h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*faints*

Just had to say No Thank You For Asking I'm Sorry I Can't Make it to a house warming party for a dear friend, and No to a work Christmas Party. Last week I had to say Thank You for the lovely invite for Christmas Dinner I'm sorry work means I can only stay a couple of hours. 3 at most which means I can't help with washing up.

Or perhaps not.

Christmas invites already? Good grief.

Oh and here I was thinking you were referring to NaJoPoMo

I remember a friend (who had her own architect company with a friend) telling me how you're afraid to turn any business down because you don't know when next opportunity will show up - and there will, sooner or later, come times when business is sparse.

Mina, do you charge extra for bank holidays and such?

We always try to make plans early in the hope there will be a space in both our diaries (J is also self-employed working silly hours, although hers are slightly more predicitable) that we can book out.

It is true we don't want to say no in case nothing turns up later - although I always know when it's likely to be busy/quiet because I can follow the holiday season (and I watch the news and weather! ), but I have noticed a huge increase in work since June this year. I can make sure I have more assistants during school holiday time, but at the moment I can't get any help with boarders and daycare because I'm the only one who can do it, and I can't have employees working in the house. My next newsletter goes out soon asking for host families to share the load.

I don't charge extra for bank holidays as long as the work doesn't interfere - so boarders who are already here aren't a bother because I already have dogs I have to walk. If someone wants daycare as long as I can pick up drop off when I want, again no extras (although I do then charge for transport which is usually free during the week). I charge extra for cat sitting or dog walking because I have to be there at more specific times, and can't decide to go out for the day - sometimes on a bank holiday I take all the dogs to my friend's dog training centre and go agility, or tracking, or search games with her and her dogs. Having bookings prevents that.

Xmas & Boxing day and NYE my prices go sky high, because of what I have to miss to look after *their* dog while they are out partying, holidaying or really enjoying themselves with family, friends, I can't have even a glass of sherry... My original idea was that the fees were set high so nobody would want to pay so I could have a good Christmas, but I've been booked every year! I underestimated how much people cared that their dogs were with someone they knew and liked (both dog and owner).

I did think of joining in that journal a day thing, but I'm a bit hit and miss working out what sort of thing people want to read, so didn't want a month of No Replies...

Not sure why I just took on another 3 dogs this week. Stupid, stupid...