A hearty undertaking
I take my hat off to Bales boss Mandy Nickerson as she embarks on her own millennium mission. Mandy would be the first to admit that, like many of us in the travel industry, she has roundly abused her body over the years, partaking of too much hospitality.
Furthermore she would confess that she has been a stranger to the gym and that the word ‘fitness’ does not feature in her vocabulary. In the light of this, her ambition to participate in this month’s marathon in Malta represents a considerable challenge but one she is determined to meet in aid of the Family Holiday Association.
So keen is our Mandy that she has taken to cycling to work. In these early stages of training, however, she has enlisted the help of her husband Steve who isfollowing behind her in the car, ready to slam the bike in the boot whenever her calf muscles tire!
Team Nickerson boasts another member as Claire, the personal trainer, has been called upon to help. Claire’s first visit did not bode well as she was unable to locate Mandy’s heart on account of what Mandy described as ‘generous padding’. Mandy is keen for us to know that this is not because she is heartless!
Appropriate lycra garments have been added to the Nickerson wardrobe in the form of leotards, shorts, running tops and sports bras. Mandy tells me that when she asked a colleague where she might be able to find the latter, she was told to try the builders McAlpine!
Many of Mandy’s friends in the industry have volunteered to support her effort by running alongside her, ready to squirt reviving liquids into her mouth. But since these are more likely to be gin and tonics than isotonics, it is hoped that she will resist taking them along!
As one who knows Mandy well, I can only commend her tremendous efforts, all undertaken in a cause she cares about. If you would like to sponsor her, pledge your donation on 01306 732722.
Is she pulling my leg?
I hope that when I reach the age of some of my more elderly clients people will be as patient with me as I was with the old lady who came in to book a holiday recently.
She had already stopped by on a few occasions trying to book a single room on a coach holiday with local pick-ups to Tenby. Margaret at Dorset Queen Holidays found just what she was looking for. I asked the client if she had a seat request.
“I must have an aisle seat please. I need to keep my leg straight,” she replied.
“Which leg is it?” I asked.
“My right one,” came the reply.
Margaret heard this and suggested seat 3C which I then indicated on the plan of the coach.
“Why can’t I have 3D?” asked the old lady.
“Because you wouldn’t be able to straighten your leg,” I said gently. “You said you needed to put your right leg in the aisle.”
“No, I think I meant my left leg. It was the right leg I was having trouble with last year. My left one’s bothering me now!”
We booked the holiday with seat 3D.
As I completed the receipt, we chatted and I asked what the problem with her leg was.
“I’ve got cartilage trouble,” she answered.
“Were you very sporty when you were younger?” I asked, wondering if perhaps she’d played too much tennis for her own good.
“No, I blame it on the Charleston – it was a very vigorous dance you know!”
So it was the dance that put this old flapper in a flap!
Kiwi Kate is 30% cheekier
We bade a fond farewell to our colleague on the counter, Sally, who left this week to organise her move to a new home in preparation for her wedding this spring (we’ve all booked that Saturday off on the calendar but we don’t think our boss has noticed yet).
Sal has been replaced by Kate, a local girl recently returned from a sojourn in New Zealand where she worked in a travel agency. We knew Kate would fit in well when an old chap strode into the shop and announced to all and sundry, “they’re packed out in Yeovil because they’re getting 30% off from those big chains!”
“Yes, and they’re getting 30% less service,” quipped Kate. We were impressed!
Display with negative effect
Our current window display is a testament to the many talents of our boss’s wife, Helen. Her imaginative and stylish touch has conjured a lazy day on the beach using sand, pebbles, fishing nets, sun hats, seashells, a beach chair and a camera on a tripod. It is very inviting.
So inviting that one old boy was drawn into the shop and hovered, waiting to be served. We were all busy on the phones and screens and it was Jude who first became free to serve. By this time the gentleman was doubled over in a Groucho Marx posture, practically falling into the window.
“Can I help you?” inquired Jude.
“I just wanted to look at your camera,” he replied. “I collect them,” he added by way of explanation.
He waited in the expectation that Jude would dismantle the display but, as the shop had by now filled with genuine clients, his wait was in vain. Eventually, he realised that his bottom was taking up valuable space (he was still bending over to scrutinise the camera as far as he was able) and straightened up. He thanked Jude, took one of her cards and promised to come back when things were quieter.
We are now left with a dilemma. Should we tell Helen to try and be less inspirational and to provide us instead with dull and humourless displays aimed at a bland clientele or should we ask her to let her imagination run riot in a bid to encourage as diverse a range of clients into the shop as possible?!
After all, we might get Mr Camera Collector interested in a specialist photographic holiday next time he calls in!