An end, and a beginning

Well It's been a while since I posted here, maybe a little update into the world of Crunchy is warranted.

The foot has finally healed up and allowed me to get back to work, albeit well overdue! I was hoping to be back mid January at the latest, but the whole thing went well into March. Even now it hasn't 100% healed, I still limp a little.

I did hire a couple people to help try and catch up. Tora who started becoming quite useful at the start of the year, and Aaron who has done some part time work on and off over the last few years. They helped me catch up, get a heap of work ready so in May I could do a nice big trip to drop everything off.

The plan went ok, we did do a heap of work, but like I said, a little too late, or later that I wanted. Most clients were pretty cool, they understood. It wasn't like I planned a foot reconstruction! I would have postponed it if I could have. One particular client, to put it bluntly, lost her shit at me. Thankfully that was the only one.

Fast forwarding to the deliveries, that was a big trip! 3 weeks starting at Mt Gambier way down south, through Victoria, NSW, up into far north Qld. I got to catch up with a few studios, a few clients, it was a really good trip. Until...

Halfway through NSW I had some car issues, long story but in short I overheated it badly and I think I cracked the head or the block. So for the remainder of the trip I was using 4 or 5 litres of coolant every day. Then, just before my last visit in Mt Isa, I discovered the chassis had cracked and was splitting in 2.

I did MacGyver it all up and made it home ok, but then there was a decision to make, fix or upgrade. The poor old girl has had a hard life, 550,000k's but served me well, so I was reluctant to upgrade. But as it happens, 2 weeks after getting back it conked out, and we can't get her started again. So upgrade it is, quickly.

Goodbye old girl

My first big loan, never spent a lot on a car before so I was quite nervous. But next week off to Tassie to pick up the new girl, and hopefully she will serve me as well. Not new, but 2023 model, so I'll get plenty of years out of her.

The new Crunchy Mobile..

Back to work mode again. I had to let the others go as cash flow is low, from the trip and a car deposit. Back working on my own again, but with the assurance I do have Aaron waiting patiently if I need him.

The workload had dropped significantly as I did manage to cross a lot off the list with the big trip. Although that scares me, as when I feel relief for a while, it means the busy bit is coming.

After all that's been happening, the surgery, time off, employees coming and going, the good clients, and the not so good ones, I have a slightly different outlook on business. I never say no, I always take on too much work and I get myself in a pickle. Now I'm trying to limit work, and keep up with orders. I would really love to be able to start a job and finish it not long after someone has ordered, rather than juggling everything getting bits and pieces done here and there.

I'll see how that goes!

Take care all, stay shiny!