2011.....

Yes I know we're 5 days in to 2012, I've been trying to do this post for the last few days but work/life got in the way!!!

One of things I love most about blogging is looking back on past post...... it's like an online diary isn't it?

I kept a diary through out my teenage years but just suddenly stopped..... when I find them I always stop to read through.

So I'm going to do a quick round up of 2011 just to remind myself what I did (it went so quick!!!)

January
ah yes I remember Wreck this Journal...... now where is it!!!

February
Our trip to France

March
One of my favourite months of the year..... 2 weeks holiday, Cheltenham races & the sun starts to say hello!

April
The start of the Make, Do and Mend poppy appeal, the Royal wedding & the month I was told to re apply for my job!

May
VE day & spring is in the air

June
Lots of knitting & the month I was told Habitat was closing :(

July
The first vintage fair in Exeter & a 1940's event

August
My 40th birthday, my parents 50th anniversary

September
Unemployed!!! My 3rd blogging anniversary. 3 weeks off..... bliss!!!

October
Starting my new job & no time for blogging :(

November
2nd vintage fair, busy month for Josie-Mary!

December
Another Christmas......

These are my 2011 hopes & dreams that I posted on my 2010 round up..... have I done them all???

• I turn 40 :( How did that happen???? I'm still 16 aren't I??? I would like to do something special but not sure what......I was thinking of a lovely holiday but I'm a rubbish traveller....hot air balloon??? Zoo keeper for the day???? Maybe a weekend in Edinburgh???? Only 8 months to sort it out!!! Nothing special done as it happened when I was losing my job...... I might regret that!

• I must finish my list that I started in 2008!!!! or at least finish my blanket that I started nearly 2 years ago! NOPE!!!!

• Re decorate the house..... things have been up in the air as we weren't sure if we were moving but I think we're starting put so I want to sort out all those jobs that need doing & paint the living room to make it more homely. NOPE!!!

• Continue with Make, Do and Mend..... I'm hoping to set up a children's class in the summer holidays but first I need to get everything in order. Now it's getting very popular I need to get the admin side of things in place Yep! No children's class as the other group has done that but I have other things planned for this year.

• Attend more craft fairs I only did 3 last year.... the vintage fairs are so good for me I don't see the point in wasting time with run of the mill craft fairs

• Continue to sell on Folksy/Etsy Yep! Both stores are doing ok but an extra push wouldn't hurt.  I know the road I want to go down now so it should be clearer

• Complete my CV...... I'm hoping for changes this year! This made me chuckle!!!! I was talking about John Lewis but little did I know I would lose my job!! My CV is completed & I will be updating it every few months as I be looking for another job in October...... fingers crossed for JL

• Sort my back out..... I'd like a full MOT as I've been ill for months now, if it's not my back it's my stomach (pain killers are playing havoc with my tummy) or a cold. I'm going to go to the doctors in the new year & demand more tests NOPE! I never did go back to the doctors, last summer I was so ill with stress that I wasn't even worried about my back...... maybe this year :)

• To make it through the year with all my love ones..... my dad is going to be 70 in April & I'm starting to panic at the idea my parents will leave me at some point :( Yep we all made it! I hope the same for this year.... including Teddy

•  Be a better blogger.... the last few months have been so busy I haven't had time to leave comments or post as much as I would like Nope..... in fact I've been worse in 2011!!!

• Visit my friend in Lincoln....... I've been wanting to do this for years! Nope..... & with the train fares going up I can't see this happening :(

In 2012 I would like to....

•  Update my website for Josie-Mary & Make, Do and Mend
•  I'm booked in to 2 vintage fairs this year & need to pull my finger out so I have a decent amount of stock
• Re design posters & newsletters for Make, Do and Mend
• Learn how to use my Mac laptop!!

I must stop doing this in 2012!!!!

Thanks for sharing my 2011 with me

September 2011

Another month has flown by & once again I only managed 2 post!

