I did not mean to leave it quite so long between posts, but the end of the old year has frankly been a bit of a bitch and now we're here in 2025. This is my 4th bookshop Christmas but I'm no nearer adapting to the rhythm of it - it doesn't stop as you go into January, but there's a lot more paperwork (endless returns and no shortage of people trying to return things that weren't bought from us, possibly bought from us but not in the last 2 years, bought from us and trashed far past the point of resale, stolen from us in the hope they could then con us out of a refund - get in the bin - and wilfully refusing to accept how gift receipts work. No you cannot have cash in exchange for the gift someone gave you, and no matter how rude you are I will not give it to you.)
There are also a lot more bored children and parents who seem unwilling or unable to entertain them. Letting them blow into mouth organs that they have no intention of buying is nor the way to fix anything though. At best you are annoying everyone around you, at worst you might as well just let your kids lick the floor and hope whatever germs they pick up don't keep them bored at home for even longer.
Why yes, it has been exhausting.
The trend in retail has been for bank holidays to be treated as normal working days, so we're closed on Christmas day but it's just a normal day off - and honestly it's not enough. I needed more than 2 days together, definitely didn't need to then work the 5 days to New Year's eve, ended up ill by New Year's eve, was asleep hours before the bells and stayed that way for almost 12 hours. We're all like that at work at the moment; burnt out, overstretched, and low. I doubt the internet has missed my cheery presence.
In genuinely sad news a good family friend passed away on boxing day. Richard Gibson was a remarkable man who made all sorts of difference in the world. You can read a little about his work in Shetland Here. He will be very much missed by all who knew him.
But now it's time to look forward and see what the New Year brings, so here's to health and happiness in the next 12 months, and new beginnings.
