Having been in London for a day or two, writing things on bits of paper with a scented marker I came home (on the last plane to allow toothpaste as carry on) and started visiting bars to talk to barmen about the beers that they sell.
This afternoon will be spent wandering from door to door, having a few drinks, asking a few questions and getting paid to do it. Well not quite - I won''t be getting paid; I'm officially working the weekend, for which there is no extra money. Damn.
Miami Vice last night happened to be the most laughable movie I've seen in quite some time. Guffaws met ever one of Coilin Farrell's tortured looks of consternation and every loving camera sweep of Jamie Foxx's butt. The 'hot chick' spoke english only phonetically and the whole thing looked grey and speckled enough to ensure that 1000s unfortunate enough to rent this on DVD will be getting up to check the disk and their connection leads.
Jude in Atlanta this week - conferencing - so I'm getting used to being home alone. She's gonna be in Sweden Sept 6th to 18th - catching up with friends and working on her thesis. Wanted shorter but I had airmiles to use up and those were the available dates.
Need to feed the dog, walk the dog, talk to some barmen and then head out to a rooftop party (the sun is shining, the sky is brilliant blue, there's NO humidity and temps are in the upper 20s)
Life has been worse
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Sunday is a day to shout about
Sunday Lunch is a tradition in England that steadfastly refuses to die.
People who assiduously avoid the stove all week will, for some reason, dust off the pressure cookers, turn up the gas to high and come over all Nigella Lawson (better than cumming all over Nigella Lawson - there's a Brit gag to make you gag).
Across the nation vegetables are over cooked, meat is heated past the point of charring - being allowed out of the oven only when it's threatening to pass the tipping point on the way to diamond and grandparents are invited over to share in this tradition of culinary disaster.
My parent's house is no different to any other on the street when it comes to Sunday Lunch. Ed the Ted (my mom's mom) comes over and is joined by my dad's dad. My mom flies around the kitchen, fighting her way through the steam whilst my dad does all of the manly things - which seems to entail removing lumps (from gravy, from mashed potatoes, from that orange pile of veg that might once have been a carrot, was then a puree and is now a soupy sauce) and carving meat with an electric knife held together with bits of tape.
Meanwhile the oldsters scream out cross word puzzle clues to each other and talk about the price of bingo markers, tripe and rain hoods. Or thery would if they were properly old - instead they talk about soccer players, soccer player's wives, Israel, the Lebanon and the racist attitudes of people generations younger than themselves.
Only half the conversation is heard - above the noise of electric carving, steam and whistling hearing aid batteries but it's a good time. A very good time. And it makes me appreciate that it's not what you eat but how you eat that matters.
People who assiduously avoid the stove all week will, for some reason, dust off the pressure cookers, turn up the gas to high and come over all Nigella Lawson (better than cumming all over Nigella Lawson - there's a Brit gag to make you gag).
Across the nation vegetables are over cooked, meat is heated past the point of charring - being allowed out of the oven only when it's threatening to pass the tipping point on the way to diamond and grandparents are invited over to share in this tradition of culinary disaster.
My parent's house is no different to any other on the street when it comes to Sunday Lunch. Ed the Ted (my mom's mom) comes over and is joined by my dad's dad. My mom flies around the kitchen, fighting her way through the steam whilst my dad does all of the manly things - which seems to entail removing lumps (from gravy, from mashed potatoes, from that orange pile of veg that might once have been a carrot, was then a puree and is now a soupy sauce) and carving meat with an electric knife held together with bits of tape.
Meanwhile the oldsters scream out cross word puzzle clues to each other and talk about the price of bingo markers, tripe and rain hoods. Or thery would if they were properly old - instead they talk about soccer players, soccer player's wives, Israel, the Lebanon and the racist attitudes of people generations younger than themselves.
Only half the conversation is heard - above the noise of electric carving, steam and whistling hearing aid batteries but it's a good time. A very good time. And it makes me appreciate that it's not what you eat but how you eat that matters.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
My brother has a baby
i can't spell her first name - Elanor? - but her middle name is Grace
I don't know her surname either - which is all very modern I'm sure.
anyway she's rather lovely, seems remarkably advanced for her age and seems to be especially well behaved in the eating, sleeping, not peeing on your Versace departments.
Redcar was good - cheap Prada, Cheap Vivienne Westwood, lots of family, too much cigarette smoke (that's england)
london was expensive but I developed a love for Mews streets. Visited three.
