The shop security guard.
 

 Our shop and online store are now fully closed down and I've left Old Bear on security duty. You can never be too careful, I wouldn't want desperate knitters  looting the store! 

  Ladies...Just to let you know tomorrow is our final day in the shop, and the cut off day for mail orders. I will be open from early and close when the last of you leaves. Jacinda has asked us all to be kind to each other and I really do want you to work with me tomorrow as I help you with your urgent last minute knitting requirements. There will only be me working, I'm tired andI am as stressed as all of you...

  My Mum lives in England, she's totally alone now that Dad has ascended to that football pitch/whiskey distillery/veggie garden in the sky. Mum is a little lost, there's no family support, all three children left England many years ago to bring up our families  'Down Under'.

I've lived in New Zealand since 2002, having moved from England, via Sri Lanka, and settling in Devonport. I took over ownership of my wee wool shop the following year, knowing only the rudiments of knitting, and having absolutely no business experience...

  We are counting down the final days and hours until that rather relatively new, and rather curious phenomonen, known as the The Black Friday Sales. Many of us will feel a gradual rise in panic and anxiety, money is tight and Christmas, with all it's self inflicted physical, mental and financial pressure  is just around the corner. You aim to be strong willed and resist all incidious Black Friday marketing, BUT can you honestly afford to NOT purchase a sofa bed for the spare room, a second  vacume cleaner, just in case your current one stops working, and, if you purchase your 'other half' a leaf blower, then of course your entitled to a new lipstick. Hmm!

'Thank you for the (HUGE) donation you made online'

"Fran, I Didn't Expect To See You Here"

BIGGEST WOOL SALE EVER
all proceeds donated to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

 

One  rainy and miserable Saturday morning earlier this year, my husband and I  drove over the bridge to Mercy Hospital. We had  an appointment with Maria, an oncologist. We got drenched in the dash from the car park to the hospital entrance, hadn't a clue as to where we had to be, and having finally found our way, we tumbled into the  waiting room, which was  empty. (I had requested the  first appointment, I had a wool shop to open at 10.am) The lady, seated behind the reception desk looked up to greet us. The welcoming smile rapidly fell from her face as  she recognized me, (she's one of my  lovely customers) and blurted out "Fran I didn't expect to see you here."...

  I am a Luddite (someone who fights against progress). My family prefer to use the term imbecile when referring to my ability to navigate a laptop, a mobile phone and the remote control for the TV. I also have to admit that for half the year the clock in my car is an hour 'out'. I can't make head nor tail of my car manual, so as the hour changes, my clock remains at the old time.

  Starting this Thursday at 10 am, and continuing through 'till  4pm on Sunday, I will be holding our biggest Wild and Woolly Sale ever. As usual, all the yarns on offer will be of top quality but at rock bottom prices. Most will be in the region of one third of their  original retail price. I will outline the details further into this newsletter but first, here's a few 'ramblings'...