Finnigan's RPG

Bit of a mishap with my first attempt at making pittas yesterday. I think that one's going to need a few goes to get right. This batch is probably more useful as coasters.

In tastier news, the sandwich of the week is a pumpkin cheese toastie because it's October and I can't resist.

Activity check on 28th October will end here!

This week I'm starting a sandwich of the week at Crumbs. Limited edition sandwiches (or similar) that might make it onto the main menu if they turn out to be popular.

This week (available until Saturday): tomato and basil chicken with homemade mayonnaise.

It's the week I've been waiting for. Soft opening on Thursday and Friday, then the grand opening of Crumbs on Monday once I'm sure that everything isn't a disaster. I have a few busy days ahead, but first I'm taking the whole afternoon off to play guitar and think about anything other than sandwiches.

[Warded to Friends and Monument Alley Business Owners]

I'm going to host a small get-together Friday night, 7pm. A chance to try out the menu and maybe head over to the pub a little later. Feel free to bring any employees.

Anyone who's been in Monument Alley today might have noticed that the signage has gone up on my shop. (So weird writing that.)

I'm opening in a few weeks, so that means time to get hiring. There's currently one part-time position available at Crumbs with the potential for more hours in the future. Experience serving food would be useful, but it's not essential because I know everyone has to start somewhere. If you have any interest or know anyone who might, send me an owl or a private note for more information.

It's not as if I needed to give myself any extra work to do, but I signed up for open mic night at the last minute. I couldn't resist a bit of Eurovision.

It seems that when I actually make decisions things can happen quickly.

I'm pleased to say that today I signed a lease and soon there will be a new sandwich shop in Monument Alley. No opening date yet as there's still a lot of work to do, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

In the meantime, I still have a couple of day jobs and tonight it's open mic night at the pub, best night of the week.

I can't be too upset that Caerphilly don't seem to be doing too much to make up for their dismal first half of the season because other things seem to be going well at the moment.

That sounds a bit cryptic. But I don't want to say more until more things are finalised.

[Warded individually to Seamus and Melinda]
Next time I'm in, any chance of a chat?

[Private]
Still need to finalise the name and I don't know if using mine is a bit of a mouthful. Cadwallader's Sandwiches? Need to make a list.

[Private to Melinda]

I meant to ask when I saw you earlier, do you find that using these journals to advertise does much for sales? I'm kind of doing some research.

[Warded to friends of Bryn and his housemates]

St. David's day tomorrow. For anyone I haven't told in person, bit of a party round ours. Welsh cakes, cawl, anything else I can be faffed to make from mam's cookbooks. Any time from 6pm on.

Absolutely no tequila.

[Private to friends]
This Read in the Bathtub Day... whoever came up with it is a genius. Nothing less.

[Private to Bryn]
Saturday: There will be tequila, right? Lots of tequila preferably.

Warded to the Roomies: Do you guys remember Lucy in our House?

+++

Warded to Dora: Are you free this weekend? I know it's Valentine's and you might already have plans, but if not, I'd really like to cook you dinner Saturday night.

+++

Warded to Alicia: I was wondering if you'd be willing to meet up soon to discuss the orphanage and housing options plans of the Foundation? Let me know when you're free, looking for forward to it.

I think our kitten may be the most judgemental audience I've ever played in front of. It may not speak, but there's something about the way that it stares right through me when I'm trying to play.

Open mic night is going to be nothing after this.

Ben & Bryn: I hope you don't mind kittens? Mum and Dad got us a cat for Christmas. If there're any allergies, just say the word and speak to some friends about charms and such to put around my room at the house. In the meantime, his name is Sin and he's quite friendly, they adopted him from an animal rescue.

Melinda: Can't thank you enough for the recipes, but I'm sure my housemates will regret my having more excuses for more bourbon in my diet. I'm sending along some of my first attempt, bourbon ginger cookies. Let me know what you think? I'm not a baker by any means, that eggnog was really my first attempt at ever cooking anything harder than tacos, your opinion would mean a lot, being that you're the expert in these parts. Also: how alcoholic are these sweets, do you think? I'm hoping to send some to my cousin Andie at Salem once she's back to the Academy, but she's only 13 and in the States and all. Hope the holidays treated you well.

