RE-OPENING!
Hi,
my little shop will be open again from next week - usual hours: 1.00pm - 5.00pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
The first week or so will be a bit wacky, as the builders will be completing the renovations, but after that things will be back to normal (or what passes for normal 'round here).
Phew.
This has been a longer struggle than I would have thought, and it's not at all down to me. It took us about two weeks to clean up after the flood, nasty work, but was then able to re-open my shop just as before (albeit with a compromised decor...) for the best part of three weeks. I then had too re-close because my landlord had building insurance, and that had all kinds of stupid modern caveats attached: asbestos underlay; potential mould and damp in the partition walls; dodgy wiring that has worked for decades, but doesn't meet current standards. Renovations have to be made to meet current regulations.
The builders have been great - they have tried to keep me up to date, and give me reasonable schedules for the completion of the work, but they too are at the mercy of the tradesman they employ. The flooring guys, for example, were not only working on my rooms, but also the Worker's Club, the AZA Motel, and several other jobs.
I understand...the whole TOWN is still being renovated!
I'll be semi-normal next week, and back to full normal the week after. Yay!
I've been working through the backlog of repairs at home, so If you have a guitar currently booked in with me, there is a more-than-good chance that I have worked on it, and it is ready to bee collected. I will call or email as many of you as I can but, if you don't hear from me, please call or email and I will get back to you, or reply to your message, as soon as I can.
Aargggh...
I've said that a few times recently..
Almost back the way it was. Please keep in touch.
Andrew
Monday, 22 May 2017
THE SAGA CONTINUES...
Hi again,
well, the renovation saga continues...
The flooring guys haven't finished yet. Apparently they're juggling several jobs and are doing them all on a rotation schedule. Meaning I'm still not able to re-open the shop. Apparently they will be finished by Thursday, and then the builder can get in and do his stuff.
I finally spoke to the builder again yesterday and he assured me that I WILL be able to re-open next week. Phew.
Meanwhile I'm getting through the repairs at my home workshop.
Light at the end of the proverbial tunnel...
Thanks for your patience - see y'all soon.
Andrew
Hi again,
well, the renovation saga continues...
The flooring guys haven't finished yet. Apparently they're juggling several jobs and are doing them all on a rotation schedule. Meaning I'm still not able to re-open the shop. Apparently they will be finished by Thursday, and then the builder can get in and do his stuff.
I finally spoke to the builder again yesterday and he assured me that I WILL be able to re-open next week. Phew.
Meanwhile I'm getting through the repairs at my home workshop.
Light at the end of the proverbial tunnel...
Thanks for your patience - see y'all soon.
Andrew
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Wednesday 17 May 2017
Hi everyone,
it's me again.
Just heard from the building owner that the flooring guys were indeed in there today, and will also be doing their thing Thursday and Friday. So that writes this week off for me (and you guys too). As expected. Walls we can ignore - floors we have to stand on...
I actually opened up yesterday (Tuesday) and had a relatively normal day booking repairs in for work, and having other repairs collected (and paid for). Seven guitars in, five guitars out - just about normal!
I did this with a skeleton version of the shop ( a bench, a laptop, my old tuner, my EFTPOS machine) and it was ok. If I have to do this for the next week or so, so that you can drop your guitars in to me, I can repair them, and you can pick them up and pay for them (!), then all will be fine. Just as it ever was.
Only differences will be that:
a) I do ALL of the repairs in my home workshop for the time being...no problem.
b) The guitars for sale (both mine and those on consignment) won't be on display (although I am going to post them all on this journal, just in case any one is interested). There may even be some splendid deals (given that my cash flow has temporarily become a cash-trickle...).
c) Temporarily at least, my little shop won't have all of the interesting, amusing, and hopefully enlightening paraphernalia that was there to engage you (while I was ignoring you while on the 'phone to someone else). I can guarantee that the re-born version of my silly little shop will be even more interesting and welcoming.
Everything else will be pretty-much as it has been for the last twelve years (that I've been open and trading in Lismore).
If you do drop by my shop and I'm not there, you can always book your guitar in with one of the other local music shops - Planet Music, Russell's Music, Byron Music, and also Valiant Music. I have a great relationship with all of these stores, do repairs for all of them, and they will be happy to book your guitar in so that I can pick it up and repair it.
Please assume that next week I will be open as usual, But if you're coming from some distance, please contact me the day before to make sure I'll be there.
Can I just say this..."Aaaaargggghhh!"
Thanks, as always, for your support. It will be back to normal soon!!
Andrew
Hi everyone,
it's me again.
