Stepping into 2014- walking in My Shoes with Mooloo

Almost-free

My buggest gaffe was not taking my hairdryer on my first honeymoon! I was a vain 26 year old then, and was GUTTED that I couldn't blow dry my hair. We were staying in a little apartment outside the village on the island of Zante and there was no one to ask for one. Since them every single holiday packing session has started with my travel hairdryer lol!

Savvy_sewing

Hello from Tunisia. Will be glad to get home on Sunday though. Kids Club is a painting room, with beds for little kids to sleep? Not what I had in mind. DGD is swimming completely now and so loves the water.
I wouldn't recommend it here though. Hotel is Ok, my room is a good one, food is a bit repetitive, but that's not surprising. Service as a woman on my own was really bad at the beginning if the week, but finally getting reconised and served.
Country is dirty! Went on a trip and all the natural beauty is ruined by them using the space as rubbish tips! Really gross.
Being a woman alone is not good here.
Met a family with teenagers who have made it a good time still, luckily.
My head is in Shop mode.
I am going ahead and jumping in, as feel it's a now or never situation and I have finished at the recycle centre.
Be back on Sunday.

Savvy_Sue

Mooloo, please do check out threads on the Small Biz board as the implications of taking on a shop are huge ... and do get legal advice on the terms of the lease, do NOT say you can't afford to because you cannot afford NOT to!!!

Savvy_sewing

I have the lease terms being drawn up. I have an opt out clause after 12 months. A 3 month holding deposit, but negotiated a 3 month rent free period, and pay monthly rather then Quarterly. Not signed it yet. Renting from a solicitor.
I will do as much research etc as I can, and will probably become a limited company. I realise there is a lot to sort out, and a huge leap of faith in it working. I shall be careful.
Public liability will needto be extended to the shop premises rather then just my home.
Should get small business rate relief.
Talk to council on my return.
Rent review I believe is after 3 years. Will get it all checked out as best as I can.
It's a bit fast, because it was time to leave the Recycle Centre, and get the space to teach. But nothing ventured nothing gained, and I don't exactly have that much to loose. Financially I will be stretched for a little while, but as long as I can meet the running costs to start, I can live off of what I already have coming in.
I shall be talking to the bank and changing my account.
Have a book keeper in the family,
So will do what I can.
I have been wanting to do this for the last few years. The climate for sewing is at a new high after the sewing Bee, and the This Old a Thing.

Last trip to the Animal Park today. dGD got to see lions, tigers, elephant, giraffe, etc

Lozzy88

Wow Mooloo it sounds like your head is in the good place and your making all the right moves, Good luck

Sorry your holiday wasn't as you had wanted it but dgd sounds like she has enjoyed it.

I am looking forward to future updates

grey_lady

wow - great step. Around here there seems to be lots of little shops springing up whereby they sell local people's craft work (and the people pay to rent the shelf space) anything vintage is popular and also beads and accessories for making jewellery.

(moneysaving caz counts it down sells beads wholesale on ebay)

Almost-free

I didn't want to say after you had already booked Mooloo, but I had a bad experience of Tunisia and wouldn't go back. I went in a souk and couldn't believe how many times my backside got rubbed or pinched- it really wasn't funny it was very disquieting. Waiting for our coach back to our hotel I sat on my ex's knee- literally on the very edge of his knees as there was only one space in the bench. We weren't canoodling or anything in fact I was reading, but a policeman came over and threatened to arrest us for indecency ! Considering the way I had been pawed in the souk,I was far from amused!
I also found it dirty, the food was pretty awful and the hotel staff weren't interested in the Brits as they see us as bad tippers! I had my food tipped in my lap one night and I am sure it was because I had asked for my cutlery to be changed when we first sat down ,as there was crusty old food on both the knife and fork!

I am sure there are nice places in Tunisia and the areas I saw certainly have a savage sort of beauty, but maybe you have to spend a bit more to get to the nice parts?

You sound very determined and refreshed by the way- good for you!

Savvy_sewing

We arrived home at 5am. So it was straight to bed. DGD slept until 11.30 ish. I've been up and down every few hours. Still tired, but things to do and we won't sleep tonight if we slept any longer. My heads going round in work mode!
My DS has been here, while away, to water plants, cut grass etc? Though he helped himself to the food, which I don't mind, but left me every mug dirty, and all his dishes and pan! Not so thried, not the fact that I had bought a long life milk for out return and he and his mates had drunk all but enough for 1 cup of tea! So no cereal for breakfast today.

I didn't have too bad a hassle in Tunisia. But didn't go to the markets as I'd been warned. But the Algerians were a problem at the hotel. Appalling manners, kids running riot, one lad about 3 or 4 kept hitting dGD and at Breakfast the other day ran up and punched her in the stomach! Precocious little brat ruined most meal times! No matter what time we chose to go and eat, he managed to be there!
I think that it was overall ok. But just not me.
Time to catch up on the washing etc. Looks like there has been a lot of rain, two planters are flooded!

patanne

Do you need to edit your DGDs name out of your post?

Savvy_sewing

well kitchen is back in some sort of shape.
Mince out to make a meal with, also some onions and mushrooms. Will get some potatoes in a bit. May miss the big supermarket though as DGD just having her bath.
The storm has eased off and blue can be seen in the sky a bit.
I've got the washing all piled high, and one load on. Front room still in a bit is disarray but it has been hoovered.
I am still tired but at least I should get some sleep tonight ready to work tomorrow. I have a lot to do. Jobs to finish, enquires to chase, and stock to think about. Banks to see etc. It's going to be a very busy week- and life from now on! Can I do it? I have to believe I can, but the paperwork, planning etc will have to share time with the sewing side, until I can afford to get help.
Exciting, daunting, and fear all mixed up.

Biggest of Mooloo rang me. DS lost his best friend. He was only young, and he hung himself. He tried jumping on the train tracks a while back! So sad.
I haven't heard from DS, but know now why he was eating here, as the lad signed a handprint in out concrete when we had the water meter installed.
Time to move on DGD or we will struggle tomorrow.