holiday

Today was the last day at work as we are off for 2 weeks in Prague, the forecast is not good and we will see some storms and rain, but I am still looking forward to seeing our friends and family, and generally enjoying the atmosphere and long walks, I am sure I will enjoy a beer or two as well.  I’ll update you when we get back

"quotes"

I am not the most skilled at customer service it has to be said, it’s true that I know ’how’ to give excellent service, however, I feel a constant intolerance of customers which brings out a sarcasm or black/dry humour out of me that I have to try incessantly to keep in check.

Here are a few quotes or scenarios that have occurred during my working day, all totally true.

Customer- “can I have an innertube please?”
Me-“sure, what size would you like?”
Customer- “I don’t know”
Me- “see you later!”
Customer- “but I need an innertube”
Me- “ yes, but you don’t know which one”

Me- “look, let’s start with what bike is it?”
Customer-“ummm, a ladies”
Me-“ well, that’s a start.  Adults or Childs?”
Customer-“Adults!”
Me-“Mountain Bike?”
Customer-“YES”
Me-“well, then it will be 26x1.95 most likely.  Here you go, £2.99”
Customer-“oh cool,  I didn’t know I needed the size”
Me-“well that will sort you out”
Customer-“thanks, Bye”


Customer “can you fix my puncture”
Me “YES, can you?”
Customer “NO”  “how much is it?”
Me “£7.99”
Customer “I’ve only got £6.00, will that be ok?”
Me “NO, because it’s £7.99”
Customer “Stuart only charges me £6.00, he has twice before”
Me “then I will fire Stuart tomorrow, because he works for me!”
Customer “oh no, you can’t fire him, he’s my mate”
Me “well he shouldn’t be doing it cheap!”
Customer “so you can’t do it for £6.00 then?”
Me “NO, come back when you have £7.99”
Customer “OK then”


Customer “how long have you been here?”
Me “since 9.00 am this morning”
Customer “no, I meant how long has the shop been here?”
Me “well say that then if it’s what you mean”


Phone ringing-8.45 am
Me “Hello?”
Customer “hello, I need to get my bike serviced is there anyone there now?”
Me “NO, I answered the phone from home!”
Customer “oh, ok, what time do you get there?”
Me “I’m joking, I’m here now”
Customer “oh right, can I bring my bike round now then?”
Me “no, we don’t open til 9.00 am”
Customer “really?”
Me “no, I’m joking again, please just bring it in now!”


Customer “can I get a bike for about fifty quid?”
Me “not if you want one with wheels on it!”


Customer “can you knock another £20 off this bike”
Me “no, sorry I can’t take any more off, it is already discounted”
Customer “ oh go on!”
Me “no, I am sorry I can’t”
Customer “but look at it, it’s all scratched and damaged”
Me “well if that’s true, why would you want to buy it?”
Customer “forget it then!”
Customer walks out


Customer “how do you know if a bike is the right size for you”
Me “if you can sit on it, and it feels comfortable, it’s the right size!”
Customer “is that it?”
Me “well how difficult did you think it would be?”


Customer “what’s the difference between that bike and that one?”
Me “that one costs more!”
Customer “yes I can see that, but why?”
Me “because it’s a better bike”
Customer “what makes it a better bike?”
Me “I built it, whereas the trainee built the other one”


Customer “hello, I’m looking to buy a new bike”
Me “thank goodness for that, I thought you might have been lost”

A good film

Had a night out for a change, we went to the cinema to watch a film called StormBreaker, I really enjoyed it although it was probably a little average and shallow to really warrant spending £15 on a pair of tickets to be fair.  The film was a little bit like Spy Kids, maybe you have seen that.

I love Saturday, because after finishing work at 5.30pm I know I have 2 days off which makes me really happy then it’s only 4 more working days until we leave for Prague.  I really can’t believe how quickly the year is moving by, when I think I resigned from LivingWell at the beginning of January, and left them at the end of March, now it’s the end middle of July and I can’t really say I have done anything this year.  I never like to look back on a period of time and think that I have done nothing or achieved anything, however I always have to remind myself that it is up to me to make sure it changes.