Jude's brother lives in a mews house that he shares with a number of flies attracted by the scent of the sweat eminating from the clothes he's seen fit to have strewn hither and thither across the limited floor space. In that London way it's cute whilst being murderously expensive.
The Mews I found in Knightsbridge was gorgeous, had a couple of good (if smoky) pubs and sold studio apts (flats!) for $2.5m. Pah!
And the final mews house was a photographer's studio with white walls, white tables and white coffee cups that set off the chocolate topped cappucinos to great effect.
Celebrities? Danny baker nearly getting hit by a cab as he moved at remarkable pace across a pedestrian crossing - and ex-boss, diamond top dog and all around good egg David Lamb (alas on his phone and moving too fast to catch)
Ate dinner at langham's - again overpriced, over familiar and mediocre but the company was good.
Flight back delayed (many were being cancelled around me) - got in at 1am; finished up sonme work, bed by 2am - awake at 5am and sent off yet more thoughts on everything. Will look impressive from across the Pond - but was really jet lag and boredonm combining to give the illusion of industry.
Heading for work - a beer pitch and another weekend I think. Jude will be away at academy and the office will let me take the dog with me so I really don't mind.
How are y'all?
I don't know her surname either - which is all very modern I'm sure.
anyway she's rather lovely, seems remarkably advanced for her age and seems to be especially well behaved in the eating, sleeping, not peeing on your Versace departments.
Redcar was good - cheap Prada, Cheap Vivienne Westwood, lots of family, too much cigarette smoke (that's england)
london was expensive but I developed a love for Mews streets. Visited three.
Jude's brother lives in a mews house that he shares with a number of flies attracted by the scent of the sweat eminating from the clothes he's seen fit to have strewn hither and thither across the limited floor space. In that London way it's cute whilst being murderously expensive.
The Mews I found in Knightsbridge was gorgeous, had a couple of good (if smoky) pubs and sold studio apts (flats!) for $2.5m. Pah!
And the final mews house was a photographer's studio with white walls, white tables and white coffee cups that set off the chocolate topped cappucinos to great effect.
Celebrities? Danny baker nearly getting hit by a cab as he moved at remarkable pace across a pedestrian crossing - and ex-boss, diamond top dog and all around good egg David Lamb (alas on his phone and moving too fast to catch)
Ate dinner at langham's - again overpriced, over familiar and mediocre but the company was good.
Flight back delayed (many were being cancelled around me) - got in at 1am; finished up sonme work, bed by 2am - awake at 5am and sent off yet more thoughts on everything. Will look impressive from across the Pond - but was really jet lag and boredonm combining to give the illusion of industry.
Heading for work - a beer pitch and another weekend I think. Jude will be away at academy and the office will let me take the dog with me so I really don't mind.
How are y'all?
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
remiss
afraid that I've been rather remiss with the old blog posting of late. The excuse - no computer in the London office where, as a guest, I'm low on the priority list when it comes to things like technology.
Have been sleeping remarkably well, though woke with a start at 7am this morning after 6 hrs sleep and consequently feel someone heavy eyed.
London is.... well it's London. Fearfully expensive, horribly class sensitive and full of hidden treasures. I found a Knightsbridge Mews street last night so lovely I forgot my hatred of the city.
I do have to say that the fact that I'm flying home tomorrow is all that's keeping me going today. Role on 5.45 and Virgin pick up!
More and better later
Have been sleeping remarkably well, though woke with a start at 7am this morning after 6 hrs sleep and consequently feel someone heavy eyed.
London is.... well it's London. Fearfully expensive, horribly class sensitive and full of hidden treasures. I found a Knightsbridge Mews street last night so lovely I forgot my hatred of the city.
I do have to say that the fact that I'm flying home tomorrow is all that's keeping me going today. Role on 5.45 and Virgin pick up!
More and better later
Sunday, August 06, 2006
ooh - you cheeky monkey
To James' house for drinks - though my ability to even attempt barometer drinking has been rather dampened by this whole cancer thing. Still good to see Mark and his soon to be wife Margaret, to see Margaret and her 'how soon to be husband' (snap him up dear) and of course the lovely Mr Jim, master of i-tunes and subtitled crap TV. The best of which was an excruitating lottery show hosted by a 'surely this act has worn thin' Dale Winton - though this quiz was run close by Cilla Black arriving at Andrew Lloyd Webber's country pile during 'What should be do about Maria' - a terrible reality show that really does need to transfer to the US (when it will flop)
anyhoo (did I just do that?) time to track down the brother and Baby Eg(g) - this blog thing really is pointless innit?
anyhoo (did I just do that?) time to track down the brother and Baby Eg(g) - this blog thing really is pointless innit?
