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SPRATTY SAYS 22nd December 2007
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! A funny time of year where you bunny hop through the final few work days of the year intermingled with the public holidays. The Mighty River crew are more frequently sticking there heads into my office to check that their days off were under control, mindful that in a world full of surprises that you are never off until you are off.
I'm noticing a growing sense of urgency among customers to sort out any problems in the driveway before the impending deluge of good cheer, gift giving and visiting friends and relatives. Whether it's a noise, tyres, a health check or a complete change of car, it's on in earnest. Not just our business either, at this time of the year the heat and stress can be felt in businesses everywhere, who are working against the clock to avoid potential disappointment and enjoy a relatively stress free Christmas.
Shoppers also have started to develop that exhausted, harried, bunny in the headlights look which is a rich mix of exasperation, stress and near exhaustion, as they struggle with heat, parcels, crowds, a looming festive deadline and unexpected commitments on a home and away basis that operate in vaguely defined timeframes.
Tough as it seems, somehow everyone makes it out the other side into the strange twilight zone between Christmas and New Year. You either simply extend Christmas day for a few extras into New Year or you return to a half empty workplace littered with pre-Christmas remnants of festivity and disappointment. Without the pre-Christmas adrenaline rush and after a couple of days of sloth, oh and the boss is usually away, things are so much cruisier. Funnily enough, statistically this period is usually as busy as the pre-Christmas rush, it's just that everyone is in a better frame of mind.
As there will be no Spratty says next week I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Mrs Spratty and myself to thank everyone from one end of the Clarence to the other (and beyond) for another fantastic year at Mighty River.
I made double figures in my guest appearances for the Redmen, as well as cameos in hockey, Oztag, Aussie Rules ( 4 goals 3 behinds!!) and soccer( 3 behinds). My management team is well progressed with discussions for next year. I also managed to add tardiness to sloth, ineptitude and absence in my war on domestic industry.
There was also a workfront which saw our Spring street South Grafton operation go from strength to strength. With the forbearance of the Winmill family we entered the Caravan and RV business, an adventure that is just beginning.
2008 looks like being even better. When I arrived in the Clarence a couple of years ago we were enjoying a privileged provincial lifestyle that was on simmer, in 2008 it will really start to bubble, with loads of opportunity for everyone.
Happy motoring and a safe and merry Christmas and New year,
Spratty and Mrs Spratty