Customer survice

During the week i went to Starbucks in Coleraine with Charlotte for a treat. I don't usually go there but i was going to share a large cookie with her. I walked up to the counter. There was no-one in the cue and the staff member was at the till, writing something, with her body in my direction. I counted to 30, and walked out with out the staff acknowledging my presence. I would not of minded the staff saying 'I will be with you in a moment', but to be ignored, even for half a minute?

later I went to the new comic shop. The comic book guy, Marty, spent time speaking with me, and while he didn't have what I wanted, he went stright on the phone and ordered it, so it would be here later in the week. WHen I was in today Marty was on thephone, but came off when I came in. He made sure I was the right guy, and got me my stuff. He chatted for a while, told me of new stuff that was in, and recommended some other books, based on the conversation the last time i was in.

It really surprised me that Strbucks had such poor customer survice. It is a fast coffee house, that in more civilised places (unfair, after all Coleraine has a Comic Book Shop now) I have been served almost before I can think. This seemed to be the Coleraine culture not being used to seeing the customer as the reason they make coffee.

Good service is something new to Northern Ireland shopping, but it is here more and more.

At last... an update

As you can imigine, the last week has been a tad busy, so the last thing I haev wanted to do after a hard day is to blogg.
But here I am now. Julie and Katherine are fine, both came home on Wed, and we all seem to be falling into a rythem, mostly of not sleeping. Charlotte has taken to the role of BIG sister like a dog to steak, and often has to be dragged off in mid kiss. She is loving the attention, and gifts.

Today was the Ballymoney Mayers show, consisting of one float and 50 tractors sailing round town. There was a Silver band on the back of a lorry, but they were drownd out by the tractors. The country market was expanded to celebrate. There was an ice-cream stall.

It has been a week of good news. The latest it that there is now a comic shop in Coleraine. I will truly believe when I see it, but reporst are from reputablie sources.

And I leave you with the much anticipated pics...

Garage build wk5

The concrete floor went in today. It looks well with the pebble dash.

I had a Kidney infection last week. I was on a "Volunteer walk leader" course (dull, dull, dull) and got bad pains on the walk. I decided to leave at lunch time. Unfortuntely, I had to go to Ballymena and hand in some work for my course, so a 40 min drive and 2hr wait to see the tutor befor I headed home, and got an emergency appointment for the doc. Got some big blue tablets ("take four tonight to kick-start it") and to bed. Really painfull, especially when I burped, hicuped or shiverred, which i did a lot. The next day I was feeling fine.

Saturday was the Ballymoney Show, and we took Charlotte to see the cattle, sheep, horses and sheep dog show. She was more interested in eating her ice-cream. The child had it all over her, but enjoyed every last dribble (most on her) and was even more delighted to learn that you can eat the cone. But I payed for being out, and was bad again that night. I only went back to work today.

Charlotte is enjoying the weather (hot, hot, hot) even if Julie is suffering it. (any day now, it has to be).