Saturday, August 05, 2006
A wee short post
Arrived in London yesterday after a 7 hr delay on the plane. I get on, we pull away from the gate, we're no.30 in line for the one runway. Three hours later and we're no.24 and suddenly we don't have enough fuel to get us to London and are heading back to the gate for fuel. Which takes an hour and a half to arrive. Then the crew run out of hours and we wait another hour. The Americans strap on headphones and watch movies on their laptops, the Brits get rather Bean-ish in their semi-autistic way and fume quietlty - occasionally sighing.
I talk to the Scottish crew, get my face rubbed by the 'in-flight beautician' and send e-mail after e-mail out into the ether.
Arrive in London for my meeting late - but make it. Then make it to a pub in Portland Place (£3 on the tube - one way - that's $5.70!!!) where I meet Jude's brother and his lovely girlfriend. Encourage her to forget the rather good book she's writing and instead to churn out a frothy novella filled with deviant sex and vivid descriptions. She looks almost convinced.
Train up to Redcar this morning. E'd up Xtian talks to everyone. Woman next to me stares at Sudoku without filling in a square and a bloke from M'bro loudly declares Rotherham 'a shithole'... home at last.
Second train seems to be full of kooks and weirdos... including one woman who tells me that she has a video of her hamster on her cell-phone whilst her hearing aid whistled and her jumper strained at the seems (you could hear it wanting to give)
That's it for now. Back to m'bro for a pair of prada loafers I think
I talk to the Scottish crew, get my face rubbed by the 'in-flight beautician' and send e-mail after e-mail out into the ether.
Arrive in London for my meeting late - but make it. Then make it to a pub in Portland Place (£3 on the tube - one way - that's $5.70!!!) where I meet Jude's brother and his lovely girlfriend. Encourage her to forget the rather good book she's writing and instead to churn out a frothy novella filled with deviant sex and vivid descriptions. She looks almost convinced.
Train up to Redcar this morning. E'd up Xtian talks to everyone. Woman next to me stares at Sudoku without filling in a square and a bloke from M'bro loudly declares Rotherham 'a shithole'... home at last.
Second train seems to be full of kooks and weirdos... including one woman who tells me that she has a video of her hamster on her cell-phone whilst her hearing aid whistled and her jumper strained at the seems (you could hear it wanting to give)
That's it for now. Back to m'bro for a pair of prada loafers I think
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
It's Jude's B-Day
It's also rather hot.
Been hot under the collar too. Visit to oncologist went well though he stipulated a need for me to stay close to NYC for the nexy three months - so that I can be ready for additional scans, bloodwork and the like.
All routine stuff for somebody who has taken part in a drug trial but rather scuppering any plans I had to move to Europe in the near future. That said I will be in London for a week starting Friday (hurrah!) and in a rather swank Knightsbridge apartment (huzzah!)
After which it's back to the open arms of Uncle Sam where I can get on with a normal life under the watchful eye of a rather protective physician.
Planning on a trip up to Redcar for a day - which really ought to be interesting given that I'm travelling on short notice and owe so many people a visit. Should be fun though.
Lots of other stuff going on too - but the truth is that whilst the 'all clear' from the doctor wasn't a surprise the 'hang on a second matey, you're ours until Xmas' was - so everything rather up in the air.
That said there are opportunities on beer, diamonds and a host of other meaty, knotty problems into which I can sink my oh so fragile teeth.
Been hot under the collar too. Visit to oncologist went well though he stipulated a need for me to stay close to NYC for the nexy three months - so that I can be ready for additional scans, bloodwork and the like.
All routine stuff for somebody who has taken part in a drug trial but rather scuppering any plans I had to move to Europe in the near future. That said I will be in London for a week starting Friday (hurrah!) and in a rather swank Knightsbridge apartment (huzzah!)
After which it's back to the open arms of Uncle Sam where I can get on with a normal life under the watchful eye of a rather protective physician.
Planning on a trip up to Redcar for a day - which really ought to be interesting given that I'm travelling on short notice and owe so many people a visit. Should be fun though.
Lots of other stuff going on too - but the truth is that whilst the 'all clear' from the doctor wasn't a surprise the 'hang on a second matey, you're ours until Xmas' was - so everything rather up in the air.
That said there are opportunities on beer, diamonds and a host of other meaty, knotty problems into which I can sink my oh so fragile teeth.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Breakfast
Lots of meetings today - and lots of meals out.