We were meant to go to a barbeque tonight, but with the little rain we had today is kind of spoilt that chance, then Petra rearranged it for tomorrow forgetting that we are meant to be going for a barbeque with Daron + Helen. Which if course we will do after we have been out leafleting in the morning.  The walking I have been doing lately has been great exercise, it has helped me lose a bit of weight and I wanted to do that, so I am pleased.

I have come back around to thinking about the agents selling the house, I think when I get back from Prague I might end the contract with them and try another agent, I have no way of knowing if it will help, but it has been with Haart for nearly 2 months now and we have had just 2 viewings which came to nothing.  If only I could know what the right thing to do is?

Hot Hot Hot

I suppose everyone will write this, today was apparently the hottest July day since 1911, I can tell you, it felt like it.  I really enjoy the good weather and the sunshine, it makes me feel so much happier, though I am annoyed slightly that practically everybody in this country likes to continually moan about our weather whether it is good or bad.  All winter you hear “I hate the cold, I can’t wait til summer” then during the few short weeks of summer you hear “I hate it, it is far too hot” so, I ignore these sad people, why can’t we just be grateful and say, let’s make the most of what we have!

We are off to Prague in just 10 Days, I am very excited and can’t wait to go, I am really looking forward to a full 2 weeks holiday this time, we often just go for a week and always feel like its too short.  I need to make sure I have a new book this time, most likely I will get a Patricia Cornwall or a James Patterson.  I can imagine myself now, sitting in a pub garden or courtyard enjoying a lovely ice cold Beer (pivo).  We will spend a lot of time looking closely at all areas of Prague and considering where we will buy our flat, we will also view as many as we can, it’s probably worth mentioning here that we have still had no interest in our house at all, even at the lower price, so I have resigned myself now to having to wait along time for the sale.

Working back at the shop has been interesting, I have enjoyed the day to day bits more that I thought I would, I still enjoy building the bikes most, but that’s understandable when I am naturally happiest working with my hands and staying busy.  The troublesome part has been some manning issues that have escalated more than anticipated, but only because of the immaturity and idiocy of the team members in our employ.  I hope that these issues will quieten down as quickly as they arose, so that we can all just begin to enjoy our working environment again.

My mum and dad made a flying visit last week to my grans, for just 2 days I think, I was sad that I was not able to catch up with them during this time, I was working of course but still it would have been nice to see them.

I also hear that my uncle has lost his job, I fear that he may find it difficult to find work now as he is not a young man anymore and has been at his last job for as many as 16 years or more.

I need to call the council again regarding the trees at the side of the house as they have still not been to cut them back, another disappointing telephone call I anticipate.  The pessimist in me foresees a conversation along the lines of “we have scheduled it in and we may be round to do it within the next 5 years”

Not much new

Things seem to have gone crazy at the moment, I feel like I have no time to myself.  This isn’t really a moan though as we have been busy with many things some of which keeps us happy and healthy.  I am now working full time at the cycle shop again, the one which I left 8 months ago, working here is very convenient as it is in the town centre, regular hours (9-5.30) and I don’t need a car to get there. The pay is certainly not awful either.  I have continued with the leafleting to, so we go out one night per week for a couple of hours and then for a longer stint on a Sunday so we complete about 16 hours per week on this.  The work with my brother also kicks off again next Monday this time in Tonbridge rather than London, so at least it will be closer and easier to get to.  I really enjoy this work, as it is quite creative, working with my hands and no pressure at all, and again the money is acceptable.  We have been trying to keep up with our training as much as we can fit in, we still go out running in the evenings or for a quick bike ride, sometimes longer at the weekends, and I have been either walking or biking to work every day.

I called the estate agents again today, there may be some interest in the house and I am waiting for a call back to schedule a viewing, it’ll be great to have another prospective buyer to look, even if they don’t buy it would be a positive sign to generate viewings.

