An Intriguing Tale Of Being An Owner

So I read on the local News that Frank Anderson is suing the government and Percy Paris the Minister Of Economic and Rural Development? A notice of intent is being served already as I write this – so what do I think about it?  Well, according to Frank Anderson – it’s a defamation and slander case – that whatever Percy Paris said caused Frank Anderson to lose his job both in the industrial commission and development authority.

So all the stories surrounding Anderson wasn’t true?  I’m sure Percy Paris didn’t say nothing that wasn’t placed in front of him – I mean – he didn’t just become the minister yesterday – he had been in politics for a long, long time.  So what about this report that there is $500K missing?  Sometime in June – Ernst & Young reported major problems – so what is that all about?   And was there any truth about what happened in Shelburne County.  Mannn!! what a mess!  I’m following this really closely – because it would be very interesting to see how all these turn out.

We celebrated our 11 yrs in business a few days ago – the no tax sale was a great success and many customers – old and new came by to congratulate us.  We even had a celebrity from out of town who came in to wish us many more years of success.  Can you guess who the celebrity is?

11 yrs in business is definitely no easy feat – we’ve learned a lot during the last 11 yrs and realized that it’s easy to open a business but to keep your customers coming back to you – now that’s the difficult part.  Along the way – we’ve seen many good people but we’ve also had our fair share of nonsense.  We look forward to another year of challenge and I have to say that this year – we’ve done fairly well for ourselves despite the fact that we’ve lost the boat and our link to the USA.  But having said that – we don’t do touristy business  – maybe that’s the reason why we are not affected.  We also foresee – that if we continue to not have tourist or the boat – it would be detrimental to this town and ultimately us.   So lets hope for a better year next year – not only for us but for the rest of the town as well.

Online courses and upgrading are very popular in this area – every time a customer comes into our store – and we asked them what they are doing for work – they normally tell us they are preparing to go back to school or doing some online courses.  Upgrading is a huge part in this town – so it doesn’t come as a surprised to me when a long time customer whom we haven’t seen for a long time told us that he is doing his lsat prep online.

I wished that upgrading was as easy for us as it is now in this country.  Back home – when you failed your studies – you can’t go online and finish or upgrade as easily.  If your parents were well to do – you can go overseas and finish your studies – but if they are not – then you pretty much just can’t finish school.  Back then even a secretary – needs to go for a 2 yrs course – before you can get a job and a secretary needed her O’ levels equivalent to Grade 12 here.   So yes, folks from the West are very blessed because a customer – who is in his 50s had gone back to school to upgrade and it’s a program that the government  supports and when he finishes the upgrade he can apply online and do other courses to specialize in something.  I think it’s wonderful to be able to upgrade or finish one’s studies – especially when during your teens you don’t think it is important but only realizes how important it is when you are a lot older – a second chance – i called it.

A few months ago – while we were up in Halifax – we visited another locally owned game store – and from what we saw – we came back with some ideas that we could use to revamp the store – with the little space we have.  From the beginning of opening the business – the boss had always done his own shelving – so when the other “Big” Movie Store decided to close its door – we bought some of their fixtures instead.  A lot cheaper than buying glass cabinets that we had originally planned.   Now some faux wood blinds for the back windows would be a perfect match for our new fixtures – if we could get the landlord to come up with the money for it.  But having dealt with the same landlord for the last 4.5 yrs – i think it would end up coming out from our own pocket.  They can’t even provide us with a spare piece of carpet.  I missed my old landlord – truth be told – if we could have turned the clock back – we would have done it differently – but for now – a small price to pay for the blinds that we want to pretty up our store.

So we had more celebration in this town – for the summer – as usual – they are the same old thing – the festival of lights – the mackerel throw – the chowder cookout and lobster eating.  Yes! same old, same old – tis’ kinda boring after so many years and even with the fireworks – it didn’t really bring a lot of joy to me.  I don’t know about others in this town – maybe they liked the fireworks a lot – maybe they went to the drinking holes – but this summer – i know i didn’t see much tourists nor those who went to the waterfront drop in at our place to shop.   I’m just glad that our business is steady with our regular customers and of course more of the new ones who are renting movies from us.  Yes, the celebration will be over this weekend – for Seafest/summer  – but alas, the town seems to not get their act together yet.