Dora: How was your Christmas? Your New Years plans sound fun though I can't say I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall of a girls' night. I might order a portkey over to Boston to see Andie before she heads back to school full time. But my family is the 'toast with sparkling cider at midnight and then all head straight to bed' type, so I figure I'll be back early on the first. Lunch? When do you go back to work?

Alicia: I've already entered my first Great Idea into the notebook, and if you see the Fawleys over the holiday, you can let them know. I want to work with you on housing for the orphans, but I think we can do more. The war displaced more than children - people who lost their jobs, their families, their standing. People who ended up in prison because of choices no one ever wants to make and because of spells no one should ever cast. What do you say? Want to help me change the Wizarding world?

Public: Happy Christmas, all!

I hope all of you out there is enjoying Christmas. I know I am. Things are fairly busy this year with more people recognising the wonders of using amazing cakes for centrepieces, which makes for some interesting challenges for me.

That being said, this year’s yule logs are a hit. Just last week we’ve had two groups of customers in to learn how to make the almond pinecones and this week we’ve another planned for Thursday right after closing.

New Years is coming up very soon, so now’s the time to get any orders for New Year’s Eve in.

In other news; on January 1st, I will be taking over full ownership of Sweet Nothings. It was always the plan to have the shop be closed the first two weeks of January for renovations, but with these new changes, Sweet Nothings will be closed for all of January, with a grand opening and revealing of a slightly new concept and a brand new menu. Those of you who have already ordered for special occasions in January, you can rest assured that they will still be done, and I will be taking in a few more orders, should the occasion rise, but it’ll be on a case by case basis.

[Private to Bryn]
As the shop will be closed for all of January rather than just the originally planned 2 weeks, I wanted to hear if you’d be interested in doing the hours you’re usually here on something else (like delivery or helping with the new menu)?

[Private to Cho, Marietta, and Roger]
So
I
Yeah
Oliver

[Public]: So word has it we might be having a Christmas get-together at the house. I'm looking for eggnog recipes that include a lot of alcohol. Send me your favorites?

[Warded to Dora]: Do you have holiday plans? My parents kidnapped me to Boston for my birthday with the family, but I won't be traveling again until the New Year. I'd like to see you. Soon.

[Warded to Bryn & Ben]: So what's the good word on this party? The 19th is a Friday. Just saying.

[Ward to Julian]: I'm looking into a couple of animal adoptions and considering your side-kick at the office, I thought I'd reach out to you. Any suggestions? I'm still re-learning my way around London (and wizarding community, if I'm honest). Thanks.

November has disappeared as quickly as a Catapults goal advantage. The last couple of weeks have been mad and at some point I'm probably going to start assuming that all mushrooms are made of meringue. (Obviously I know they're not. Melinda's just been doing some wicked stuff at Sweet Nothings.)

Chris, Ben, Christmas party, yes?

[Warded to Ben, Bryn, and Romeo] -- Boys, I may have found our new home. I'm spello-taping a photo in here. It's in London. Six bedrooms, so we'd need at least two more roomies. Small kitchen, small commonroom, but nothing we can't work with.

What do you think?
~ Chris

I'm glad the Catapults actually decided to play some Quidditch this weekend instead of just faffing around like they have been for the last few weeks. If they'd lost again, I'd've been proper tamping.

Well then, it's that time. Been back less than a month and my mother is convinced I'm spending too much time in the house and not enough time out in the world doing good. As if spending my formative years doing just that wasn't enough.

Anyone looking for housemates? I like pets, but can negotiate. Don't smoke, but I drink a lot, then again, if you're considering letting me live with you - you probably already know that.

In other news... Anyone know where I can find a bar (or a television for that matter?) that shows American football around here? My Aunt & Uncle really don't appreciate me portkeying all the way over whenever I feel like it to see a game.