Last weekend I was still wondering what Autumn was doing. It seemed to be taking its time about arriving. After a week of feeling under the weather and labouring away in a windowless back room at the shop (where the window is concealed by blinds and the doors by chipboard) I hadn’t noticed much change.
You may ask why we have blinds on the windows – and I will tell you. It’s one of the owner’s special security features. He thinks if people can’t see in they won’t want to rob us. It’s also great if you like working in twilight, don’t mind being ambushed by people lurking outside the shop and don’t want customers to find you.
I once worked in a jewellers where the owner had a similar idea. He replaced the back door left by the previous tenant because it had a small window in it. This was a weak point in his eyes, though it deprived us of the ability to spot anyone lurking outside as we left the shop by the back door.
Imagine his surprise when the landlord asked him why he’d taken off a Post Office approved security door with bullet-proof glass window and replaced it with a lightweight household door with a bit of steel sheet screwed to it.
We are hoping to have the front doors re-glazed next week, which will make things lighter, remove the impression that we are under siege and stop people asking if we’ve been robbed.
I appreciate that they are either concerned or curious, but it’s becoming tedious have the same conversation day after day. We’ve even had several, including one who had never been in the shop before, wanting to discuss out new security measures.
Let’s just say that no robber will be able to get in and out of the shop in two minutes again.
Meanwhile, as Julia did the laundry, I went for a walk in Arnott Hill Park, had a look at the new sculpture and noticed that autumn had arrived. I’ll put the photos up now, and then I’ll go shopping.
Lovely pictures. My first job at Lloyd’s in 1960 was in the domed old Room – no windows. Jackie’s grandfather ran a motor factor’s shop around 100 years ago. He kept his money rolled up under oily rags in an open drawer. When he took any home that was rolled up in his socks in their drawer.
A certain amount of our security uses similar measures – the classics rarely go out of fashion. I won’t expand on our plain view strategy in case any of our local robbers get someone to read the blog to them. 🙂
🙂 A brilliant reflection on likely IQs
I thought you might like it. 🙂
🙂
I like windows in doors, as long as they are not the type placed near the door knobs. Those seem like an invitation for being robbed.
Yes, that is not a satisfactory door design.
I know windowless work spaces. Ugh. I hope you get a window now. Lovely fall it looks like your having–and the sculpture has a nice bit of whimsey to it (not sure I spelled that right, but autocorrect didn’t kick in, so…)
I checked – whimsey or whimsy both seem acceptable, though my American-biased spellchecker doesn’t like me using whimsey. I take this to mean whimsey is the version to use, just to annoy it. 🙂
Yes, after a slow, beige start we seem to be getting some good colour.
On of my clients has about 10 huge windows in the office where I work. They are always locked, no matter how lovely the day. And they always have the shades drawn. I always feel a little bit crazy after being there all day.
I recently got a window office after working in a cave for years. It’s heaven! The blinds are always all the up, letting light in. I can see the trees and the weather and it’s wonderful. I used to work with someone who had a corner office and always had the blinds drawn. Looked like he was having a seance in there…
It is well known that trees are good for you. I don’t really see the point of windows you can’t look ouit of.
I’m with you there…
That must be maddening. People can be very strange. 🙂