07/09/2026
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT!
Ok its about time i speak up and back myself. I have let it slide up till now, as well i have no time for wankers and frankly their opinions of me are irreverent, they know absolutely nothing about the real me, most haven't even met me. But once again last week i was slandered by another loudmouth know it all expressing his ignorance to a group of listeners, talking through his exhaust valve with absolutely nothing coming out of his mouth that was even remotely close to the real process and reasons I downsized/remodeled my business in Smeaton Grange. So for those who are interested, and it's not that exciting i tell you - here are the facts - no speculation, no hear say - but the facts.
Before i start let me make it ABSOLUTELY clear - "Gordon's Place - So Much Stuff" and "Gordon's Bait and Tackle" is solely own by myself, no partners, no associates, no subletting of space, one director - one owner - ME! I paid the bills, i paid the wages, i put my house on the line - just me. Hope that clears up one lot of crap being spread around.
So on the second of November 2024 i suffered a huge heart attack, i went into cardiac arrest for just over 6 mins, i was shocked 3 times and had 4 ribs broken from CPR - but heaven didn't want me and hell thought id take over, so thanks to some amazing people i got another chance. I was told then that if i wanted to live a few more years i had to reduce the stress in my life. I want to see my grandkids get older - so it sunk in.
However it was Christmas time and i didn't have time to die - i went back to work 5 days later - but i knew it was time, things had to change - running a 7 day a week business with multiple staff and the pressures involved had to be assessed.
In May 2025 (please note MAY - not December - May), i decided to downsize and remodel my business structure. I decided that i wanted a 5 day a week business. less staff and after 31 years i could have weekends off. All Staff in MAY 2025 were told that we would cease trading in our current model on the 31/12/25. There were sadly some redundancies and those effected were ALL given SEVEN MONTHS NOTICE of such. I advised all staff who were being made redundant that they could start, if they wished, to look for alternative employment over this 7 month period, i would help them any way i could and i would give them time off, WITH PAY, to go to interviews and such - they could leave at any time or stay to the end - whatever THEY wanted.
So that's the facts, none of this rubbished i only gave a weeks notice - no rubbish that parts of the business were owned by other people, no rubbish i sublet some of my factory, no rubbish about blindsiding anyone - all staff knew what was going on in May 2025. They knew if they would be staying with the business in its new format or sadly being made redundant. I don't know of any boss that gives his staff 7 months notice and then cares enough about them to help them get other jobs - what a bastard i am!!!
See told you its no that interesting - we may not do Fishing tackle anymore but we still do bait at the best prices in the MacArthur area - our Christmas cave opens in the Agricultural hall in Camden in October for three months, we have a shop in the Capitol Arcade Camden open Thurs-Saturday - I'm not sure I completely understand how to slow down, but I'm working on it - cheers all!!!
