Sit it out.

Hi there.

Thanks for popping in. Just received official news that next week’s exhibition at the NEC has been cancelled, or should I say postponed until June 26th-28th. Sensible decision for sure. I know many of you really look forward to the show, and book your hotel months in advance. Best get on the phone and see if you can get a refund asap. The optimist in me says that it will hopefuly all be fine by June, but who knows? If only I knew the answer to that for definite…

But I certainly believe it’s a smart move on the part of the organisers to stop the NEC show. Damage limitation I think it’s called.

Thing is, we are absolutely powerless over this pandemic which is spreading across the world like wild fire. But we can do what we can do to slow down the speed of infection by literally sitting it out. If we go to Birmingham, we ALL run the risk, not only of infection, but then of carrying the disease back to our homes and to our families. That would be irresponsible indeed. So. Much as it will hit all businesses (not just us) who rely on the revenue stream from the show hard in the gut, we really have a duty of care to staff, customers and family to sit tight and not move around.

The other reality is that many many of our customers are not well people. They are the vulnerable ones. So yes! Definitely smart to stay at home and sit it out. But don’t worry! We’ll keep you entertained!! Either on Hochanda, or Clarity Youtube, or with this ere blog!! You just sit tight and stay safe, and let us take the strain. We’ll get some competitions going, we’ll have some free online lessons, we’ll make the best of a bad situation, as they say. I guess this is one occasion when we can be very grateful fortinternet.

We had a chat about the coming months at work today. Nobody knows what’s round the corner, but the writing’s on the wall, innit. We are looking into the ins and outs of our own events too: Spa Retreat, Open Days – this really is rough, and at so many levels. Let us make some enquiries first, then we can make a plan.

We’re moving the bulk of the business to the new factory this week! Started today. There’s a sense of urgency around that, too. Centralise the lot quickly. Get it all under one roof asap. Don’t want to get locked down between two locations. What a game.

Like ants, we were! All over the cages and bins of product for the picking and packing zone…

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It’s going to be so brilliant! Here we see the new picking n packing zone.

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Up and down on the tail lift of the van till I was dizzy!! And Brother Steve! Going like the bloody clappers!

“Hey Steve!” I shout. He throws me a look that says W H A T ?

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Then he realises I is takin’ a pic. Always time to suck it in and smile then !

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And I am grateful for this little art studio above the garage too! Because if there is a lockdown, I can still blog, work from home, make art – and we can still be creative together. So whilst it is all very worrying, there’s a lot to be grateful for, there really is.

WE WILL SIT IT OUT. 
BE SENSIBLE, 
HAVE A CARE FOR OTHERS. 
HELP WHERE WE CAN
AND SIT IT OUT.
OH. AND WASH OUR HANDS EVERY 20 SECONDS.

Let me have a think about the NEC cancellation. If we can’t go to the NEC, then let’s bring the NEC to you!! I’ll figure something out.

Until tomorrow,

Love and hugs,

Barb xxx

PS And keep clicking those ads down the side of this ere blog! We need all the help we can get now! Every little helps!!! xxx