Happily, Classic Toys & Models is the best grindstone I've ever gone back to and that is really saying something; I've enjoyed every job I've had in the 40 years since I left college. This one is the worst payer, but you don't need quite as much when you get old and the perks, like sitting in the sun in your own back garden whenever you have a coffee-break, weather permitting, are just the best!
The rest is down to you. I've always tried my best at every job, but the reaction I get from my eBay customers gives me the best 'feelgood factor' ever.
Our three current grades of Scalextric Track-Cleaner will now be available in packs of 2, without braids (some of you say you have braids coming out of your ears by the time you've got your track clean. Point received loud and clear! Pictures at right show how packs will look.
The view from my office window last January (coffee-break not in garden)!
It has just occurred to me that I had never posted a blog about our Scalextric Track-Cleaners; it's been nearly a year since we intorduced them. I guess I was just too busy reacting to your suggestions (keep them coming - I'll try to keep up) regarding different grades and pack combinations. That leads me nicely to our next release:
Recent comments have included requests for Dual-Packs of just one particular grade and "could you have a lower price without the free sample braids?"
The answer is yes; I will trial it in all three grades on our Auctiva Commerce store (http://shop.classictoysandmodels.co.uk) by the weekend and have a full set of eBay listings ready for them within a couple of weeks.
Like many, we decided to stay in England this year and booked an apartment on the Clowance Estate at Praize-an-Beeble in Cornwall (timber cabins in the wooded estate of a country house) and booked a cheap room (in advance) at a Travel Lodge (basic, but new and clean and fantastic value at £19 for three of us) in Gloucester to break the journey down there. We can get to Tenerife from the North of England faster than we can to Cornwall! We nearly had a spanner in the works when our travel booking agents rang me on my mobile just after we'd left home, saying that our booking actually started on Saturday rather than the Friday quoted on our reservation!
We tried a few B&B's and came away a bit shocked at the prices that the ones that weren't already full were asking, but it was starting to look like a case of pay for somewhere fast or not leave ourselves time to find anywhere to eat!
Pure luck, however, stepped in and killed both birds with one stone.
Happily we fell on our feet and found this beautiful old thatched inn, ironically called the New Inn, at the tiny village of Coleford, near Crediton in Devon.
It was a wee bit over the top of our usual price range, but worth every penny; nice big en suite rooms, soft beds and great food and just remember to duck in some of the upper corridor doorways/stairways if you're 6 foot or thereabouts!
Much as I'd have liked to sample the full range of ales on offer, I'm old enough to know when discretion is the better part of valour, so settled for the Sharps ominously named 'Doom Bar'. Lovely pint, nicely kept. You can find them at www.thenewinncoleford.co.uk
Meanwhile, back at the shop, I've a couple more Scalextric-related projects, which will be appearing under the Hi-Spec banner, on the boil, but one of them is going to need to be produced in more than one version. I'll post more on those as they get closer to fruition as they will most likely be available for some models quite soon while others have to wait for further development.
Watch this space - I'll try to keep you updated with short posts as each development becomes available.
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