Just heard from the building owner that the flooring guys were indeed in there today, and will also be doing their thing Thursday and Friday. So that writes this week off for me (and you guys too). As expected. Walls we can ignore - floors we have to stand on...
I actually opened up yesterday (Tuesday) and had a relatively normal day booking repairs in for work, and having other repairs collected (and paid for). Seven guitars in, five guitars out - just about normal!
I did this with a skeleton version of the shop ( a bench, a laptop, my old tuner, my EFTPOS machine) and it was ok. If I have to do this for the next week or so, so that you can drop your guitars in to me, I can repair them, and you can pick them up and pay for them (!), then all will be fine. Just as it ever was.
Only differences will be that:
a) I do ALL of the repairs in my home workshop for the time being...no problem.
b) The guitars for sale (both mine and those on consignment) won't be on display (although I am going to post them all on this journal, just in case any one is interested). There may even be some splendid deals (given that my cash flow has temporarily become a cash-trickle...).
c) Temporarily at least, my little shop won't have all of the interesting, amusing, and hopefully enlightening paraphernalia that was there to engage you (while I was ignoring you while on the 'phone to someone else). I can guarantee that the re-born version of my silly little shop will be even more interesting and welcoming.
Everything else will be pretty-much as it has been for the last twelve years (that I've been open and trading in Lismore).
If you do drop by my shop and I'm not there, you can always book your guitar in with one of the other local music shops - Planet Music, Russell's Music, Byron Music, and also Valiant Music. I have a great relationship with all of these stores, do repairs for all of them, and they will be happy to book your guitar in so that I can pick it up and repair it.
Please assume that next week I will be open as usual, But if you're coming from some distance, please contact me the day before to make sure I'll be there.
Can I just say this..."Aaaaargggghhh!"
Thanks, as always, for your support. It will be back to normal soon!!
Andrew
Monday, 15 May 2017
RENOVATION UPDATE
Hi folks,
I will be open tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 16th). The flooring contractors are commencing their gig on Wednesday, so it looks likely that I won't be able to get in there for the rest of the week.
I WILL be open next week.
It will be pretty spartan, but I will be there. You'll be able to pickup and drop off guitars as usual. And I'm hoping to fully move back in, and have things more-or-less back to normal, the following week. With splendid new(ish) decor.
For the next week or two it may be wise to contact me, either by 'phone or email, before you drop by. Just in case. My schedule might get tangled up the builder's schedule - and I want to make it as easy as possible for them to do their thing, so that I can have my little shop back.
I will update this page, as well as my answering machine message and the signs I've stuck up around the building, as things progress.
I don't do this often, but I'm going to go a bit political here: The irony here is that my landlord has his building insured. If he didn't, then I would have gathered up a few friends and we'd have done the bloody restoration in about three days. This delay, and me having to move in-and-out of the place like a yo-yo, is all down to the fact that the joint was insured.
I couldn't get flood insurance (they all laughed at me) so, as well as hating them 'cause I couldn't get flood insurance, I'd probably also hate them if I could!
Admittedly, if I was a brazillionaire, and owned a bunch of properties, I might think differently.
But all of the shops that got back up and running within a week or two were the family businesses and owner-operators that also couldn't get insurance and consequently had a flood plan, and absolutely had to get back in shape as soon as possible. These are all pretty courageous people, and are the soul of the town.
The empty shops (mainly franchises, chain-store, and banks) are all insured, and their re-opening dates are in the hands of the insurance companies. Not sure if you saw the article in the Star last week, but most of these businesses have said that they will eventually be re-opening.
I DO have a flood plan! I watch the BOM website like a hawk (not least for the humidity forecasts, important for gluing and spraying) and at the slightest hint of possible flooding I move all the stuff either out or upstairs. I've done this eight times since I've been here.
Anyway. In the words of the respected former Governor Of California..."I'll be back..."
Soon.
I want my little shop back!
Don't hesitate to 'phone or email if you'd like to call me. It's a bit messy, but I'm answering most calls within a couple of days.
See y'all soon,
thanks for your support,
Andrew
Hi folks,
I will be open tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday 16th). The flooring contractors are commencing their gig on Wednesday, so it looks likely that I won't be able to get in there for the rest of the week.
I WILL be open next week.
It will be pretty spartan, but I will be there. You'll be able to pickup and drop off guitars as usual. And I'm hoping to fully move back in, and have things more-or-less back to normal, the following week. With splendid new(ish) decor.
For the next week or two it may be wise to contact me, either by 'phone or email, before you drop by. Just in case. My schedule might get tangled up the builder's schedule - and I want to make it as easy as possible for them to do their thing, so that I can have my little shop back.
