I'm currently sat on the National Express service to Middlesbrough via Darlington. Managing to fit in a sneaky visit to my sister-in-law and niece while they're over from the States. A marvelous thing this internet. Great to be sitting on the train with internet access, allows me the time to catch up on things, including my blog.
Some serious blogging (downloading) required today! After such a 'lazy' weekend, Monday plonked us right back into the fast lane.
On Monday morning the flooring company were booked in to deliver the flooring for the studios between 10-11. Kevan and I rushed at break-neck speed to get to the shop for 10am... 10am turned into 11am, 11am turned into 11.30am. First phone call was made, to be told/ 'Oh no, they weren't due with you until 12'. So, patiently we took this new information on board and busied ourselves with the usual paining, planning etc. By 12.20 we were starting to get a little agitated, namely due to the 3 million other tasks we needed to complete that day. 1230, phone call number two made, when we were told, 'The driver will be with you within half an hour'. We rather angrily accepted this fate. Half an hour came & went. Our phone rang...'Can we have the measurements for the rooms again please, as we need to cut the flooring?'. An hours worth of arguments, hot & sore heads took place. End result - the carpet guy came out to us to measure....bringing the uncut flooring with him, presumably hoping to deliver and clear off - as they're terms state 'order complete once purchases delivered', with no option of refund or returning goods,
By 4pm that day we had agreed that, as way of compensation, the carpet guy would come back tomorrow (with the flooring) and lay it for us, gratis. Absolutely unreal how companies choose to treat their customers these days, whatever happened to 'the customer is always right'?
So...everything else we had planned for Monday started to happen at 4pm, marvelous. Anyway, retail therapy is always the answer. Off to purchase flat-screen TV (to display folios in the coffee bar), water boiler, artists' butlers sinks, kitchen units and a new bed for one of our tenants. Ooooh, suddenly everything's right with the world. Returned home at 10pm ready to start the day's paperwork...and fit some sleep in there somewhere.
Tuesday - 0750 - flooring guy WAS there! The following hour was filled with paranoia - every time he left the shop to go to his van we were there watching, 'Where's he going? Will he come back'? Within an hour & a half he (and his brother) had laid the flooring in all rooms, miraculous! Great too, saved us (well Kevan) lots of work/time. Good day.
New shop fitter due on site at 9am, however had to reschedule due to other commitments. He arrived at 4pm, after the usual public transport failings etc. Top guy though. Pretty much pinned down the design/requirements etc. Unfortunately, we are going to be a little behind schedule (since the first shop fitter went AWOL). This news took a short while to get used to, my frustration levels peaked some time ago, I am now a well-adjusted, patient individual, so an extra 4 weeks really isn't a problem!!! Cough, splutter..... Onwards and upwards.
So, today and tomorrow will be spent mainly on trains, but a good few hours with my beautiful niece and sister-in-law, soooooo excited, it's been a long time. Then back down tmw, reaching Rochester in the arvo. I am sure Kevan will work miracles whilst I'm away, good fella. Sorry for leaving you in the lurch!
Friday will bring some serious organisation... Hatch a plan to allow studio residents to move into their spaces before the coffee bar is open. Look into staffing requirements, employment law etc. Investigate VAT registering requirements. Book in electrician, plumber, arrange for the phone & internet to be connected...blah.
Ok, think that's the 'download' done for now.
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