Friday, March 30, 2007
Still Crazy
In the Northern Hemisphere the saying "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb" refers to the weather, for us it has a new meaning: sales. We have emerged from our second summer at Prince's Wharf exhausted but quite happy with our progress and results. At the other end of the spectrum, Newmarket puttered along during the summer months and is now beating PW in daily sales as the everyone comes back to work and shop. It's the yin-yang we were looking for. Both boys have done an excellent job dealing with their respective challenges over the past three months and both are looking forward to vacation time in the next few months.
Dwight, who has been with us for almost two years now, took time off from Newmarket to return to his home country of Zimbabwe during March. He was there as the entire country descended into chaos under the Mugabe regime. He says that the towns and cities are calm, but activity in the countryside is quite scary. We are very glad he's back safe and sound. We all missed him - especially Conor who had to pick up the slack!
It was great to visit with Suzanne, Emily's and Mike's mom (and frequent poster on this blog) who visited during March. She and Em traveled the North and South Islands and had a fabulous time. Em will carry on with her travels next month as she and new friend Erin take off to Tonga for a week of exploration and beach-sitting.
I never thought it was possible for Tyler the Energizer Bunny to start running out of batteries, but he is showing the wear from four months of summer at PW. It's a little like being a bull rider in a rodeo. No matter how tired you are, you can't let go. Because of liquor laws we can't be open next Saturday night, and we will be closed Easter Sunday for our employee picnic, so he will get three days off for the first time since September. We are encouraging Ty and Ashley to take a week in April and go exploring in NZ to regain their sanity and see a little of the countryside.
Speaking of sanity, Conor is regaining his as he gets back to normal with Dwight's return. He just moved into a great new place about two blocks from the Newmarket store, and shares his digs with brother and sister act Brent and Erin Charleton. Both play pro basketball, and Erin is a parttime manager for us (and Em's travelling partner). Conor's on the Nuffield Street Marketing Committee and is working with Sam from the brew bar to turn Nuffield Street into a hot local night spot. He and Tyler have accomplished that with Latenights at the Wharf, and he's got some great ideas for Nuffield at Night.
We have been getting bits and pieces of March Madness - saw Oregon get beat on the way to the Final Four. The games are on at odd hours because they are competing with the Cricket World Cup, which is on all the time.
In the past month we have had an earthquake, disrupted phone/email service, and just yesterday the most massive monsoon I have ever experienced. This morning all is calm, I have all the windows and doors open, and it's back to paradise. As a season ticket holder for the Royal NZ Ballet, I got to see Tutus on Tour a couple of weeks ago. I've been playing golf twice a week for the past two months and really getting my game back, and doing staff training twice a week in Food Safety and Customer Service.
Mexicali sponsors the Harbour Heat of the National Basketball League, and they have given us the premier sponsor table right under the basket. The team owner says it's a strategic move. He
likes JB's running commentary to the refs (with his loud American accent), who stand just a few metres from us. Newmarket parttime manager Hayden and Erin's brother Brent both play for the Heat, so it's great to be part of the crowd. Last night was the first home game - we won!
We're looking forward to Fiji in May, and I'm planning on catching up with my sisters and dad at our BSR (Butt Sister Reunion) in Mariposa at the end of June.
Dwight, who has been with us for almost two years now, took time off from Newmarket to return to his home country of Zimbabwe during March. He was there as the entire country descended into chaos under the Mugabe regime. He says that the towns and cities are calm, but activity in the countryside is quite scary. We are very glad he's back safe and sound. We all missed him - especially Conor who had to pick up the slack!
It was great to visit with Suzanne, Emily's and Mike's mom (and frequent poster on this blog) who visited during March. She and Em traveled the North and South Islands and had a fabulous time. Em will carry on with her travels next month as she and new friend Erin take off to Tonga for a week of exploration and beach-sitting.
I never thought it was possible for Tyler the Energizer Bunny to start running out of batteries, but he is showing the wear from four months of summer at PW. It's a little like being a bull rider in a rodeo. No matter how tired you are, you can't let go. Because of liquor laws we can't be open next Saturday night, and we will be closed Easter Sunday for our employee picnic, so he will get three days off for the first time since September. We are encouraging Ty and Ashley to take a week in April and go exploring in NZ to regain their sanity and see a little of the countryside.
Speaking of sanity, Conor is regaining his as he gets back to normal with Dwight's return. He just moved into a great new place about two blocks from the Newmarket store, and shares his digs with brother and sister act Brent and Erin Charleton. Both play pro basketball, and Erin is a parttime manager for us (and Em's travelling partner). Conor's on the Nuffield Street Marketing Committee and is working with Sam from the brew bar to turn Nuffield Street into a hot local night spot. He and Tyler have accomplished that with Latenights at the Wharf, and he's got some great ideas for Nuffield at Night.
We have been getting bits and pieces of March Madness - saw Oregon get beat on the way to the Final Four. The games are on at odd hours because they are competing with the Cricket World Cup, which is on all the time.
In the past month we have had an earthquake, disrupted phone/email service, and just yesterday the most massive monsoon I have ever experienced. This morning all is calm, I have all the windows and doors open, and it's back to paradise. As a season ticket holder for the Royal NZ Ballet, I got to see Tutus on Tour a couple of weeks ago. I've been playing golf twice a week for the past two months and really getting my game back, and doing staff training twice a week in Food Safety and Customer Service.
Mexicali sponsors the Harbour Heat of the National Basketball League, and they have given us the premier sponsor table right under the basket. The team owner says it's a strategic move. He
likes JB's running commentary to the refs (with his loud American accent), who stand just a few metres from us. Newmarket parttime manager Hayden and Erin's brother Brent both play for the Heat, so it's great to be part of the crowd. Last night was the first home game - we won!
We're looking forward to Fiji in May, and I'm planning on catching up with my sisters and dad at our BSR (Butt Sister Reunion) in Mariposa at the end of June.
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