A Visit To The Old School...

As I was formerly a shop assistant in Camera Electronic, you might think it would be the last place that I'd ever go after retirement. Not a bit of it - I'm in there every blessed week, and for good reasons: a. I get to see what the latest real goods really look like - as opposed to just cruising the internet for the kickstarter images. If I am going to be taken in by shallow appearances and foolish desires, I want to do it for myself. b. I get to see what the local professional trade is using. Of course I secretly know that most of the pros have a gadget bag filled with things that they have made themselves out of matt board and gaffer tape...I have a studio full of this stuff myself. But it is fun to see some manufacturer making a polished professional version of the milk jug and threaded rod from Bunnings and trying to sell it for $ 249. c. I get to hear gossip. Without having to pretend I believe it. Sometimes it turns out to be true. And I'm still not required to believe that. d. I get to start rumours. You've just got to pick the right staff member or customer and whisper carefully. The rule of thumb is; the wilder the rumour, the better chance of getting it accepted. Ask me about the volcano. e. I get to terrify the staff. Terrify is probably too strong a word. Dismay. I count it a good day if there has been sighing and rolling of eyes. f. I get to see connections between ideas and equipment that were obscure before - when I was so focused upon selling that I might have been too narrow in outlook. Camera Electronic has always had a vast array of gear in stock - most of it useful in some respect. Now I can connect some of the ( phosphor ) dots and see how things could be interconnected. g. There are a quite a number of staff members in the company, and they all have to have a birthday some time in the year. The tradition has been to bring a cake for the rest of the workers on your birthday. If I call in there often enough, the statistical chance of getting cake, or at least a cupcake, rises. No good leaving the visit until the afternoon, mind, because when the cake comes out there is a limited window of opportunity and generally a shortage of clean plates... h. I can still get useful lower-limb exercise going up and down the stairs. They served as a Treadmaster for me for nearly 8 years and did me more good than I care to admit. It's hard in retirement to keep a slim and girlish figure, and every bit of exercise helps. i. Every business location is a work in progress. The things that served before will either be done away with or repurposed. Case in point - here is the old whipping post that used to be used to punish malefactors during staff meetings. Now it is a rather good-looking stand for selling Barbershop bags. Waste not, want not. Good bags, those. Now, even if you are not an ex-employee, it is still worthwhile going into the joint on a regular basis, because there are bargains and special deals that arise on a short-term basis and you may benefit greatly from them. The manufacturers frequently press stock on clients with cash-back offers and even CE can burst forth with free batteries or accessories when you buy cameras and outfits. A lucky confluence of these offers can make a giant difference in your hobby money.