I have been so crazy I haven’t had time to visit all of my friends.

…and you are so right about there being too much franchise in the world.

I will be around to visit you soon!

It is lovely in Plainfield, VT

Today is a holiday here and I am trying to acclimate to all of the changes which have and are happening lately! It is good to have a holiday to give me a bit more time.

Thanks Andrea!

“Tutup”…how funny! I read it like a child saying “shut-up” too! Mmm, maybe we need to adopt that for “Closed”…it would clearly bring some smiles to faces…and that is what it is about, right?

I am thinking about that sign collection…

Trying to catch up…I am running very slow, though!

Thanks for tomorrow’s weather report! I will be looking for that

“Tomorrow” is overcast and cloudy with a hint of rain in the air…spring is on it’s way here!

In Bali they hang little signs on the doors of the shops when they’re closed, and the word they use is “Tutup”…it always makes me laugh. They say the word as tootoop, but I always think of it as sounding like “shut-up”.

Signs are fun, and a collection would be fun to amass!

I guess you’re home and getting caught up with yourself?

Love,

Les.

Oh, I know it isn’t funny when you have taken the time to go to the cafe and they are having a bad day, but it is rather refreshing to understand it just happens sometime.

When you get that sign on your studio door…PLEASE send me a photo! I can’t wait to see that! I keep thinking I need to start taking photos of these funny signs…there must be a ton around…some not so much interesting, but just down right stupid.

Oh there are some serious “pockets” of alternative values here in the US, I suppose.

Thanks Les and have a great day! Is tomorrow nice there?

I just love the signs and the stories.

Golden Bay is soo like that! When you’re not in a hurry and everythings going along well, I just love it, but when I want/need to be organised it can drive me crazy.

There is the most gorgeous cafe in the main street that serves the best (mostly organic) food, and when they’re good they’re wonderful – which is most of the time, however we do catch them sometimes when no-one there can really be bothered to serve you, and the place is grubby and unfriendly. I guess they’re only human, and they’re having a bad day. The trouble is that I might have picked that day to take visitors from out of town to my favourite cafe, and they cant understand my feelings ).

I’m planning to have a sign rather like the one on the green door on my studio if/when we go back – there are lots of those around the Bay. However the door wont be open if I’m not there…haha!

It’s lovely to see that there are still people embracing alternative values in the US.

Arohanui,

Les.

What a hilarious story about the gift certificate! I just love stories like that…some people just don’t have the patience for them, but really they are so interesting! Thank you so much for sharing it with me. I just love them. I will be interested in hearing about how the owners get along with the running of the place…I hope they get things together soon, though

Thanks San

The bookstore episode reminds me of an experience I had yesterday and today at a nice little restaurant here that recently changed hands. I went in yesterday on my way home and said I’d like to buy a gift certificate. A waiter rushed to the back, then returned and said, “I’m sorry we don’t have that together yet.” Then the chef/owner came out and reiterated, “I’m sorry. I don’t have that together yet. I guess I could just write up something by hand.” I said, “Sure.” Then he began to think out loud and ramble about the possibilities for a gift certificate. So I said, “Well, I’ll stop by tomorrow. I want to give it tomorrow. Maybe you’ll have it figured out.” He said, “OK, then. That’s great.” Today I called. The lady who answered the phone said I needed to talk to the owner. He started the same song and dance. “I guess I could write something by hand….” I said, “The idea is the recipients love your food. They won’t care in the least what the gift certificate looks like.” I named the amount and said I’d drive over in less than an hour. Got there. The bartender pulled a lovely gift certificate from behind the bar. “Oh, that’s really sweet,” I said. The waitress said, “I’ll have to get the owner. I’ve never sold a gift certificate before.” She disappeared for a LONG time. Came back, looking stressed and said she couldn’t find him. Then she asked the bartender, “Do you think you could sell her this gift certificate?” “Why not?” Then to me: “I just charge the face amount, don’t I?” I shoulda said. “No, on gift certificates, you always charge half the value. That’s part of the gift.” In the meantime, the lone diner piped in, “Could I see a menu,please?’

The place does have very good food. But as my husband remarked, “I hope they’ll be in business long enough for the recipients get around to using it.”