So i’ve been in Canada for 10 yrs now and with the by election a few days ago, I thought i would do my part as a Permanent Resident and go vote.  Now when i got my Permanent Residency many years ago, i was told i cannot vote for provincial only but i had a rude surprised.  I was told rudely by a big woman who was manning the poll that i am not a Canadian..!!!! mannnn!!  i mean it’s ok.. if i cannot vote but to tell me off so rudely – mannnn..!!  so i said that’s ok..  and took my  tiger direct coupons and went shopping instead.  What i found really strange was – i could vote for the town councils and for the Premier but i can’t vote for MLAs???  darn weird !!!

So my customers asked me if i was going to be a Canadian citizen anytime soon..??  Well, truth be told, i would rather keep my Singapore citizenship because it’s a lot safer to keep it this way – at the rate things are going – i better have a back up plan and that is to keep my citizenship.

So we received an email from Telus regarding our credit card machine that we had to comply and pay $700 a year to ensure that our customer’s credit card transaction will be saved.  And if we refused to comply – we may get fined or even have our credit card services canceled.  So it’s like telling us that we need to buy diet pills for men even though our husbands don’t need it?

I can understand if we are like the big boys in town – like Walmart or Staples ringing in like millions of dollars every month – but ours is a small business – so if you want $700 on top of the transaction fees that you are already charging us – what else will you come up with next?  Taxes are going up – so are our rent – and water and sewage – what else is next?  no one can make a living here can we?   So was that email a scam or for real?  I will let you know once i find out.

The man is buying everyday – sometimes i cringed at the things he buys because i put myself in a customer’s shoe and I for one don’t mind buying used things – but if the previously used item is in rough shape then – i wouldn’t wanna buy it – sometimes I have sleepless nite worrying and need the  best sleeping pill to sleep at nite.  Like my grandmother used to say – the appearance is more important than the inside of a person – on first contact – so the same for any items one buys.

Even though acquired cheap – if it doesn’t move – no point at all.   I hate storing things – because it gets moved around and then forgotten – this is only a quarter of our store and you can see how packed things are.  And no we are not moving to Starrs Road yet – coz’ of how this town is currently and Dexter ain’t doing anything for us – just because we didn’t vote for a MLA he wanted (so the rumors go).   So yes ! packed and busy – really can’t complained but still don’t want to keep buying non-stop everyday.

Looks like we are not getting the ferry this summer at all.  The NS government refused to budge even though the town and 3 municipalities are coming up with half the money for the CAT to run this year.  But our dear Premier Dexter said he doesn’t have the money – but on the same day – they gave Irving close to $20 million..??  I don’t know what kind of summer Yarmouth will have – but I can see a very bleak one this year and what will happen next year..??  politics can be really deary – we just hope for the best – and do the best we can eh.

We put up this sign to show support to the ppl in Nova Scotia after the Premier announced that they will not be revisiting their decision to bring back the CAT for 2010.  We are not directly affected but I can see that we will in the long run.  We are not the only business in this town putting up signs like that in hope to show the Premier that his decision is wrong.  We understand that the CAT is not a feasible transport but to cut us off totally without prior warning or a replacement ferry that is not good judgement.  Many jobs will be lost this summer and most importantly, the link between USA and Canada will be affected and I know of a lot of people who won’t even be able to afford phentermine without a prescription because of it.

The Finance Minister wants a open session with the ppl in Nova Scotia and wants us to set aside our anger with regards to the misappropriate spending of the MLAs – and wants us to have some perspective ..??  What perspective is he talking about ..?? he should start with the MLAs and the government officials first if there is anything to be saved on – not us the commoners.

