Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

*Robin*

Happy New Year, Mooloo!

Mooloo wrote: »

I'm going to have to be careful with my posture when hand sewing and check the height of my chair etc as my neck is triggering numb spots in my arm and headaches again. I can't be going backwards health wise now!!

..Two little words: Golden Paste. Please give it a try (for a couple of months). You will be amazed - honestly!

Savvy_sewing

DGD enjoyed her pantomime, but they were late back, 10.35 pm so by the time we were home it was well after 11pm going to bed for her and later for me. So feel rather jaded this morning. While she was at the panto I dropped off the travel cot for DS, but DGS was out with his mum so I didn't get to see him. Then I went on to see my Mum for a cuppa and to give her some fabric for her embroidery. She has bought some great embroidery files and I think they will soon feature in her card making. I'm feeling a little jealous that I don't have the time to play!
Off to work in 20 minutes, teaching at 10am and 1pm. Expecting a new girl today as well.
DGD is just stirring. The babysitter is due at 9am that gives me 30 minutes to get to work and to open up. I might just brave the rain and walk, ( if sitter is on time).

Savvy_sewing

At the moment I think I have lost my mojo. I wasn't really in the mood for sewing today. It took us s while to get into the first lessons as we weren't really sure what the girl wanted to do. We have decided on an appliqu! cover for her sewing machine.
I managed a few minor repair jobs before the next lessons. I had three in for the next session. One was new to machines completely. The second was learning a new machine she got for Christmas, and the third was my special needs little girl who has her own agenda. Her little mini machine was not working, so we had to move her onto my bigger machine. So in the end we didn't really make anything that was planned as we were threading machines and learning basic stitches and playing with tensions.

Savvy_sewing

Recently my brother brought a dehydrator, and after trials he has declared it a great way of turning fruit into snacks to eat instead of crisps, etc he's about to dry meat next.
Anyway my lovely Mum has decided to buy me not only the hydrator but also a vacuum sealer, so next time I get my meat deliveries etc I will be able to divide into the correct portions etc and get my food vacuum packed for storage and longer life! Can't wait for the deliveries!!
Mind you I will have to use my day off more productively so I do make the most of our food and I cut the wastage.

( and stop going to mr T fir ready meals).
What with learning how to can in my pressure cooker, my armaggedan cupboards are going to be awesome.

I must get on top of the food this year.

dktreesea

Mooloo wrote: »

Last lazy start to the day.
We are taking my Mum shopping, so I am hoping that we dodge the rain etc. She's so frail these days.
My cousin has been intouch to say my uncle is frail, so the cloud of impending doom seems to be hovering. I must see if mum wants to go to Dublin to visit. ( hopefully not next week when I'm supposed to be going to Portugal for a long weekend to celebrate a friends birthday- last year I was supposed to go when Dad died.).

On a cheery note there was enough money in the bank to pay the staff and to still pay me my £20.

So time to make a move.

Yaay! I hope you have a lovely time in Portugal. And find things and experiences not available in England to treat yourself to.


With the shop hours, the lady downstairs from us opens at 10am (understandable. We only have around 20 shops and except for the corner shops people don't really start moving, she was saying to me, until 10 or so). But she also opens late one day during the week, so that the people who work can drop things off or pick them up on the way home. When I say late, I don't mean 9pm or anything like that. Her and a couple of the other shops open until 7pm on a Thursday. And she then closes for the half day on Friday (our schools are all half day Friday rather than half day Wednesday) so Fridays and Saturdays are 10am to 1pm. She closes Sundays and Mondays.


What about posting on netmums.com? Here's an example, plus some of her customers reviews, for the lady who I would go to if I needed curtains made, even though she is way over the other side of the city:
http://www.netmums.com/edinburgh/local/view/local-services/dressmaking-curtains-and-alterations/mrs-louise-young


This is the link for your neck of the woods, if you fancy adding a listing.
http://www.netmums.com/south-northamptonshire/local/index/local-services/dressmaking-curtains-and-alterations

Feral_Moon

On the back of the above post, I also think you might benefit from closing on a Monday. Almost all small town hairdressers and butchers I know are closed on Mondays. This would give you an extra day to sew uninterrupted plus save paying staff to keep the shop open whilst you work.

Check out what other local shops opening hours are as I know they can vary from town to town. No point being open when all else is closed and vice versa. I'm guessing your town closes Wed afternoons, hence why you are too. But, as above, are any open later on a particular day?

If so, it's seriously worth thinking about having a later evening even if you utilise staff for those extra couple of hours as you've got DGD to think about. What you save by closing an extra day would more than cover the cost.

grandma247

Mooloo what kind of pressure cooker do you have?

Savvy_sewing

grandma247 wrote: »

Mooloo what kind of pressure cooker do you have?

It's a really really old tower. I have probably had it about 20 years now. I need to try and replace the seal as its going a bit now.
I used to have two, but left one in the pub when we lost everything. 2006.

I will look into Netmums advert. Can't remember my log in for them as its been years since I went on there.
A few of our shops shut on Wednesday afternoon but not many.
The artist that has moved into the mews closes on Mondays. I don't know who else does.
I've changed my opening times to 10 -5 so if I am at work at 9, by the time I have done the school run, I can do the Behind the scenes work, etc or at least start them without interruptions. Monday's tend to be busy for me with new jobs.
We are considering closing earlier on the Saturday, as the shop next door shuts at 2pm, the baguette shuts about 2.30 and we are still open till 4pm. As I was teaching it meant I have to have staff downstairs. But if we close then I wouldn't need the staff. Although parents coming to collect would have to wait outside.
I am monitoring how it goes to make tweaks this year.
I don't want to close the shop for two weeks in the summer this year.

Savvy_sewing

DGD is back from Messy Church.
I have finally sorted out the Annual Travel Insurance, as I am expecting to travel several times this year.
Now I need to think about the clothes etc to pack and make sure I have them washed and ironed. They they are mix and match, and that I can fit what I want in my carry on bag.
Now I'm starting to get excited that I will have a few days away at the end of the week.
I still need to make space ( again) for twin1 and her partner and DGS.
So why am I sitting on my iPhone, watching Without a Trace and doing - not a lot really?
Because procrastination is my middle name.

dktreesea

Mooloo wrote: »

It's a really really old tower. I have probably had it about 20 years now. I need to try and replace the seal as its going a bit now.
I used to have two, but left one in the pub when we lost everything. 2006.

I will look into Netmums advert. Can't remember my log in for them as its been years since I went on there.
A few of our shops shut on Wednesday afternoon but not many.
The artist that has moved into the mews closes on Mondays. I don't know who else does.
I've changed my opening times to 10 -5 so if I am at work at 9, by the time I have done the school run, I can do the Behind the scenes work, etc or at least start them without interruptions. Monday's tend to be busy for me with new jobs.
We are considering closing earlier on the Saturday, as the shop next door shuts at 2pm, the baguette shuts about 2.30 and we are still open till 4pm. As I was teaching it meant I have to have staff downstairs. But if we close then I wouldn't need the staff. Although parents coming to collect would have to wait outside.
I am monitoring how it goes to make tweaks this year.
I don't want to close the shop for two weeks in the summer this year.

Does your shop have a buzzer? Maybe they could ring it when they arrive, so you could at least run down to let them into the shop to wait if they were early and you weren't finished? Or maybe even time courses to finish at 2pm if you would like to close the shop by then?



As to not taking a summer break, you're six months away from then, with a shop that is open six days a week. Maybe see how you still feel in April or May before deciding?