Greta Catchlove

Private to Self:
First my shop and then Hestia.

What - or who - could possibly be next?

Keep in mind: I do know how to mix poison and the like into foods without it being detected, you bloody bastards.

I think I'm steadily losing my mind. Either that or I've inhaled way too much flour and sugar over the last few days.

Wednesday, at the top of each hour (from opening to closing), the first five customers who order something under two galleons will receive their purchases at a 75% discounted price! This is to show our appreciation for all our customers. In addition, we will be setting out new treats that we have been working on to sample and we hope you like them as we're hoping to add them to our menu.

Private to Friends Only:
There was another one. Another incident today at the bakery. There have been so many in the last months that I cannot help but think that it's more than just coincidence now. Why do people keep getting captured, hexed and beaten up, and stumbling here? What is the appeal? Neither me, my father, nor Daisy have ever acted anything but neutral, yet all these horrible things keep happening. It's gotten my dad in a state of shock and he's so worried that he's even contemplating closing shop just to keep it from happening again.

I'm glad I found her this morning and managed to get her help, but really -- why here? Why do all these unfortunate happenings to good people keep happening on our doorstep?

Private to Friends of Marley Zeller
Has anyone seen Marley? She ordered some sweets from me earlier this week that she planned to pick up this morning, but she never showed. I even tried to send her an owl a bit ago, but it returned with the letter unopened. I'm really worried; this isn't like her at all. What if it's like Fabian - Perhaps she merely went straight home and hopped into bed and I'm overreacting, but I just thought I'd check with her other friends to make sure.

- Greta C.

The bakery will only be open for half the day next week due to the fact that my father will be out of town and I will be going with him for half of the week. As much as I know Daisy can handle things on her own, it doesn't seem fair to make her work from sun up to sun down alone. We're not quite that cruel, after all! So the new schedule is from 7:00am to just after the lunch crowd.

Private to Daisy:
You can handle the morning crowds, correct? I can apparate in prior to the conferences started to lend a hand if need be. Just send an Owl and I can be there. Or, if you would rather come with us, I can amend what I just said and we can close shop for a few days. I know you aren't fond of being by yourself right now, so that is entirely up to you.

Private to Fabian:
Who would I need to speak to if I'm having a problem with an incessant muggle coming around my apartment? Would they be in the DMLE or should I contact the muggle police? If you don't know, I'll figure it out, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Apparently it has become acceptable to fight in the middle of a shop instead of taking it out on the streets. I really don't understand this concept or why the bakery entices people to fight or bad things to happen, but I'm really growing quite sick of it. First an attack and a kidnapping, then a fight outside that drew quite the crowd, and then another idiotic and childish fight inside. Obviously, several people have either forgotten basic etiquette and how to use their manners or they were simply never taught either.

Well, then, whatever the case, allow me to place a simple reminder where everyone and their brother can read it:

Fighting in an establishment is ridiculous, rude, ill-mannered, and downright pathetic. If anyone (and I mean anyone) attempts to start a fight in, or near, my bakery again, I promise on all things holy that they will get a rolling pin shoved up their arse and corn picks shoved into their ears!

My father went to a convention in Paris recently and will be competing in several annual competitions including those like pastries, cakes, cheeses, and pies. He has been competing in these since he was around my age and is no stranger to winning. Last year, he took home the pastry and cheese categories, but he's hoping to place in all fourteen competitions he's entered.

This leaves Daisy and I to run the shop. It's been a bit hectic, but we're managing. Seeing as it's just the two of us (right now), there really isn't much free time to sit and write anything. I've put my writing on hold indefinitely for the time being because of these competitions and making sure Daisy is okay But staying busy is good, especially for Daisy, so no complaints here!



This week's specialty items: Anything that starts with the letter B is 50% off!

