REACHING OUT TO THE CITY LIGHTS....CHAPTER NINE

 

28 Baxter Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

Glomesh Products by Glo International

After a three or so years’ hiatus, interruption, detour or whatever it was, finally my life was my own. I was living alone as I had wanted to do when first moving to Brisbane. I loved having my own place and space for just me and Sasha, my spirited ginger cat of whom I got custody, of course. It was a given, where I went, Sasha went.

Like the flat Dawn and I’d shared in Toowong, my New Farm abode was part of a whole house. Mrs. Smith, my new elderly landlady, had converted the rear section of her home into a reasonably large, private one-bedroom flat. It consisted of a well-laid out kitchen, a large lounge/dining room, bathroom with full bath as well as shower recess, and a large bedroom that opened out to a small balcony with four or five stairs leading down to the backyard that flowed onto the wide well-manicured banks of the Brisbane River.

From my bedroom, I could see across the expanse of the river to Hawthorne, a suburb on the other side of the waterway. At night, I left the French doors open so I could enjoy the atmosphere of the lights of the river traffic together with the luminosity from the buildings and homes across the way dancing on the water like phosphorescence, while resplendent and interruptive in the night sky, brazenly in competition with the stars.  (Imagine being able to do similar these days.  No way in the world!)

Mrs. Smith was rarely at home, spending most of her time in Papua New Guinea visiting her brother where he had lived for many years. Her abundant rose bushes and their magnificent array of colourful blooms, not only turned the front garden into a kaleidoscopic spectacle matching an artist’s palette with their breathtaking display, but they also enhanced every vase and empty container in my new abode. Mervyn was happy. I was happy. Sasha, too, was happy, having settled into his new surroundings without a backward glance.

The outside world was changing on the business-front, and had altered in the lives of my boss and his wife, as well. A couple of years after their first son was born, along came his baby brother. The growing family moved from their apartment at the riverside suburb of Kangaroo Point into the new home they had built in Kenmore, a western suburb of Brisbane. Both boys became part of my world and I, a part in theirs.

Everything started to move at a rapid rate of knots. The search for our replacement premises came to an end with the discovery of a newly-constructed building in Fortitude Valley, an inner city suburb, only a few kilometers from the CBD. The new building suited our requirements. There was room within it for a large warehousing area with loading ramp, two large showrooms; one L-shaped, both able to be divided off into two smaller areas if and when necessary; a general office area to amply fit four work stations including filing cabinets etc; an accommodating staff room, four generously-sized offices, plus a spacious reception/foyer area to hold a lengthy front desk, receptionist, sofas to accommodate visiting clients; together with parking for six vehicles at ground level, some of which were undercover.

An architect-interior designer was hired. I hardly saw my boss during those days as he was busily instructing the architect on the desired interior lay-out, as well as meeting with telecommunications’ people, painters, office and warehouse-fitters, plumbers, electricians and whomever else was necessary to achieve the successful completion of the new home for the Kolotex Group of Companies, and its increasing family.

Four sales representatives were hired. Well, actually, two. Ken and Charles, the two young men who had replaced the original new recruit, were promoted into the roles of representatives to sell the company’s products to the trade. Charles’ territory spread from Mackay to Cairns in far north of Queensland, out west to Mount Isa, and all areas in between. Ken’s territory started in Brisbane, extending up to Rockhampton and all areas west. Ron, based in Inverell, a country town in New South Wales, covered all of the northern, eastern and western areas of New South Wales. The Gold Coast and suburban areas of Brisbane were handed to Ian.

Paddy, an Irishman (how would you have guessed!) was hired as head store-man with two junior charges. Isabel managed the Glo International Handbags and Accessories. Mr. Head and his wife joined our employ as manager and assistant in the men’s and women’s clothing section of Rogtex. Mr. and Mrs. Head were always referred to as “Mr. and Mrs.” A young receptionist, Dale, adorned the reception area. Directly behind the reception area was my new, rather expansive office. Alongside my office was the boss’ office. The Rogtex showroom was next to the Head’s office. Isabel’s office was down the corridor, around a corner, nearby to the Glo International showroom. The main protagonist, Kolotex Hosiery used either one of the showrooms when required. Two young ladies occupied two of the desks in the General Office area. The other desks were for the sales representatives and consultants when they were in-office. Pam remained our hosiery consultant, visiting the department stores and boutiques promoting our lines.

When we opened our doors in 28 Baxter Street, Fortitude Valley, our original staff count of two had increased to sixteen.

Everyone was eagerly waiting in the wings as the interior of the premises was being put into shape. We’d hired the young receptionist before the rest of the clerical staff, who came shortly afterwards, once we’d moved lock, stock and barrel into our new “home”. As soon as the telephone lines were installed into the building, Dale was set in place, even though she would be surrounded by painters, electricians, tarpaulins, ladders and other work equipment.

The architect, who was a very tall man of around 6 feet 7 inches in height, was present every day, too. One morning during this hectic time, Our boss came running into the Queen Street office where I was still ensconced holding the fort up that end of the city. He was flustered, his normally tidy hair out of place. His face flushed, angrily he tossed his suit coat on one of the chairs in front of my desk. Growling rather loudly, he raged about our new young receptionist. Our “big kahuna” in the Sydney office had rung him, and Dale, still not familiar with the new-fangled switchboard and phones tried to connect him to the big boss in Sydney, but somehow managed to connect him to one of the painters, instead! Our boss never did see the funny side of it until years later.

All I could do was laugh, because I could picture the scene vividly. I could clearly see him ranting and raving, not caring who was within earshot, while the painters tried to become invisible, one having a conversation with our “big wig” in Sydney, and John, the Queensland manager talking to one of the shop-fitters. Meanwhile, failing miserably the long and lanky architect was trying to minimize his height, visibility and presence in a corner!

The New Year was drawing close. So was the opening of our joint marketing venture. Stocks of clothing, hosiery, handbags and accessories were arriving daily by the truckloads. The little city office was looking forlorn and bare as the shining new offices were gradually being completed and fitted with new furniture and equipment. New carpet and tiles covered the floors. I went with John, our boss, to an office equipment store to choose my spanking new desk, which ended up being bigger than his! Drapes were hung. Concertina doors fitted to enable the showrooms to be divided when appropriate.

We were ready, straining at the bit. I was the last to leave the city office, saying a fond farewell as excitedly I looked to the future.

To be continued.....(I hope I'm not boring you all!)