We are trying to make an honest living here – the ppl here are struggling and yet they take away the ferry – the one thing that gives hope to Nova Scotian.

We will not be able to pay our taxes if we have no business or tourists coming into Nova Scotia – Mr Steele – what else more can we save on the budget because of deficits not caused by us – but the mismanagement of the government.  Start from the very top first.. we are just commoners.

How I wished I could go for the demonstration on Feb 4 with the rest of the people in Nova Scotia because the termination of the Cat not only affects our town but the whole province.  But alas, I have to just cheer them on from here because there is no way – the boss is gonna close the store and go picketing and he is also expecting some shipment of iphone accessories next week.

News that the government of Nova Scotia will still be paying $3 million to Bay Ferries this year as a “termination fee” is driving those involved in the tourism industry to even greater lengths to secure a ferry for 2010. In fact, it is driving them all the way to Halifax.

What baffles me most is that the government needs to pay out a $3 million to Bay Ferries for the cancellation – if that’s the case – why don’t they bite the bullet and fork out another $3 million just for this season and then work on a different boat for the following year.

A month ago, i had written that the air services had terminated their services to our small town .. because they had used the funding meant for the next few years.. and squandered them away within a short 15 months or so.  Today, it was confirmed .. that even after meeting with government officials in Halifax.. and the town’s mayor..  they were not gonna budge…and wouldn’t fun the CAT as well.

The CAT is currently the only link for tourist from the states to come over to Yarmouth.  If the CAT is no longer able to run because the government wouldn’t fork out another $6 million in funding..  they wouldn’t budge either.  So either way ..  we are losing out .. on both side.  Many jobs are lost .. and the link between Yarmouth .. and the other side of the world.. is closed.  I can understand that supporting the CAT in the long run is not feasible.. but to stop so abruptly.. without a back up plan.. seems a little stupid..??   Am i writing this because i’m worried about losing business..?? some may think.. well .. truth be told.. we don’t do tourist business.. but it’s a vicious cycle here.. and it’s not only Yarmouth that will be affected.. but all the other areas.. like Shelburne.. and South West of this country.

I don’t know what the NDP has in mind.. . but it’s darn stupid.. and very, very uncaring .. of the rest of the province here.  So no airline services.. and no more ferry service.. ??!!!??  awesome..!! NOT !

New gift cards regulations had been implemented and announced recently – but it doesn’t affect us because our gift certificates has no expiry dates.  This is a good move because many are affected by the expiry .. when they forget to cash in or use their gift cards and certificates.

Nova Scotia’s marketplace offers two types of gift cards, those for a specific good or service such as a massage or a hotel stay, and those with an associated dollar value.

While Bill missed us.. we are looking not forward to Danny coming this weekend. So this weekend is gonna be horrid in sales again.

Tropical storm Danny is forecast to pass just southeast of Cape Cod Saturday evening and then track across Nova Scotia on Sunday. Rain heavy at times and strong gusty winds are forecast to begin in Southwestern Nova Scotia late Saturday and spread northeastward across the remainder of the province Saturday night and early Sunday morning.  Since Danny is a good distance away from the region and there is still some uncertainty on its exact track and intensity, total rainfall amounts and maximum wind gust will not be given at this time.

The public is advised to monitor future forecasts for updated information and possible warnings. Meanwhile, the Canadian Hurricane Centre says Danny will weaken as it moves through canadian waters. In a statement, the Centre says Danny has now become less likely that hurricane winds will occur.

We currently have an offer buy 2 games and get the 3rd one free.  Customer came back today.. and returned one.. saying it didn’t work.  So i offered to re-buff it for him.. and knew that the game wasn’t as scratched up .. when we sold it to him.  He said he would go pick another game.. in which i said sure.  He came up with a $24.98 game .. when his original game was like $25.98.  So he asked .. so how are we gonna do this..?? i said.. i can refund him $1 and he quickly added.. $1.13 right..?? with taxes..??  OMFGod..!!!! i’m just glad he ain’t my friend.. b/f – relative.. or husband..!!! $0.13 cents also wanna count..!!!!!  $0.13 cents isn’t gonna make you any richer buddy..!!!

