Category Archives: work

my new red moleskine

28 Tuesday Dec 2010

Posted by in retail therapy, sevilla, work

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I am trying like heckity to remember where I recently read about somebody buying a new red Moleskine agenda to organise her writing stuff, because over the past couple of weeks it’s become apparent that I need a separate – and portable – day book other than my personal one to keep all my social media work organised. And so with this in mind I visited my friend Maria’s shop called Maspapeles this morning and had a look at her extensive collection of Moleskine notebooks. And I finally decided on a small red weekly organiser that opens to show a week’s calendar on the left and a lined page for notes on the right. Perfect. It also fits perfectly into the front pocket of the fab bag I got at Maria’s place for my September trip to London.

But I am still trying to remember where I first read about this other person’s moleskine, also red, and like mine, with cool little pocket on the inside. Anyhow, I know I’m going to love it, as well as loving the reason I now need two daybooks. And it was great that Maria helped me pick out the one that would be best for my needs. So I got the new moleskine and also a 2011 refill for my old leather daybook.

I love feeling organised.

almost a dream come true…

16 Thursday Dec 2010

Posted by in cancer, cats, christmas, home, london, travel, trips, work

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Something I have always wanted to do  is see London at Christmastime, even though some die-hard Londoners like Steve tell me it’s all a bunch o’ nuthin. But I really do love Christmas and all that goes with it, and since getting cancer it does always cross my mind (as it does on every important calendar date) that this might be my last one. And so imagine how thrilled I was when a London-based journalist asked on Twitter if there was someone who would like to house & cat sit over the holidays! I spent days fantasizing about having a house to myself – though with a cat so I wouldn’t get lonely – and being able to work and re-connect with some of the people I met last September. And of course see Steve & Sara and the Hackey Gang again, as well as Lizzie who would be in town for family get togethers. I rationalised the cost of the airfare as a “business expense” (which is actually true) and calculated that I wouldn’t be eating out as much as when I was there last time. Really, the idea was to get lots of work done “at home”, meet up with a few friends and biz contacts, have a couple of nice meals out, SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, and then come home again.

Then I found out last night that the house & cat sitting gig is for two weeks, which made me re-think the logistics and especially the cost. Plus Azar has been feeling a bit poorly of late and I thought it would be awful if something happened to him while I was off looking after someone else’s cat. Even though Nog would be here looking after the boys, I’m not sure about him dealing with any sort of health emergency. So I guess I’m resigned to not going now, though I’m still waiting to hear back from the journalist with more info. It feels like being pulled in about ten different directions even though there are clearly only two options. In other circumstances I would jump at this chance because who knows when an opportunity like this will come up again. But the timing just isn’t right. What should I do?

I gotta job!

08 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in sevilla, welcome, work

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My first real new part-time freelance job since starting off this season as a social media manager … got the phone call yesterday afternoon. And I did that whole jumping up and down thing. It really was very exciting.

I’ve actually had three meetings this past week with tapas bars/restaurants that I feel could use my services, and I showed up with everything set up and with my presentation totally organised and – I hope – interesting. Made me realise more than ever that I’ve got to get myself an iPad…

But otherwise and that, I have a new job! And the great thing is that this job didn’t actually exist until I created it, packaged it up in an interesting way, and then went out and convinced a few people they really needed and wanted this, and that I was the best person to set it up and maintain it for them. This is a really big step for me. I mean, sure, it’s just part-time, but with a few more of these I could maybe end up being something resembling full-time.. maybe.

once bitten…

06 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by in tapas, work

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Never again! Last week I got an email from a guy in Tel Aviv who was interested in booking a tapas tour for December 5th (yesterday) and said it would be for four people. Sounded good to me, so I sent off the usual information including prices and how to book and waited to hear back.

He got back in touch saying he wanted to book the evening tour and that he’d be staying at the EME Hotel, but that he’d never used Paypal before and wondered if we could just arrange to meet in the lobby at 8pm on the 5th. And well, I’d never done this before – the deal is that people have to send me a 50% non-refundable deposit – but the tapas tour was just four days away and thought what the hell, especially as I really needed the money.

Well, you know what’s coming, don’t you? Yesterday it was bucketing down all day and I stayed inside working on some stuff for a new social media client until about 5 o’clock. Then some grocery shopping had to be done and so off I went with Nog and got totally soaked, feet drenched, coat dripping … when I got home I had to take a hot shower to warm up, but instead of being able to get into my comfy pj’s and curling up in front of the electric fire with the cats I had to get dressed up and go out again. And so I headed back out into the rain and was at the EME Hotel five minutes ahead of the appointed time, and I waited in the lobby as had been planned. And then I waited, and waited some more. The clients never turned up. Half an hour later I checked at the front desk and they told me this person wasn’t even staying there. It totally sucked. And so I sloshed back home through the driving rain, got into my pj’s, made popcorn and opened a bottle of wine…and tried to get over it.

I don’t get it though. Why didn’t they at least cancel? The guy had said they were flying to Spain on the 1st and would be in Seville the afternoon of the 5th. In his last email he said they were all looking forward to a wonderful evening in Sevilla with me. I mean, it was bad enough that I got soaked through twice in one day, and was left waiting in the hotel lobby for half an hour, but I also didn’t get paid! If I’d insisted on the deposit then at least I would have had that. Live and learn, eh?

meet the bear

02 Thursday Dec 2010

Posted by in gadgets, photos, work

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“Kodiak”… geddit?

So it turned out that the sexy Toshiba camcorder I temporarily bought as a back-up camera while Niko is in hospital takes totally crap photos (though quite nice videos). Obviously not a good choice for a back-up camera, temporary or otherwise, I took it back yesterday after this baby arrived via Amazon. You see, a couple of weeks ago I met Graham (click on link – that’s him in the middle) at the EBE10 blogging conference, and when he wasn’t busy showing off his iPad he was telling me how great his Kodak zi8 was. According to Graham, it not only takes great videos (and has that really cool built-in USB thingy) but it also takes fab photos. But the day I was in the store looking for a temporary substitute for Niko I couldn’t find this camera – later Graham told me it was only available on Amazon – so I thought I’d try the Toshiba instead. Well, the one thing the Toshiba experience convinced me of was that having a proper videocam is actually a necessary work tool for me. And so, credit card a-tremble, I ordered the Bear.

Can’t wait to start filming and editing…