In September I lost my job after nearly 17 years but did get to spend nearly 4 weeks doing nothing..... ah bliss!

I also celebrated my 3rd blogging birthday...... made lots of rabbit slippers, took part in The Big Knit with Make, Do and Mend ..... 94 hats were made. Went to Bristol to see The Men They Couldn't Hang..... a birthday present from OH. Visited the Creative Stitches show in Exeter & saw the lovely Downton Abbey costumes. And to top it all off last weekend I visited Castle Drogo to take part in their WW2 weekend..... more about that another time.

So September was a good month & the weather has been lovely :)

Just in case you want to see more of the Downton Abby dresses.......

Beautiful but very tiny!!!!

My lovely break is nearly over as I start work on Monday with Laura Ashley.... wish me luck!!!

Funny old week!

Once again I've been away too long! 

Last Sunday we closed the door of Habitat for the final time.

It was a sad day & I confess I shed a few tears

I was trying to pull myself together when a lovely couple came in with these beautiful flowers!

One of the last customers out the door wanted to make a complaint about a member of staff's customer service.... can you believe it! She wanted head office address so she could could get the member of staff removed from the store.... Good luck!

So that was it, my last few moments in the store that I've worked in for nearly 17 years.... thanks for ruining it love!!!

Monday & Tuesday we were back at it....... we had to clean the store....everything had to go!

We left about 6ish on Tuesday & after one final walk around I left the building

Once again I cried...... Then it was off to the pub!

We had our leaving party on Friday..... it feels odd at the moment like I'm on holiday & I have to keep reminding myself I won't be going back :(

I'm so thankful I have another job so I don't have to sign on..... too many forms!

Saturday morning saw me bright & early heading off to Debenhams in Exeter to sell our poppies we've been making at Make, Do and Mend. It was a long day but we raised nearly £400!!!

So that was my crazy week..... now I have 3 weeks off to relax & try to get my head around my redundancy form!

August 2011

2011 is marching on & I'm feeling that summer has come to an end.

With only 2 post in August I didn't have many photo's to chose from!

It's official.... I'm old!!! On Tuesday 30th I turned 40 :(

Having taken 4 days off from work to party I now feel I should've stayed in & drunk tea..... are hangovers always this bad in your 40's?!!

Things have move very fast since my last post, we now have an end date..... Sunday 4th September will be our last trading day then we go in & clear the store & finish on Tuesday 6th September.

I can't believe that it's coming to an end..... even though we knew we were closing it's still upsetting. I hope I don't cry too much over the next 6 days :(

But the good news is...... I have another job! I start in Laura Ashley as assistant store manger for the homeware department on Monday 3rd October! This was the interview I mentioned in a previous post. I couldn't really turn it down as it would look great on my CV..... Athena, Habitat, Laura Ashley...... what's next? John Lewis? I hope so! This job is only for a year so will buy me time until they open.

I return to work tomorrow..... no doubt to find an empty shop! I have to work the last 6 days so I'll be back next week...... wish me luck!!!

Away too long.....

Well, well, well I haven't posted since August 1st..... were is August going?

One of the reasons I haven't posted is because I haven't got anything to say! The days roll in to weeks & nothing really changes..... I'm working harder & longer hours now which doesn't help!

Sweetpeas from my garden

We still have no end date which is just crazy...... 3 stores are to close Sunday 21st August, they were only given 10 days notice! We were told last week that we should all be closed by mid September but that changes every week!

On Friday I attended my 4th interview.... I'm feeling a bit fed up with it! When I get told about the pay & hours I lose interest..... get paid for 37.5 hours but work 50 hours a week, which means it's just over the minimum wage! I haven't been told the wage for the one on Friday..... you get told that in the second interview! Hours are better, only about 40. It's a 12 months temporary contract managing the home ware dept in a very small shop. I have a team of 5 people, at the moment I manage about 17 staff so not very challenging!

 I guess I've had it easy for too long!

