Order Only: Holiday shipment
Nov. 24th, 2009 12:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_siriusVerbal duelling with my idiot brother aside, I have actually been doing some work out here in the wide world. Most recently I've been here in Naples, working on getting some wine and oranges and other holiday produce for imports in time for the season. And wands. I've a line on them, but I think it's best to wait until after the holiday traffic, when things come back to normal. Unless you lot think it should be the other way 'round, and we'll have a better chance when there's an uptick in demand? Let me know - I can go either way.
I heard from Sabola - well, from one of his agents, I should say. Good and bad news.
The bad news is that our source for Javanese cardamom was disrupted. I knew there'd been a bit of a coup in Java, but wasn't sure about how it would affect our cargo until now. I've dug a little deeper in the international news for more information. It seems that the political unrest in Jakarta is fanning out into the countrysides, where our crops are grown, and I guess there was a fire in the warehouse. So no cardamom from there for a while. Also, there's a new customs agent running the border checkpoint at Mbale, which means (I'm told) new bribes. Bit of a hit there - and of course, Sabola says it's to come out of our share (which is patently ridiculous, but not an argument I'm going to win this time. So long as it's not a habit - and someone else takes the hex next time, we'll have to live with it).
The good news is that because of the shortage, Sabola has been forced to look for a new supplier, and he's found one. It's Bengal cardamom, but really, that's to the good as it's more what people expect, anyway. And it's a little less expensive, seeing as how the source is not as far away. So we're getting a break on that. Not quite enough to offset the bribes, of course.
However, there's also a rumour that there's a wizard in Mumbai calling himself a new Prophet, gathering quite a following, I hear. No idea whether he has aspirations beyond wealth and fame, but I can't think otherwise. When did anyone ever build up a cult who didn't want to take over something? So it's anyone's guess whether this chap will cause any ripples that overtake the cardamom crops in South India, either. We'll just have to wait and see.
Oh, and it's possible that Czechoslovakia will be dividing itself into three territories: Czechs, Slovakians, and wizards - so if that happens, Henrich Laszlo will need to get himself back to the Republic to have his (false) parchmentwork and passports sorted. But who knows if it'll go through or not. I've not been following the debates as closely as I ought (to say nothing of the fact that my Czech is limited to only a few phrases and a half-credible accent), so I've no idea how real the possibility is.
However, if it does happen, then the other implication for Laszlo is that it'll be much more difficult to get hold of Ruthenian nogtail eyes - and probably even more impossible to lay hands on flintstone from the Myjavan mountains.
Last, but not least, I've had an owl from Justin Finch-Fletchley! I was dead chuffed to get it; I know the kid took to me, but he's not the sort I'd've expected to write at all. He says he's getting on all right, though reading between the lines he had to defend himself quite a bit at the beginning of the term. He's made a couple friends, at least, who don't seem to mind either that he'd started behind a year or that he's originally British, or even that he's Muggleborn. But he says a few of his teachers do seem to mind it. He mentions a couple by name - there's a Mme DuMetre who can't ever say his name properly (stumbles on the 'ch' and the 'tch', I shouldn't wonder), who never calls on him even when he raises his hand, and there's a M Montrain who's given him almost as much grief as poor Mr Thomas has had at the hands of Carrow. And then, he gets to the interesting part: one of the younger professors, M Froissart, has taken 'quite an interest' in his British pupil. Justin tells me that M Froissart frequently asks him questions about England, British wizarding customs, etc. - none of which Justin can really answer! He's asked me to give him some information to feed to Froissart.
I can't make up my mind whether to tell him how things used to be, or how they are. He has already determined that he should not share his journal with his professor, and for the moment, I quite agree. But the most interesting part is the rumour his fellows told him when he complained of the man's solicitousness: Apparently the students believe that Froissart is to marry a British expatriate witch, living in France.
It's no wonder he wants to know what he's getting himself into!
At any rate, that's the excitement this side of the Channel. While I'm still here, I've got to get the additional payment off to Sabola before he tries to break my legs or something similarly silly. After that I'll be heading back to the homestead for a bit, just to make sure it's still there. Then Nigel has some engagements in Cannes and Granada before the holidays. Moony, want anything special while I'm out?
Oh, and do let me know about the wands. As I say, I can step things up a notch if we want to slip them through, or hold off until the furor dies down and the customs agents go back to sleep.
I heard from Sabola - well, from one of his agents, I should say. Good and bad news.
The bad news is that our source for Javanese cardamom was disrupted. I knew there'd been a bit of a coup in Java, but wasn't sure about how it would affect our cargo until now. I've dug a little deeper in the international news for more information. It seems that the political unrest in Jakarta is fanning out into the countrysides, where our crops are grown, and I guess there was a fire in the warehouse. So no cardamom from there for a while. Also, there's a new customs agent running the border checkpoint at Mbale, which means (I'm told) new bribes. Bit of a hit there - and of course, Sabola says it's to come out of our share (which is patently ridiculous, but not an argument I'm going to win this time. So long as it's not a habit - and someone else takes the hex next time, we'll have to live with it).
The good news is that because of the shortage, Sabola has been forced to look for a new supplier, and he's found one. It's Bengal cardamom, but really, that's to the good as it's more what people expect, anyway. And it's a little less expensive, seeing as how the source is not as far away. So we're getting a break on that. Not quite enough to offset the bribes, of course.
