I have been slack at writing, still havent't written about my time in calgary yet, in due time i will, but my most pressing news right now are:
Arrived in vernon and did the usual first prowl of a new city to see where i would like to work. i found a few interesting spots, the one i liked the most was a herbal store which sold herbal remedies and health food and gourmet organic produce.
You know the story, a mild and friendly atmosphere, people who do yoga and eat goji berries.
so i was over the moon when the phone ran and i was asked to come and join their team.
First day went well, learnt how to work the till and smile and greet people coming to the store.
Second day, all is well until around 2 pm. I am manning the second till from the door and another girl is on the first till. I see that she is helping a customer and i go to arrange some of the food shelves a few meters away from my till.
Next thing i know, my collegue runs by me and yells; RUN TO THE BACK! I AM CALLING 911.
so as i am jogging behind her to the back of the store I see her customer sprint out of the door. Being slightly dim witted I am wondering to myself if this is common procedure at this particular herb store. my next thought is, the guy was probably injured or was getting help for someone outside who is injured...do they need help?
Another split second go by and then my collegue is on the phone telling the police to get there as the guy had tried to rob the store.
Apparently he had come up to the till with his hand in his jacket pocket indicating that he had a gun and demanded the money.
My collegues first reaction was to turn around and run away from him and during this she kept her wits about her and managed to get the rest of the staff out of harm's way as well.
The guy left quickly without getting anything for his drastic maneuver.
Within minutes the police was on the scene, several cop cars with accompanied officers came into the store, closed off the till and started dusting it for finger prints.
so we were all a bit shook up but luckily no one was harmed.
I never knew working in the organic produce industry could be so exciting. i wonder if they have danger pay? the rest of the staff assured me that this had never happened before and that they don't expect it to be a normal occurence from now.
Well, a nice cup of camomille tea should calm my nerves and get me ready for whatever next might happen...maybe even something crazy like x-mas shopping madness.
I have settled in nicely in vernon and so far so good. there is a lot of hikes around and it looks like i can get some courses done at least at the college here so i should be content to stay here for a while.
Here comes a potpurri of pix from time in calgary
renee and jzero
live show at the marquee room in calgary, brendon,rich and jud +john not visible
richie dressed up for halloween, mine and peter's halloween was spent in a u-haul.
art work session in the trailer.