Breakfast at Michael's, a power breakfasting place on 55th street, where between us we consumed an omlette, some cut fruit on toast and three coffees - and were presented with a bill that totalled $92 + the 20% tip. $110 for breakfast. (!) Cornflakes were $32. And my omlette was crap. Luckily the company was excellent and I had a good time talking with someone who seemed both smart and genuine.
Lunch was somewhere in SoHo at a much cheaper place that served bits of smoked salmon and smaller bits of shop bought sliced brown bread and called it an 'open sandwich' - open bloody liberty I'd say. Still again the company was good (well Scottish which is usually good) and the conversation flowed more freely than the coffee.
Dinner with Jude at a local Thai - starters, main and drinks come in at less than this morning's cornflakes. Good not to have to try to impress (I've been trying to put a safety net under myself by sounding out people on the potential of a new job should the old one suddenly disappear; it looks good - I finally have a reputation)
Jude's Birthday tomorrow. She has gift vouchers for babeland (look it up) and a nice new guitar - she wants to learn. I've been planning on being away for a while but... well that's a different, difficult and not to be told here (yet) story.
More though (and visits to both oncologist and surgeon) tomorrow.
Breakfast at Michael's, a power breakfasting place on 55th street, where between us we consumed an omlette, some cut fruit on toast and three coffees - and were presented with a bill that totalled $92 + the 20% tip. $110 for breakfast. (!) Cornflakes were $32. And my omlette was crap. Luckily the company was excellent and I had a good time talking with someone who seemed both smart and genuine.
Lunch was somewhere in SoHo at a much cheaper place that served bits of smoked salmon and smaller bits of shop bought sliced brown bread and called it an 'open sandwich' - open bloody liberty I'd say. Still again the company was good (well Scottish which is usually good) and the conversation flowed more freely than the coffee.
Dinner with Jude at a local Thai - starters, main and drinks come in at less than this morning's cornflakes. Good not to have to try to impress (I've been trying to put a safety net under myself by sounding out people on the potential of a new job should the old one suddenly disappear; it looks good - I finally have a reputation)
Jude's Birthday tomorrow. She has gift vouchers for babeland (look it up) and a nice new guitar - she wants to learn. I've been planning on being away for a while but... well that's a different, difficult and not to be told here (yet) story.
More though (and visits to both oncologist and surgeon) tomorrow.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Interesting
They just posted this up outside our building... it's all pre-printed poster stuff and there seemed to be a lot of camera equipment laying around as the guy pasted it to the wall - so who knows what it's being used for. But I like it; it's vibrant.
Feeling pretty vibrant myself today. Had an idea so good I want to share it, but can't. It's amazing what doing a good job does to my morale though - it's just lifted me in a way that very little else can. Better still the people that I'm working with recognized it as a good idea. No fighting. No endless explaining. No toys out the the buggy episodes. Marvellous.
Jude's birthday on Wednesday - but with the temperature estimated to be a record breaking 39C and the 'real-feel' set at 46C we'll not be moving about very much in celebration.
Been talking to a bunch of people online about their shopping habits - for a pitch that we're doing. I shared my life (style) with them and they were horrified. Stairs, apartments, no cars, no Wal-mart... how did I cope? I have to say that by the end of the week I was pretty much convinced that they were right. Of course 24 hrs reflection now has me picturing them as the half man - half walrus types that so beset DisneyWorld.
Anyway enough moaning - a proper post tomorrow I swear... and a radiation oncologist visit Weds... let's see what that brings
Feeling pretty vibrant myself today. Had an idea so good I want to share it, but can't. It's amazing what doing a good job does to my morale though - it's just lifted me in a way that very little else can. Better still the people that I'm working with recognized it as a good idea. No fighting. No endless explaining. No toys out the the buggy episodes. Marvellous.
Jude's birthday on Wednesday - but with the temperature estimated to be a record breaking 39C and the 'real-feel' set at 46C we'll not be moving about very much in celebration.
Been talking to a bunch of people online about their shopping habits - for a pitch that we're doing. I shared my life (style) with them and they were horrified. Stairs, apartments, no cars, no Wal-mart... how did I cope? I have to say that by the end of the week I was pretty much convinced that they were right. Of course 24 hrs reflection now has me picturing them as the half man - half walrus types that so beset DisneyWorld.
Anyway enough moaning - a proper post tomorrow I swear... and a radiation oncologist visit Weds... let's see what that brings
weirdly wonderful weekend
so the weekend saw us eating Russian food at Brighton beach, playing 'track and field' in a cool bar, BBQing with the Bosnians and generally having a good time.
