Pacific Oysters

Several years ago my husband and I travelled the Inside Passage of British Columbia on the B.C.Ferries system. At Port Hardy we had a “splurge” dinner at a lovely restaurant. Not being really hungry that night, I thought I’d order 2 small appetizers instead of an entrée.

Pacific Oysters was my choice. They arrived – a total of 6 pieces. Each resembled a grey looking boiled egg – just firm enough to hold its shape but not more than that. And these weren’t teensey-weensey sizes either - I was sure they were too big to just gulp down with a chaser! So I didn’t.

                                          Be Engaging

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, or so it’s been said; but in this busy workaday world other engagements are welcome as well. For example, even in a frenzied atmosphere you can sense, when speaking with someone on the telephone, that they are interested in what you’re saying, and quite possibly interesting as well! 

Telephone etiquette is almost a lost art when everyone is moving at breakneck speed, however, it’s important to remember that the voice at the other end of the line is a real person, so be engaging.

You might just make their day!

Sunday Service

I try to take one day a week to have a little downtime with my family. The secret is to pencil in that personal time on the calendar, like an appointment that’s booked ahead. Sundays start with a little sleep-in later, read the morning paper, have two mugs of coffee and pad around in my slippers . The volume on my cellphone is often turned down too.  

 My real estate business though is client-based, and sometimes there is room for exceptions. One Buyer client is a roads construction foreman, and her hours of work are crazy too. So when this gal called today wanting an appointment to view, I gladly provided Sunday service.

It was her one day off too!

                   The Need For Speed

Some activities are best accomplished with more care and consideration than others. 

In Muskoka many of our sideroads are the only route to  four-lane highways.  Someone was in a big hurry the other day and struck a small white cat that may have darted out from the bushes. The car did not stop, but the cat did. Forever.  

In retrospect, it could be that the driver was just not thinking about  the possibility of either wildlife or a domestic pet suddenly appearing….too late for evasive action.

Real estate transactions should be conducted with caution as well, the need for speed sometimes reflects eagerness…too late for evasive action.

 What's With This? Hmmmm.                                    

Sometimes, regardless of our profession, we work with clients with our eyes wide shut – full of good intentions, sensitivity, and providing the very best service in good faith. 

Then, one little flick of an eyebrow and  intuition kicks in. “What’s with this?”  Even when we’ve given our trust, some recipients don’t take the high road, especially if things haven’t gone their way. 

Keep our peepers open! Like a good recipe, we should probably add a pinch of awareness to the mix, just in case what you see is not what you get.

Let’s Talk Turkey

At this specific  time of year  when people often congregate for a traditional dinner, the ‘f’ word is seldom overheard.  Plenty of hello(s) and “how are yas”…please(s) and thank-yous..excuse me…oops!...yummy…m-m-m good, etc punctuate conversations everywhere.

The ‘f’ word is Fortunate – and when we thank our host and hostess, whomever they may be ,  take a moment to feel gratitude and fully appreciate – the ‘f’ word.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Goosebumps Galore

While on floor duty recently at the office, I received a telephone enquiry about one of my listings – from a lady in Montreal. She and hubby were coming to Muskoka within a few days and wanted an appointment to view. In conversation, she had 2 other properties in mind, and had already called the respective listing agents. One had not responded yet and the other was on vacation; and not available.

“Third time lucky” for the couple and me – we were grade school classmates in a small community exactly 50 years ago! Our one-day outing was a mix of appointments, real estate information, and discussion – peppered with gaiety, a peak at the school yearbook, and a sense of amazement that our paths had crossed again after so long.

Thanks Diana and Don for an unforgettable day!