Father's Day 2009

September 7, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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fathersday.gifI love my kids … and it would seem they love me. 🙂

They put a couple of notices in the Father’s Day section of yesterday’s Sunday Times newspaper.

Emily wrote:

Daddy, thank you for being my stronghold when I don’t know what to do. Thank you for giving me hugs when I really need one from you.

I pray the Lord will answer you every time you pray. And that you have a really special Father’s Day!

Love, Emily

While James said:

Dear Dad, thank you for teaching me how to ride my bike and for teaching me about God’s love.

I hope you have a great day today.

From your loving son, James.

PS: I love you.

I am truly blessed.



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What is that?

September 4, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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Thanks to Brian of brianeberly.com who posted this beautiful video on his blog. It’s a Greek short film made in 2007.



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Slava's Snowshow in Perth

September 4, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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slava.jpgI’m not a big fan of clowns. To be honest I don’t see the attraction …. yet there’s something about Slava’s Snowshow that may just change my mind.

I took James to the opening night of Slava’s Snowshow at the Regal Theatre last night. They say that Snowshow is to clowning what Cirque du Soleil is to Circus.

On the Snowshow website is a warning.

Weather warning! The forecast is for smoke and fog effects, occasional loud music, brief showers, high winds and plenty of snow. Skies will be clear at first with clowns increasing, becoming more mischievous later in the show. Conditions are not recommended for children under 8. Please note that children under the age of 2 are not permitted in the theatre.

It’s no joke. The show at times is incredibly subtle and at other times is extremely intense. If you’re going to the show, and I recommend that you do, be prepared for a show like no other.

Slava’s Snowshow is unlike anything you have seen on stage before, combining hilarity and poignancy with stunning spectacle and breathtaking images. The ensemble cast of clowns creates a world of wonder in which a bed becomes a boat, a web of cotton envelops the audience and one tiny piece of paper begins an exhilarating snowstorm which engulfs the entire theatre.

I’m feeling a little torn at the moment. I so much want to tell you about the magic of the show. I want to describe the excitement of the various elements which make up the show but I don’t want to spoil the surprises for anyone who may go to the show.

You may have been to shows before that let a few audience members interact with the cast. This show isn’t like that. When you go to Slava’s Snowshow everyone will have opportunity to be part of the show in one way or another.

I don’t think James will stop talking about the show for a long time. It was a lot of excitement for a ten year old. Once we got home he started telling Pauline about what we’d experienced. He still had plenty to tell this morning as he remembered more and more spectacular moments.

Slava’s Snowshow is on in Perth until the 20th of September. If it ever comes to a theatre near you … don’t miss it.



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Is social media here to stay?

September 3, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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Great service turns customers into raving fans

September 2, 2009
by Rodney Olsen
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How long has it been since you were surprised by service at a shop or business?

I wonder why so many shops and businesses can’t get their head around the idea that if they offer great service, their business is likely to grow, even in these difficult financial times.

On Monday one of the gear cables on my bike had snapped inside the shifter. They don’t often break like that but when they do it’s a very tricky job to get the broken end of the cable out so that you can replace them. The break happened just before I got to work and I didn’t fancy riding all the way home in one gear.

I went down to Bikeforce South Perth in my lunch break and the owner, Nick, told me that it was going to be very difficult to get it sorted. The shop was very busy and they’ve got service work piled up for days so he could have just said that he couldn’t help at all, but Nick still took time out to get the job done. He just continued to work the broken end free, millimetre by millimetre. Eventually there was enough frayed cable to grab with needle nose pliers and Nick was able to remove the broken piece of cable. He then quickly threaded a new cable, adjusted the rear derailleur, and charged me what was an extremely fair price compared to the degree of difficulty of the job.

I couldn’t thank him enough.

It’s so refreshing to find people who are willing to go the extra mile and I must say it was nice to ride home on a fully functional bike.

When was the last time you got service that was so good you wanted to tell others about it? What is your best service story?



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