Got a call from my brother today, one that I wish I had got about 3 weeks ago, it was basically the opportunity of a job has come up as a sign writer, it would be just great for me to do this, because it would improve my ability in this industry and give me yet another option for when we go to Prague.  It’s just a difficult decision to make having only just gone back to the bike shop again plus we start our holiday in just 2 more weeks.  I hate to let people down so I am concerned about changing my job again, telling my current boss, “I’m off” because I know it will drop him in it a bit.  However, I do feel that I would like to give the sign writing a go.  The positives about changing would be to not work weekends, and possibly get a van for travelling, this would be a real plus.  So, it looks like I have more important decisions to make.

My mobile is up for renewal again, so I might go shopping and find myself something new, boys and there toys hey!

The Car Crash

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one.  Both of their cars are totally demolished but amazingly neither of them are hurt.  God works in Mysterious ways.
After they crawl out of their cars, the woman says, "So you're a man that's interesting.  I'm a woman.  Wow, just look at our cars!  There's nothing left, but we're unhurt.  This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace for the rest of our days,"  Flattered, the man replies, "Oh yes, I agree with you completely, this must be a sign from God!" The woman continues, "And look at this, here's another miracle.  My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break.  Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune." Then she hands the bottle to the man.  The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.  The woman takes the
bottle and immediately puts the cap back on, and hands it back to the man.

The man asks, "Aren't you having any?  "The woman replies, "No.  I think
I'll just wait for the police....  "

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Women are clever, evil bitches.
Don't mess with them!

Thursday

Its been a really crazy few days,  I have been working on some design work for a friend on Monday, Tuesday I started back working at a cycle store that I worked at about 8 months ago, then in the evening I worked in London with my brother, applying bomb blast film on the windows in an office block.  Wednesday at the shop,  I had to go and pick up the leaflets I deliver for another job in the evening, then today I was at the shop again and tonight back onto the design work.  So I haven’t  had much time to do anything else.

I had a call from the estate agents today, and they have booked a viewing at the house on Sunday, so I am really pleased about this, maybe our luck will change soon, and we will have the opportunity to move as we want to.

I was having a think about the recent sporting events that have had English sports men/women in and to be honest, we haven’t really done very well.  Rusedski, Murrey and Henman all got knocked out of the Wimbledon tennis, England got knocked out of the world cup by Portugal, The cricket squad lost against Sri Lanka and the Rugby was about the same.  So, really not a lot to be very pleased about.

Petra is looking as gorgeous as ever, she is so beautiful, it has been a little more difficult working all day and evening, but we both know it’s for the best.

Daron has gone on holiday today, off to Spain with Helen for a week, to spend some time with Helens parents in the villa they brought, I hope they have a lovely week, with lovely sunshine and rest.

All or nothing

This weekend has been a really good one, I have been able to spend time with my wife and do the things we like to do, like going to the gym, cycling, walking, eating out, spending time in the garden and generally chatting, all of this has been made that much easier because the weather has been lovely, reaching temperatures of 32 degrees, the weather looks like it will stay this nice for at least a week to come.

The situatin with the house is very much the same, we have not had any clients view the place, so I have an appointment booked for tomorrow lunchtime to see the agents and talk about options, maybe it is time to put use multiple agents to sell the house?

As much as the weekend had mostly positives, it also have a terrible negative on Saturday when England lost the football match against Portugal and therefore are no longer in the competition, as much as I should not say it, I had an idea that we would not get through the quarter finals.  In the 5 matches so far, the play had not been of a good standard or at all competitive.  So, are World Cup dreams have been dashed and our interest in the competition will now wane.  The next few weeks for me will now become very busy as I try to work my way through 4 jobs, I will start full time from Tuesday with Cycles UK as shop manager in Maidstone, I will also need to complete the design and production of the new menu for a friend, I have 5000 leaflets to deliver for a local business and I have a bit of casual work to do for my brother fitting window film in London.  It’s the same old story, ‘all or nothing’.   But I am glad that I can be doing this and I have our holiday to look forward to in Prague.