I’ve seen many reports of scams in Asia.. about elderly being scammed after receiving calls that their kids are in trouble … and they needed money for hospital bills and so forth.  I can fully understand why these elderly are easily scammed because in our culture and society where our kids are so important.. and the parents think nothing about helping out.. and withdrawing money from the bank and giving them to a complete stranger it is hard to believe that ppl would fall for scams like using apatrim and claiming to this elderly folks that they are miracle pills.  It is unfortunate that there are skunks who tries to scam these elderly ppl and if they were ever caught i hope would get a stiff sentence but I am guessing in the West, ppl donch fall for frauds like in Asian countries..?

The Yarmouth RCMP are alerting residents about a fraud scam taking place in other parts of Nova Scotia.

The scam involves a male calling an elderly person indicating that he is with internal security with the bank and he is conducting an internal investigation on a bank employee and he needs their help. He asks the person he’s called to withdraw large sums of money from their account and meet him in a parking lot, where the money is given to him.

The man tells the victim to go home and to not discuss this with anyone for the next 72 hours as it would hurt the investigation. After that period, he tells them they should stop into the bank so they can discuss the file.

The RCMP says bank investigators do not solicit assistance from their clients to withdraw money and give it to them. If anyone has been approached in this manner they are asked to call Phone Busters (an RCMP fraud/scam division) at 1-888-495-8501 or call their local police.

So someone wrote last week that we should let the farmer’s decide on where the locality of Farmer’s market is best for them.  But does that person have any stake in downtown..?? does that person have their life -savings dumped into their businesses in downtown..?? does that person have a job that can be affected if the store wasn’t doing well… because there are no one coming down town..??  does that person have a property downtown .. that can be affected if business was bad..??

I can bet that person who wrote the above.. does not have all the above stakes..  but WE DO..!!!  if the town needs to put up money for the Farmer’s market building.. shouldn’t the ppl have a say..?? not only downtown.. but the ppl in this town..???   Sure the person who wrote that on the local papers is very eloquent and a older member of this community.. but like i said.. DOES HE HAVE A STAKE IN DOWNTOWN..???  if he doesn’t .. maybe he should listen to us .. the downtown business ppl.. who had put all and everything .. they have .. into this downtown business..??

This country has gotta be the busiest when it comes to voting.  It’s the federal voting this time though.. but having voted last year for the town and its town council .. and see that it didn’t really make a real difference .. i really donch wanna waste my time. Like all parties.. they promise you just about anything.. before they get into politics.. after they are in there.. you never hear nor see them.  So nah.. i’m not gonna waste my time.. and closing the store .. to go vote.. for someone who probably wouldn’t come by at all to see you .. during the time he is in office.

We had to close the store for abit .. so that the man can bring me to court .. as a witness for the babysitter.  I know the man wasn’t too happy.. but oh well. .what can i do. .i’m too responsible.  In which, i think i should not be too kapo in the future.

2 months ago, someone had come in to sell us an xbox 360.  A few hours later a few kids came into the store while we were out. .and claimed that they got broken into.  Long story short, the mother called since 2 weeks ago, and asked that we give it back to them.. for no money return to us .. because she tried to corner the boss .. by saying that he would lose everything .. if they reported it to the cops.

After waiting to hear back from them for 2 months, they just don’t want to give us what we paid for it.. and gave us some bullshitting story.  Anyhow, enough was enough. .when the mother threatened us with putting our store’s name on RCMP website and also BBB.. and i hung up the phone on her.  She called back asking for an apology . .in which i told the boss  – OVER MY DEAD BODY.

We called the cops. .and guess what..??? the cops came back to us an hour later.. with an apology. .because after calling up all parties.. no one wanted to report a break and enter.  How fishy .. can it get..??   The cops also warned the mother.. and the “alleged” owner.. not to call the store again. .else they can be charged with harassment.  So we will see what happens . in a week.