I will update this page, as well as my answering machine message and the signs I've stuck up around the building, as things progress.
I don't do this often, but I'm going to go a bit political here: The irony here is that my landlord has his building insured. If he didn't, then I would have gathered up a few friends and we'd have done the bloody restoration in about three days. This delay, and me having to move in-and-out of the place like a yo-yo, is all down to the fact that the joint was insured.
I couldn't get flood insurance (they all laughed at me) so, as well as hating them 'cause I couldn't get flood insurance, I'd probably also hate them if I could!
Admittedly, if I was a brazillionaire, and owned a bunch of properties, I might think differently.
But all of the shops that got back up and running within a week or two were the family businesses and owner-operators that also couldn't get insurance and consequently had a flood plan, and absolutely had to get back in shape as soon as possible. These are all pretty courageous people, and are the soul of the town.
The empty shops (mainly franchises, chain-store, and banks) are all insured, and their re-opening dates are in the hands of the insurance companies. Not sure if you saw the article in the Star last week, but most of these businesses have said that they will eventually be re-opening.
I DO have a flood plan! I watch the BOM website like a hawk (not least for the humidity forecasts, important for gluing and spraying) and at the slightest hint of possible flooding I move all the stuff either out or upstairs. I've done this eight times since I've been here.
Anyway. In the words of the respected former Governor Of California..."I'll be back..."
Soon.
I want my little shop back!
Don't hesitate to 'phone or email if you'd like to call me. It's a bit messy, but I'm answering most calls within a couple of days.
See y'all soon,
thanks for your support,
Andrew
Monday, 8 May 2017
FLOOD RENOVATIONS
Hi everyone,
my shop will be closed this week as the building is now being renovated after the flood.
I spoke to the builder in charge of the restoration, a thoroughly splendid chap, and he has given me a clearer outline of what has to happen.
I will be closed this week (commencing Monday 8th May) as they are pulling up the under-carpet flooring. This is apparently fibro-cement (asbestos), and the removal has to meet all kinds of government and environmental protocols. After that, the builders will assess the damage to the flooring and will, in consultation with the owner, decide on whether to re-carpet (in water-proof marine carpet) or restore (as polished floorboards).
Trust me dear folk, I have lobbied, nay..harangued, my dear landlord to get this thing fixed ASAP.
The builder in charge of the restoration has assured me that I WILL be able to move back in at some time next week, albeit in a limited way, as they finish the flooring restorations.
That's fine: if I have a bench at the shop, my laptop, my trusty old tuner, a soldering iron, a box or two of parts, and room for your incoming and outgoing guitars, that will be fine for a week or so. As most of you probably know, I do more than half of the repairs at my workshop at home, so I should be able to work more-or-less as normal, and be able to get your repairs done more-or-less as normal too.
On a positive note, the down-time away from the shop will also allow me to make significant headway on some of those long-term repairs and restorations that I have in progress.
I'll add updates to this journal each day or so over the next week. If you have any questions or concerns about your guitars, please email or phone - I will be checking email and the Telstra answering service every day.
It will all be back to normal (or what passes for normal around here) soon.
Yay!
Andrew
my shop will be closed this week as the building is now being renovated after the flood.
I spoke to the builder in charge of the restoration, a thoroughly splendid chap, and he has given me a clearer outline of what has to happen.
I will be closed this week (commencing Monday 8th May) as they are pulling up the under-carpet flooring. This is apparently fibro-cement (asbestos), and the removal has to meet all kinds of government and environmental protocols. After that, the builders will assess the damage to the flooring and will, in consultation with the owner, decide on whether to re-carpet (in water-proof marine carpet) or restore (as polished floorboards).
Trust me dear folk, I have lobbied, nay..harangued, my dear landlord to get this thing fixed ASAP.
The builder in charge of the restoration has assured me that I WILL be able to move back in at some time next week, albeit in a limited way, as they finish the flooring restorations.
That's fine: if I have a bench at the shop, my laptop, my trusty old tuner, a soldering iron, a box or two of parts, and room for your incoming and outgoing guitars, that will be fine for a week or so. As most of you probably know, I do more than half of the repairs at my workshop at home, so I should be able to work more-or-less as normal, and be able to get your repairs done more-or-less as normal too.
On a positive note, the down-time away from the shop will also allow me to make significant headway on some of those long-term repairs and restorations that I have in progress.
I'll add updates to this journal each day or so over the next week. If you have any questions or concerns about your guitars, please email or phone - I will be checking email and the Telstra answering service every day.
It will all be back to normal (or what passes for normal around here) soon.
Yay!
Andrew
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