I washed my new blanket today & realised I hadn't shared it

What do you think? Lovely isn't it...... I'm a sucker for a granny square blanket even though I could make it myself I thought this was a bargain for £10!

All that work for just £10..... I feel guilty!

This week I sorted out my mini birthday party..... something to look forward to. I always book the week off but this year I have to work, I don't have enough holiday to take so could lose money..... I've got Sunday - Tuesday off which is great but I found out I need to be in on Wednesday at 8am.... that's the day after my 40th! My manager wants that day off .... I'm still working on him!!!

I need to make a very important phone call tomorrow...... it could change everything! 

I'll let you know how I get on :)

Have a good week

July 2011

Yep another month is over!

July brought lots of making, a 1940's steam train weekend, a vintage fair & of course lavender!!!

It was also saw Make, do and Mend going twice a month :)

So it was a busy month for me & I've just seen I only managed to post 3 times..... well that's just rubbish!

We found out this week that all Habitat stores in administration will close by the end of September..... just in case you want to shop!

They will be closing about 10 shops a week starting at the end of August..... hopefully we'll find out very soon when our last day will be so I can book the party!

Yikes...... if it's the 1st of August that means in 30 days I'll be 40..... bugger!!!!

June 2011

Another month has past & what a funny one it was! 

At the beginning of the month I was feeling positive about my new job & by the end I'd lost it!!!!

Thank you for all your kind comments on my last post..... at the moment I feel like Moaning Minnie, nothing seems to be going well for me :( But I'll try & remain positive & carry on!

I've applied for 4 jobs so far..... 2 of which I'm very excited about.

I'm trying desperately to find out more about John Lewis as that would be perfect for me. I'd love to leave Habitat very soon with a large pay off...... take a few months off to focus on me, Make, Do and Mend & Josie-Mary then start work in the haberdashery section in John Lewis..... now don't that sound good!!!!

If anyone knows anyone connected to John Lewis please put my name forward :)

I was off yesterday so made the most of the sun by catching the train to the coast before returning to Exeter, to Belmont park to see Billy Bragg

Excuse the poor photo! It was really sunny & hot with good music & great people.

We then headed to the pub to finish the day off...... seems to be the norm for me at the moment!

Today being the 1st of July made me think there are worse things that happen in the world....

The battle of the Somme 1st July 1916

See I'm trying to see the bright side :)

Back soon

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!

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.....

Finished project

Well another week has passed..... did you have a good one?? 

Back to work for me & I can't believe how fast it's gone.

As Monday was the last day of my holiday I decided to tackle a project that's been in the pipeline for a long, long time!

Remember these?

I brought them & posted about it in October 2009 ...... so it's only taken nearly 2 years to do something with them! It's on my list of jobs to do every time I'm on holiday but I never get around to it....... but I had a real urge to cross it off my list last week.

First I took them apart to clean

This took longer then I thought as the screws had been painted over!

Sanding down the steps

Some lovely red spotty oil cloth

Can you see where this is going?

Painting....

oh what a mess I made..... this was a plastic kind of craft paint that my dad brought me.... be warned you can't wash it off your hands!!! One small bit resulted in big red hands!!!

Then quickly putting it back together before the rain came...

Ta-da!

I'm very happy & the total price was under £5! :)

They live in the red sewing corner of my kitchen

A job well done I think

We had a customer event on Thursday night at work with 25% off..... 

we had wine

and tapas

in fact I've been eating tapas for the last 3 days!!!

I also had Olivia's birthday this week, this was the first birthday in 7 that I didn't make her anything. So that was 2 nights out...... On Friday I attended a funeral, lovely way to spend your day off!

I worked all weekend then went out last night...... so today I'm doing nothing! 

As it's raining I plan to watch movies & knit. I've been working on a rabbit toy which has worked out well so I'm hoping to make more for my Folksy shop.

So that was my week..... at least I feel I achieved something!

Hope you're all having a lovely bank holiday weekend