However, there's also a rumour that there's a wizard in Mumbai calling himself a new Prophet, gathering quite a following, I hear. No idea whether he has aspirations beyond wealth and fame, but I can't think otherwise. When did anyone ever build up a cult who didn't want to take over something? So it's anyone's guess whether this chap will cause any ripples that overtake the cardamom crops in South India, either. We'll just have to wait and see.
Oh, and it's possible that Czechoslovakia will be dividing itself into three territories: Czechs, Slovakians, and wizards - so if that happens, Henrich Laszlo will need to get himself back to the Republic to have his (false) parchmentwork and passports sorted. But who knows if it'll go through or not. I've not been following the debates as closely as I ought (to say nothing of the fact that my Czech is limited to only a few phrases and a half-credible accent), so I've no idea how real the possibility is.
However, if it does happen, then the other implication for Laszlo is that it'll be much more difficult to get hold of Ruthenian nogtail eyes - and probably even more impossible to lay hands on flintstone from the Myjavan mountains.
Last, but not least, I've had an owl from Justin Finch-Fletchley! I was dead chuffed to get it; I know the kid took to me, but he's not the sort I'd've expected to write at all. He says he's getting on all right, though reading between the lines he had to defend himself quite a bit at the beginning of the term. He's made a couple friends, at least, who don't seem to mind either that he'd started behind a year or that he's originally British, or even that he's Muggleborn. But he says a few of his teachers do seem to mind it. He mentions a couple by name - there's a Mme DuMetre who can't ever say his name properly (stumbles on the 'ch' and the 'tch', I shouldn't wonder), who never calls on him even when he raises his hand, and there's a M Montrain who's given him almost as much grief as poor Mr Thomas has had at the hands of Carrow. And then, he gets to the interesting part: one of the younger professors, M Froissart, has taken 'quite an interest' in his British pupil. Justin tells me that M Froissart frequently asks him questions about England, British wizarding customs, etc. - none of which Justin can really answer! He's asked me to give him some information to feed to Froissart.
I can't make up my mind whether to tell him how things used to be, or how they are. He has already determined that he should not share his journal with his professor, and for the moment, I quite agree. But the most interesting part is the rumour his fellows told him when he complained of the man's solicitousness: Apparently the students believe that Froissart is to marry a British expatriate witch, living in France.
It's no wonder he wants to know what he's getting himself into!
At any rate, that's the excitement this side of the Channel. While I'm still here, I've got to get the additional payment off to Sabola before he tries to break my legs or something similarly silly. After that I'll be heading back to the homestead for a bit, just to make sure it's still there. Then Nigel has some engagements in Cannes and Granada before the holidays. Moony, want anything special while I'm out?
Oh, and do let me know about the wands. As I say, I can step things up a notch if we want to slip them through, or hold off until the furor dies down and the customs agents go back to sleep.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-25 06:34 pm (UTC)I think they'll be more careful during christmas though, might be on the lookout for people shipping things to family that are contraband or whatnot. just a thought.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-27 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 04:16 pm (UTC)I think Frank's right and after Christmas is the time to send the wands through; I just heard about a shipment of fluxweed that got confiscated last week, so they must be on a higher alert.
Do you have any use for loose tobacco? I've got to imagine that pipe tobacco and cigarettes are scarce behind the wards.
And I've got a line on some cotton yard goods, I'll follow up on that.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 06:29 pm (UTC)We know we're trustworthy, of course, but as far as our patrons know, we could be a front for the Aurors, seeking out insurgents and troublemakers. They don't want to run the risk of asking for teabags and ending up in Azkaban.
Send us whatever you can, and we'll sell it. What we don't have, we need. What we do have is scarce. Everything's welcome.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 07:18 pm (UTC)I'm home now and I'll dig out the list of embargoed items. That way I can work round it and find alternatives.
I asked Harry what kids want for Christmas this year. I admit I was hoping he'd have an inside-track on some essential item that the shop could provide, but no such luck. He did say he never gets ordinary things like socks, though. So I'm going to do some more looking about. If Sabola is passing off Muggle staple spices as wizard-made, then it stands to reason someone else is repackaging socks and underwear and such as well.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 07:36 pm (UTC)I think the children want what children always want, sweets and toys, little things that light up or spin or move or dance and are broken by Boxing Day. They learn to live in fear, just like their parents, but underneath it all, they're still children. The same things still put a light in their eyes.
Harry's a bit of a special case, though. I suspect he gets piles of presents from every corner of the Protectorate. The normal, everyday things with a personal touch would likely mean so much more to him than trinkets or sweets. Will you send him something?
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 08:23 pm (UTC)Hm. I'm afraid I'm probably not the best judge of toys and such, since they were thin on the ground for us at Grimmauld Place. But I'll see what I can find. I'd assume the less expensive, the better, so long as it's a reasonable quality.
As for Harry, I'd like to try. Last year of course I sent him something that belonged to him anyway, through Minerva. I suppose I could use the same tactic. I'm sure that if I sent a packet of socks to Buckingham, with or without someone else's name on, there would be a general scandal.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 08:45 pm (UTC)I think cheap and cheerful is best. Children are unpredictable creatures, but it's the parents who are buying, and they just want inexpensive things that will keep their offspring entertained for a few hours.
I'd rather like to see you attempt to send something to Buckingham Palace. The furious outpourings of rage from Lucius Malfoy would be most entertaining. And, in addition to amusing me, it might also prove a suitable distraction from any real presents sent via other routes.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 08:58 pm (UTC)