back to one per month i guess

yep, the idea of frequent posting didn't last too long....

i have a lovely lady who pops in on a regular basis who has challenged herself to blog every day for 100 days. her posts are beautifully written. i think i fear i may struggle to do 1 post every 100 days...

nevertheless, here i am on the blog so i should get to the point of my latest news.

julie and i have hit a new level with sales really starting to trundle forward. it's marvellous but until recently it also coincided with 2 full-time staff leaving and part-time staff shortening their hours in order to cope with mid-term exams. it's meant that for the last 3-4 weeks julie and i have worked extraordinary hours. hence the lack of blog.

it was not ideal timing since there is a million things to organise for christmas. we have been bringing in lots of retail to help us build unique gift baskets and at the same time attempted to promote the cafe as the perfect spot to have a party. so far, we've got the majority of products in (last bits coming next week) and our advertising in sherwood park newspaper and on the signs by the road have given us a fair number of parties to organise.

throw in the fact that we work 8am to 9pm and you can begin to understand why I might be so stupid enough to wish that someone had invented the 40-hour day!

but things are beginning to get better: two new staff are on-board and are picking things up fast; two of the other girls who work a fair number of hours and really getting into the coffee and pulling great shots and steaming wonderful milk (both difficult skills to master).

and finally, julie and i are closing the cafe this monday and tuesday to have a break and organise our lives for the christmas chaos that is about to ensue!

all in all, it is mind-blowingly busy and totally exhausting but we are beginning to make a dent in people's minds and a positive one at that. and we love it!

i'll try and post some pics of the retail stuff soon. and i also need to blog on the barista comp in montreal that i went along to. fascinating stuff, i promise!