Locally the school boards timed one of their many PD*days (professional development days for the teachers) to be on Black Friday. The malls were packed with kids having nothing to do but hang out & adults shopping for more stuff. There were warnings to stay away from the mall on several F/B groups. After a short shift at the clinic, I stayed home, had tea & read a little of my latest from the library; Origins by Dan Brown. Not sure yet if I like.
On the weekend I attended a workshop for Christmas card making. I made 16 (2 of 8 designs) cards. It was a time of stamping, embossing, glittering, gluing & working with sequins (which apparently distresses environmental scientists, glitter that is). I don't like working with individual sequins, they cause me to swear. I won a door prize of a set of retired Christmas stamps. We also all received a package of retired 6X8" Christmas paper. So all in all a nice haul.
Thank you everyone from last week for the support to my continued hiring dilemmas, which I think are quieting down. A memo was sent to everyone as I did hire back the young lady who quit without notice. We had a chat about that & what my expectations of commitment are for this role. I also made some switches to our day time (other than me) front desk person, she is/was really struggling on the 3 therapist Tuesdays, plus two of the therapists made a complaint about her seemingly inability to multi task. I had a chat with this person & said it is not punishment but support to her to move her shift to the quieter Monday as she can gain more experience during a quieter, one therapist shift. So I am hoping that all things are settled for the remainder of the year.
One of our previous students from the clinic has graduated from her masters program, who with her partner, he graduated with a PHD, are taking the next 9 months to travel. She sent me this photo from her first lag of the travels as she knows, trees, mountains & water are my favourite places to be - this is in the Canadian Rockies. I would never grow tired of this view. They will be spending Christmas with family & then January 2nd leave for travels in South America.
Mr Man & I are off today for his 3rd eye injection with the new local doctor. What a relief not to have to drive to Toronto. So many new rules in place about driving on a particular street there, I would surely receive a ticket for not turning right after one block. Yes that's it, you can only travel north for one block at a time, after a block you must turn right, zig zag up & over to get back on the street & again for only one block at a time. Too much!
And that as they say is a wrap for the day. Happy week everyone, see you Thursday with my threesome.
Black Friday is becoming more popular here (UK) but hasn't yet reached the US shopping frenzy. This is the first year I've bothered with it and only then because I was desperate for a new laptop and printer.
ReplyDeleteI like all your cards. Is it Stamping Up?
Yes Stamping Up products. Hope you get that new laptop & printer soon
DeleteApart from the convenience for your husband, I would be so glad to not have to navigate Toronto for an appointment!! I did not partake in any Black Friday sales whatsoever. Very pretty cards! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteIt is surprising how much less time we spend traveling for this appointments. We left home at 7:45a & we were back by 9:45a We don't even participate in Cyber Monday - we have NO luck with ordering from Amazon.
DeleteNice haul, and beautiful cards---time well spent. I did some quick Christmas shopping for my granddaughters the Wednesday BEFORE Black Friday, if I spent a bit more it's a good trade-off.
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen. I often wonder how much savings there really is. It was reported that Sears Canada even in liquidation marked prices up before the close out sale.
DeleteBlack Friday has become a thing here in the UK over the last few years, but we tend to ignore it. We all have too much stuff anyway.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to get a few crafty freebies!
I hear you about having too much stuff. It's so very hard to say no sometimes. But my best decision in not buying books anymore has lead me to a wonderful relationship with the library ladies.
DeleteYeah ... Black Friday nonsense has abounded these last two or three years. I'm not sure how much there is to be gained from it. I don't really shop online anyway so I'm immune to that extent. If I had my family's Christmas lists yet, I might have been tempted to bargain hunt - but honestly, I refuse to get swept into a Christmas frenzy before Advent is even here. Your cards a very nice, esp the first "Oh Joy" one and the one with the trees on.
ReplyDelete"cards ARE very nice..."
DeleteThank you Lady Ella. The oh joy card is done with an embossing technique & I think I'm getting the hang of it now. It really makes things pop. I hear you about the rush on the season. I know Advent is a little later this year. It seems everything has to be now, no one can wait, now now now for everything. Me, I like the savouring of the season because it's so quickly over. Mind you I do feel like a relic.
DeleteYour cards are very pretty....I have to laugh at sequins making you curse, lol.
ReplyDeleteHere where I live I don't think Black Friday is all that big..I didn't notice any big sales...but then again, I don't look at flyers, lol.
I know 2 of my daughters got new phones and the wait was pretty long, but not crazy.
Thanks Tracy. Seriously individual sequins are nearly impossible to glue down! It was my first & I think last time working with sequins. (lol).
DeleteThe cards are lovely, I'm very fond of red and green for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBlack Friday was hell locally here (UK). We live near a regional shopping centre and the roads gridlocked mid afternoon and didn't clear 'til 11 at night.
Thanks Amanda, I prefer red & green for Christmas. I have a sister that has now made purple her Christmas colour, thankfully I found some paper to make her a purple & blue card. Our local mall was apparently packed & parking spaces were impossible to find. The maddness ended when the mall closed at 9pm - it makes me glad I stayed away.
DeleteI've only shopped on Black Friday once, and I actually enjoyed all the hustle and bustle. I just don't do that much shopping that I need to get out that day.
ReplyDeleteNine months to travel sounds like a dream come true. What a wonderful opportunity! And with photography skills like that she'll have great reminders of the trip.
We have one-way streets here, but I've never heard of this kind of block-at-a-time zig-zagging. I'd have to park somewhere and walk lol
The new driving rules on this Toronto street is meant to aid the city buses & street cars & encourage less car traffic - it worked because the buses & street cars are now packed, creating a different problem. Yes to be so young & carefree to travel the world ... she's a gem of a person so I know I'll be getting more photos!
DeleteThat sounds a crazy driving rule, I would definitely be in trouble with that one! Fingers crossed the new schedules and staff lead to a happier workplace, and one where everyone stays put a bit longer! Black Friday only arrived in the UK a few years ago, but it leads on to Cyber Monday etc etc. Why don't the shops just put their prices down a little in the first place and stop creating a frenzy where people feel they are missing out on bargains?
ReplyDeleteWe never venture out on Black Friday - it's a madhouse!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas cards turned out so lovely! I still have a few to make (hoping to finish up today), so I can get them mailed out this next week.