All over!

So much for not liking my new job eh???

I guess you've heard the news...... as of Friday Habitat as we know it is no more :(

It will continue to trade from 3 London stores only & online.... thankfully!

I found out from the Sky news website on Thursday after a tip off from a colleague in the warehouse & then again on breakfast news. The call came at 11.30 & by 1pm the admin guys were in stores. They're hoping for a buyer for the remaining 30 stores but to be honest it's really unlikely. By Saturday lunch time the posters had arrived in store & I had the lovely job of hanging them in the windows telling everyone we were closing down.

I've never seen so many vultures & the attitudes of the customers really shocked me..... one customer was complaining to my colleague that 20% discount was not enough considering we're closing down..... dispite the fact my colleague was nearly in tears she wouldn't stop. 

I can tell you I wouldn't win any customer service awards at the moment! For nearly half my life time I've taken this nonsense but not any more.... I must confess I told one lady not to ask such stupid questions when she asked if I was upset at the store closure.... whoops!

We did have some lovely regular customers.... one couple came in to tell me I was one in a million & over the last 15 years I had given them excellent service :)

There has been some terrible negative comments online which try as I might I can't help reading.... things like all habitat staff deserve to lose their job as they're all a bunch of stuck up @*@*'s, the company is rubbish etc etc 

What's that saying? If you can't say anything nice.....

Not sure how long I have..... the ironic thing is we've been so busy since the announcement we haven't had time to have meetings with the admin people. I know I will get a bonus if I stick around til the end but I'd love to walk now..... if it wasn't for my lovely team I would! I need to find out about notice period, pension, redundancy pay..... the list goes on!

 Thanks for your messages on Twitter, Facebook & even by text.... it means a lot :)

I may not be around much...... I need to get my head together..... but I will leave comments when I can.

Busy, Busy.....

Thanks for all your kind comments on my last post...... it's so nice to know that blogland is full of pet lovers & I'm not the only crazy one!

I just wanted to let you know I'm still here but very busy! 

I'm feeling there's not enough hours in the day! 

I'm now 2 weeks into my new job & I must say it's not what I thought it would be..... but hey ho I'm hoping it will get better/easier as the time goes on. Also I'm interviewing for admin assistants which should ease the pressure. At the moment we're looking for 6 staff but only interviewed 3..... so where are all the people looking for work in Exeter???

On top of my new job I'm also snowed under with Make, Do and Mend

Now call me crazy but I've decided to do Make, Do twice a month! 

The room can hold about 30 people & I'm turning people away every month. Since day one people have asked for more meetings & I've always said no but needs must!

July also sees the launch of our annual membership so I've been busy contacting local craft shops for discounts.

I've also been making for the vintage fair I'm attending in July

So that's me...... I hope to be able to post about something more interesting soon!

Time goes so fast......

It was a year ago today I lost my beautiful pussy cat

 

She was my faithful companion for nearly 20 years so you can forgive me for still missing her

And Finally The Queen.......

Back in April when Royal wedding fever gripped the country I posted about this book & planned to knit my own Royal wedding.

Well as you know it took longer then I thought

I started with the Queen but she was a real labour of love. I finally finished her about 3 weeks ago....

Want to take a closer look?

She was a bit lonely so I had to knit a little corgi!

The detail is amazing but they were very fiddly to make...... I thankfully pinched buttons, beads, pearls etc from my Make, Do and Mend friends otherwise she would have cost a lot to make!

I've been asked to make & sell them but to be honest it would never be worth it..... I'm sure in man hours & material she would come out about £50!!!

Busy week ahead so best get on..... OH's birthday today & D-Day so we're going out this afternoon, something I may regret as I have Make, Do and Mend tomorrow then going to Cheltenham on Wednesday for a training day.

Have a good week

May 2011

Yes ladies another month is over & we're half way through the year..... gulp!!!

Fingers crossed we now have a great summer to make up for the fact the months are speeding by.

So what's happening on the work front..... I can now confirm that I have been appointed assistant store manager as of Monday June 6th.

Thank you for all your kind emails asking about this. I was offered it weeks ago but due to legal things I couldn't tell anyone. The first meeting back in April was all wrong.... I should've been told they see me in the assistant role however I could also do the other if I wanted to..... how could they get it so wrong!!

I've thought long & hard if this is the right thing to do, I was thinking of leaving as the cash was tempting but I know it would only last a while.

I know I should be really happy as it's a step up the career ladder & more money after 6 months but it feels a bit tainted after every thing that happened.

I feel more positive about it now & looking forward to starting next week....... but first I have to find 2 admin assistants, do you know how hard it is to find decent staff in Exeter???!!!

Here's to June.....