Category Archives: work

behind in my correspondence

28 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by in blogging, communication, computers, friends, websites, work

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The last couple of months or so I have been falling behind in my correspondence. And also my blog reading and interaction there. What can I say? I am online almost all day long, mostly flitting here and there getting work stuff done for clients, and also checking my own social media and websites and trying to keep them updated. So it takes a special effort sometimes to just sit down in front of the computer for some “me time”.

This is just to say to those I haven’t been in touch with enough lately that I’M SORRY and that – truly – you are on my mind, in my heart, and very much valued.  I just can’t seem to focus long enough to write down all the little conversations I’ve been having with you in my head.

I kind of miss just being able to faff about on the internet doing a whole lotta nuthin at times, but these days I am mostly working and trying to find more work (still not quite there in terms of making ends meet). But it’s good that I’m so busy, doing things I enjoy. I should maybe get a voice recording app for my iPhone to remember all the little things I think of telling this or that person when they come to mind, then write it out later. Because another reason for not writing back is that I often go blank not knowing where to begin. Gotta get more organised… or something! What do you suggest?

qr code

25 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in geekiness, internet, iphone, twitter, work

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Imagine my surprise last night while reading Twitter on my iPhone in bed (yeah, I know…) when I came across a tweet from Fiona @Seville_Writer (aka Scribbler in Seville) about just having made a QR-code for herself. What was this? And what was Fiona doing with one of them before me?? She usually comes to me for this sort of info and refers to me as her internet guru.

Of course I had to immediately find out what this was and so I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered that a QR (or Quick Response) Code is:

…a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry. More recently, the system has become popular outside of the industry due to its fast readability and comparatively large storage capacity. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be made up of any kind of data (e.g., binary, alphanumeric, or Kanji symbols)

An article in Search Engine Land goes into more detail about what a QR Code is and it’s various applications.

So this is the QR Code I just made using this generator which includes my name, phone number, email address, website URL and city location. Pretty cool, eh? And now, like Fiona, I have to figure out what to do next. Though I think the first mystery to solve is how Fiona found out about something so geeky before I did! I am humbled and in awe…

on clients and friends…

10 Thursday Nov 2011

Posted by in friends, twitter, work

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So this was my today, spent with these three lovely people…

I had an appointment with María Paz to help her revive the blog I’d made for her a couple of years ago, and integrate that with new social media accounts I’d created. Our appointment was for 11 o’clock, and I thought we’d finish in time for me to get to the gym, shower and have a quick bite to eat before my Spanish/English class with Pablo at 3.00. Well, due to this and that María Paz didn’t show up until 1.40 which kind of put the kibosh on, well, everything. Though I did manage a quick shower before she finally arrived. And then made a sandwich after Pablo got here. A part of our class involved helping Pablo get connected with London people on Twitter for an upcoming trip there, and it ended just fifteen minutes before my “proper” English class with my friend Agustín’s son (also Agustín)… and whew! Not the day I’d expected or planned but lots of cool stuff happened, and I was inspired in a many ways. But the really cool thing is how my personal life is also becoming my professional life, which is turning into what I’d want to do anyhow when I get out of bed in the morning. So it’s sometimes hard to tell when I’m working and when I’m not.

After all this it was suddenly 8pm and I remembered that another Twitter pal from Madrid was in town for a bloggers convention, and so I called Graeme and he met Nog and I for a lovely dinner out at one of my favourite places, La Azotea. And I actually got to eat! Which doesn’t often happen on my tapas tours, so that was a nice change.

And now I’m home and thinking about all the social media stuff I need to get done in the morning before I go to the gym and then prepare for an impromptu gourmet tapas tour that was booked by a group of Dutch people who happened to run into the group of Dutch guys that had been on my tour the day before… yeah, I know!

I really love how some friends have become clients, and how clients and online acquaintences end up becoming my friends. It’s all mixed up and it’s great. Just how I like it. And now to bed! There’s a little black cat waiting for me…

gourmet tapas tour review!

04 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in food & drink, spain, tapas, tapas tours, wine, work

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Remember back at the end of August when I had that freak operation? Well, one of the reasons I was keen to get home and back on my feet was because I had a Gourmet Tapas Tour booked for the following weekend and I really didn’t want to have to cancel it. Nog had helped me out by doing three tours during the week, but this was a Gourmet one and, well, it had to be me.

So that Saturday night – about ten days after the op – I headed out to pick up Lucy and Dave, with my “faja” firmly wrapped around my middle. It turned out that we were “neighbours” as the holiday apartment they had rented was about a three minute walk from my place, and so I was able to let them know about the best places in the barrio for coffee or a quick snack, along with the list I gave them of other wonderful tapas bars that weren’t on the tour. And, in spite of initial doubts about my stamina, I made it through the evening no problem and had a wonderful time. Nog came to pick me up at our last stop – the rooftop bar – and had a beer with us. Then we walked Dave and Lucy back to their place and headed home.

And so I was very pleased the other day when Dave sent me a link to a post he’d written on his blog The Wine Mule about our tapas tour and their other Seville gastronomical adventures. I already knew a bit about these as we’d been in touch by email during the rest of their visit, and a bit afterwards, but it was great to see the photos and read about what fun they had. And of course it was wonderful to read such a glowing account of their tour with me.

Thanks guys – it really was a great night!

más málaga!

27 Thursday Oct 2011

Posted by in friends, Malaga, work

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[click to enlarge]

So this is a bit of what I’ve been up to. I met two Twitter pals in person for the first time – had lunch with David on Monday and with Lisa yesterday. And I had two very productive meetings with Victoria. In between I mostly hung out at the apartment getting some other work done. Manolo has new sofas, a lovely neutral colour, making me want to move in here more than ever. But if things go as planned I’ll be making monthly trips down here, which is almost as good.

I’m heading back to Sevilla this afternoon, but first will take a wander into the centre and dip my toes in the Mediterranean on my way back in to pick up my suitcase. It’s been a great visit.