was but I only have 3 hours (in total and with lots of rest) a day where I can move…. This includes all the basics like getting up and moving around for anything. I am going to keep doing my best to recover and get back to a place I can live and work again. You never know, maybe the main stream allergen food will better by then …. I can dream lol

21/08/2024

It’s with a heavy heart to announce we will be temporarily closing.

As many of you know I was diagnosed with a chronic illness last year and I’ve been fighting against it to keep Local Jems open with help from my family. Sadly, this is no longer sustainable and in order to get my health better I need to focus properly on recovery for a while❤️‍🩹

The closure will be until 2025. The exact date will depend on how well my recovery goes. I know you’ll all understand and I want to thank you for the support you’ve all given me during this massive change to my life.

Thank you all for loving my food and placing so many orders. Have a wonderful 2024 (what’s left of it) see you in 2025!

19/07/2024

Closed From 29th July - 18th August.

Last orders 26th July Please.

17/07/2024

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17/07/2024

Gosh it’s coming around quickly.

Don’t forget to make the most of the summer and stock up your freezer while we have our summer break.
Pies, sausage rolls, breads, pizza’s … order them frozen so you can pop them in the oven whenever you fancy one!

You don’t have to wait till we’re back for delicious food!

Closed From 29th July - 18th August.

Last orders 26th July Please.

17/07/2024

Betty’s had her last coat of paint and is ready for her new home.

I’m proud what we’ve made of her over the last 3 years. Here’s to many more for the new owners 🥂🥂🥂

14/07/2024

Busy day today….. looks like a rest day for me tomorrow!

Betty's getting a new make over for the new owners … it’s a good cause and I want them to hit the ground running.

They are local (Basingstoke) and it’s a cause close to my heart,❤️

Can you guess??

14/07/2024

Betty's getting a new make over for the new owners … it’s a good cause and I want them to hit the ground running.

They are local (Basingstoke) and it’s a cause close to my heart,❤️

Can you guess??