There’s been a lot of conversation in Ganmain lately.

The kind that happens when something familiar begins to shift.

With the local bank preparing to close, it’s stirred up a mix of emotions across our community.
For many, it feels like the loss of a vital service. For others, it raises bigger questions about what changes like this mean for small towns like ours.

And while those concerns are valid, and felt deeply, I don’t believe this is the beginning of the end for Ganmain.

If anything, I think it’s a moment that reminds us just how much heart this town has. How much people care. How willing we are to show up, support one another, and find new ways forward.

And for me, this change is also marking the beginning of something new.

The Teal Pony’s head office will be moving, not far, just across the road. Still here. Still grounded in Ganmain.

But what sits alongside that move is something a little bigger. Something I’ve quietly held onto for a long time.

We’ll be taking over the beloved local bookshop, Faraway.

Even writing that feels a little surreal.

Faraway has been such a special part of this town, and at the heart of it is Wendy, who has created something warm, welcoming, and deeply loved. One of the things I’m most grateful for in this transition is the time we have. This isn’t a rushed handover. It’s a thoughtful one, where knowledge, care, and community can be carried
forward in the way it deserves.

Ganmain gets to keep its bookshop.
And I get to step into a lifelong dream.

But this next chapter isn’t just about books.

It’s about creating a space that our community can truly use.

Tucked behind the shop is a storeroom that will slowly be transformed into something more.
A place to gather. To learn. To connect.

I’m already imagining Business Bingo sessions being held there.
Small group workshops.
A co-working space for women in business who don’t want to work alone.
A table for games, for crafting, for conversations.
A corner for story time.

The ideas are still unfolding, but the intention is clear.
To create something inclusive, welcoming, and genuinely useful for people of all ages in our community.

And while this is a new direction, The Teal Pony isn’t going anywhere.

My design work remains a huge part of what I do, and will continue to be. I’m still here for WordPress website builds and redesigns, for the strategy, the creativity, and the behind-the-scenes work that helps
businesses grow online.

If anything, this next chapter expands what The Teal Pony can be, rather than taking away from it.

Looking ahead, there’s room for more.

More workshops.
More connection.
More ways to support both local businesses and the wider community.

In time, the bookshop will open more days. The space will evolve. And new ideas will take shape as we listen to what’s needed.

For now, it feels like the beginning of something really special.

In a time where it can feel like small towns are losing more than they’re gaining, this feels like a moment where we get to choose differently.

To keep something meaningful.
To build on it.
And to create space for what comes next.

I’m so excited to bring you along for it.