We are here!  In 2017!  How the heck did that happen?  Christmas seems like it was months ago, and I am seeing Facebook posts on people excited to get their kids stationery sorted for the year.... what?  I am still getting over our camping trip and adjusting to four kids at home 24/7.  

My temper is short, I have no patience and we still have three weeks to go before school and kindy starts. However while it's hard, I'm in no way ready to get back to schedules and paid work just yet.  

In terms of the bar, we were officially in charge of our part of the former post office from January 1st; quite apt I thought because it is a brand new adventure for the new year.  So we rocked on up to get the key to our little empire and once in found all the souvenir shop's stuff still in it. All the display stands, the staff room furniture and the basement junk - basically, nothing had been touched.  Consequently, we had to give them a call and a deadline for getting rid of it all.  

Today we went up to the bar (a 10 minute walk from our house, or 20 minutes if you have children who want to stop every five seconds - I have to keep asking myself why we need to hurry) to check on progress, and I was relieved to see that there was a moving truck outside and everything was being taken away.  About six people were there moving stuff.  We (my dad, the kids and I) went inside to get a look because we are debating where the actual bar counter will be at present.  

Tis official.  The lease agreement is unconditional, and we've paid the deposit.  We are in, boots and all!!!

It's been an interesting few weeks since I last posted on the bar project, because much has said on our local Mt Albert Community Facebook page about how awesome it would be if there was a bar in Mt Albert.  Meanwhile, we were sitting tight because the lease agreement was still with the lawyers and therefore we couldn't say a word to anyone really, apart from those who needed to know.  I sought advice from my extremely sage PR advisor and very good friend, who assured me it was best to stay quiet at this stage and let it slowly filter through the neighbourhood.

Fast forward to today.  We have some layout plans on the table, we've had visits from our fabulous and talented designers (Periscope in Auckland), from the gas guy, the fire guy, the Lion Bevtech team and Alba Construction who are doing the plans and build.  We are trying to move quickly to make sure we have our plans in front of Auckland Council first thing in the new year.

All really exciting stuff.  In amongst this, we are juggling our 4 kids, trips to Australia for work, Christmas parties for work/school and paid work stuff.  I haven't exercised in a while and feeling a bit dusty for it (is what first slips off the agenda, isn't it).  My dad, luckily, is free to come up from Christchurch to help us with this project in the new year which will help signficantly to lessen the load of setting this beast up.

I've wanted to spend a bit of time really looking at other places I love and coming up with ideas.  That, and marketing, is what I am as happy as a pig in muck doing.  I could spend HOURS doing it.  But sort of have to tie that in with practical stuff - like, hey, how best is a commercial kitchen set up to ensure staff have a good workspace?  This is a very steep learning curve, which is a bit unexpected but if I have my way, I'll be doing lots more of because I will certainly be able to say I didn't wonder 'what if'.

That is not derogatory, that title.  It's a book I'm currently reading; from the illustrious 'for Dummies' series, of which we have about 5 books.  Others include Marketing for Dummies, and Management for Dummies, so I think the latest one completes me.

I am in on a plan to open a bar in 2017 (in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert), which is in equal parts terrifying and exciting. Terrifying because we don't have ANY experience in fitting out bars, or running them. Exciting because we're creating something new for our local community, right from the ground up.  We could lose  A LOT of money, and having four children this is a scary prospect.  On the other hand we might make some.  Either way, it'll be a roller coaster ride.

I thought if I write about it, it might make it more..... real, but to a cosy audience.  Because no one knows about this blog (apart from Kate!), yet.  I feel I'm totally on another planet right now, that's for sure.   A few people know about the bar, but most don't and it sort of feels like a crazy delusional secret we're keeping.  When we make it public, it's very real.  Warts and all.  I'm not sure I'm totally ready for the strong opinions and advice.  So far, we've consulted a lot of different people on this.  Auckland City Council, Alcohol licensing, designers, builders, current bar owners (a clever cousin of mine included), on premise specialists, local Councillors and people in the know.  Might I add we have done many market research visits (with kids in tow!).  We have so many incredible places to eat and drink in Auckland (and the rest of the country) that we're spoiled for choice.

In other words, we really know a lot about what we want, where we're headed and how we want the bar to look and feel.   We have a really strong idea of how we want to run it.  The only way we will figure this all out is to do it, guided by the experiences and advice of qualified people.  

Today, the planners/designer came to the site and spent about five hours measuring (scratching around and shooting levels) the space and we'll get concept drawings in the coming weeks.   They (Alba Interiors) have done some big projects and were keen for the job so that's a really good start!  The sticking point for us will be resource consent in all likelihood, given we are switching in Auckland at the moment from the District Plan to the new Unitary Plan.  Under the new plan we don't need car parks; however under the old one, we do.  We're in a current state of limbo where both plans apply!  

I'm pretty sure too, as with house renovations, that there will be other unforeseen obstacles.  There are so many possible challenges, but the only way to go is forward now and tackle each one if and when they arrive.

So.  This bar.  It's the old 1972 Mt Albert Post Office (half of it; the other half has a cafe in it).  Most recently it's been 'The Best Souvenirs' shop.  At the moment not a thing of beauty, but it WILL be.

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