Hello, world! Long time and little writing. I apologise for seemingly disappearing; however, things have been hectic at both the bakery and with things outside of it as well. It hasn't necessarily been a bad hectic (unless, of course, you count a wee bit less sleep than I'm used to, but that's hardly important, right?). Some has actually been what I like to call "amazing hectic-ness." See what I did there? I created a new catchphrase and a new word all in one sentence; I deserve a cookie, no?

Anyway, I realise I'm rambling something mad (lack of sleep, remember?), but I had one piece of good news to share. Sadly, I'm not going to write it! The first person to guess this piece of good news gets a free sampler cake (estimated value of 1 galleon, 3 knuts, and 8 sickles.)

So go on then - start guessing. I'm curious to see what you lot out there come up with!


Private to Severus:
I apologise for not writing about when I can come around before now. "Amazing hectic-ness," remember? Perhaps I can get away tomorrow or Tuesday. Would either of those days work for you?

The bakery is going to be closed for several days because of that explosion. It rattled our building a little bit and we have a bit of structural damage. Dad's seeing about getting that fixed so we can open up as soon as possible.

Is everyone okay? We read the reports in the Prophet and - those poor kids. I can't imagine; it's so sad and horrific. Whoever is responsible for likely leaving whatever that was in the street should be hexed into next century. No matter that they were muggles, they're still children for Helga's sake.

Dad's going away to a convention for a week. That leaves me running the bakery myself. I'm half excited, half anxious. Hopefully I don't disappoint him!

Private to Self
Things have finally calmed down around here. Customers are finally returning to the shop after the incident where Fabian was kidnapped and I'm not looking out the window every few minutes to make sure nothing is amiss. Still, what happened has left me anxious and nervous. What if it happens again? What if it happens to Fabian again? I saw how he looked afterward; I can't imagine he could handle it happening again. He's one of my closest friends and I don't want anything to ever happen to him again. Ever.

[The page is covered with tears and spatterings of ink]
helP!

TheY tooK him! He'S gOne and I cOuldn't get tO him faSt enough!

The Ministry party was surprisingly more fun than I had thought it was going to be! Fabian and I went together as friends since the Ministry required him to have a quote-unquote date. The food was exceptional, even if my dad made quite a bit of it, and the music was jazzy.

You'll have to take me again next year, Fabian, especially if they have those silver hats again with the year on top charmed to blink.

Now, for a small announcement courtesy of my father: This week, all pies are half off!

All those people, and why? People have been coming in and out of the shop all day and that's all they've been talking about. I've even read the papers and took my break in muggle London to watch the muggle news in a shop window, but I still can't fathom the reason why someone would do something like that. A whole bridge - obviously with magic - and so many lives.

I really hope they manage to catch whoever is responsible.

Sales have gone up since posting those advertisements around Diagon Alley, the Prophet, and here. Granted, that also means that I've been working longer hours this week, but to have extra spending money to buy presents with -- well, it's worth it for right now.

Dad wants to keep the shop opened through late Christmas Eve and open it for a little bit on Christmas morning. I'm not quite sure how I feel about that - isn't it sacrilegious to work on Christmas, anyway?

I have tomorrow evening off and it would be nice if someone came out for drinks with me. Just a few, I promise; I'm not one for getting pissed.

After hearing that I purchased one of these and the rage behind them, father insisted that I advertise at least once to everyone out there. Now, pretend I'm clearing my throat and rubbing my hands together in preparation of some grand speech. Here we go:

Starting this weekend and all the way through Christmas, all holiday specialty treats will be reduced in price by 15% and all customers will have the opportunity to enter their names into a drawing for a 25 galleon gift certificate. The drawing will take place Christmas Eve and the winning customer will be contacted by owl.

(There's even a special picture he wanted me to paste, too! See!)




Now that that's over with, I can step off my soap box and get back to work, yeah? For those that are as dreadfully bored during the day as I am sometimes, please stop by the shop! The company would be amazing and I promise to even give you a free sampling. Oooh!

( Would you like some cheese with that wine? )