Velcro has had a good time too - having learned to escape her area without leaving any trace or clue as to how she does it. Needless to say I woke up this morning to a trail of things stolen from various off limits to the dog goodies - from rubber ducks, via slippers to a wash-cloth. She's cute though.
Flying Virgin was a good experience though the flight back didn't have 'on demand' for movies etc. and I have to say I was disproportionately pissed off. I won't be flying into Newark again.
Best bit of the trip - the blacked out windows on the shiny new Merc that they sent to collect me from the airport. As we glided through Chinatown (a bad wrong turn) at 1am all heads turned to see who was in the back of the thing and I got a wee sniff of fame's aphrodiziac scent.
Back to the NYC office and the hum-drum today. Still it's the little adventures (and the airmiles) that keep me going.
Velcro has had a good time too - having learned to escape her area without leaving any trace or clue as to how she does it. Needless to say I woke up this morning to a trail of things stolen from various off limits to the dog goodies - from rubber ducks, via slippers to a wash-cloth. She's cute though.
Flying Virgin was a good experience though the flight back didn't have 'on demand' for movies etc. and I have to say I was disproportionately pissed off. I won't be flying into Newark again.
Best bit of the trip - the blacked out windows on the shiny new Merc that they sent to collect me from the airport. As we glided through Chinatown (a bad wrong turn) at 1am all heads turned to see who was in the back of the thing and I got a wee sniff of fame's aphrodiziac scent.
Back to the NYC office and the hum-drum today. Still it's the little adventures (and the airmiles) that keep me going.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Back from London
Back (geddit?) from London - where it seemed to be 1950. Everywhere I went gay men lurked in the shadows (SoHo), the Long Grass (Hyde Park) and corner offices (work)... all very strange, but managed to put George Michael into a context where his behavior seemed more British than odd.
Not going to say a lot here as my bath runneth over but the London trip was a bit of a success. I hate being in the London office (nobody knows me, the technology doesn't work, you have to beg for a card to access the bathroom etc.) but I also had a delightful day listening to experts, cooking fish and talking brand turkey with a very international group (Brazil, France, Germany, Holland, Australia, Italy, US etc...)
Anyway now the bath really doesd floweth over
Later
Not going to say a lot here as my bath runneth over but the London trip was a bit of a success. I hate being in the London office (nobody knows me, the technology doesn't work, you have to beg for a card to access the bathroom etc.) but I also had a delightful day listening to experts, cooking fish and talking brand turkey with a very international group (Brazil, France, Germany, Holland, Australia, Italy, US etc...)
Anyway now the bath really doesd floweth over
Later
Thursday, July 27, 2006
London
so a flying vsit to London - to take part in an induction day. I'll be on a lane home tomorrow and not a moment too soon. The traffic is awful, the streets too narrow, the parks full of odd men who lurk in the long grasses, the pound too strong, the accent too thick and the people too Dick Van Dyke. Or something.
Did a walk around Hyde Park (I'm trying to stay awake) and was shocked at how yellow everything was. Especially as people are already remembering the big thunderstorms of the last couple of weeks with a fondness usually researved for the recounting of The Blitz.
Dead on my feet here, time for something sugary I think, home tomorrow!
Steve
Did a walk around Hyde Park (I'm trying to stay awake) and was shocked at how yellow everything was. Especially as people are already remembering the big thunderstorms of the last couple of weeks with a fondness usually researved for the recounting of The Blitz.
Dead on my feet here, time for something sugary I think, home tomorrow!
Steve
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Quite a day
In to the office this morning for a 7am breakfast... my role purely decorative as spaces are limited for the actual 8am meeting so I'm there to "greet and eat" and nothing more.
Tonight I have an overnight flight to London. Land Thursday, come back Friday but it's the flight that tips me over to super dooper Gold status on Virgin and earns me a free companion flight the next time I book - making our planned January trip to Africa significantly cheaper.
Anyway with all the late nights (left the office at 10pm yesterday) and early mornings (6am start this morning) I'm starting to remember what my life used to be like before my body said 'no' and threatened to close down completely.
So this is the last 'silly week' that they'll get out of me - after this I'm chilled, I'm sitting out in the sunshine with my laptop and I'm heading home early; where I shall relax without the aid of alcohol.
Tonight I have an overnight flight to London. Land Thursday, come back Friday but it's the flight that tips me over to super dooper Gold status on Virgin and earns me a free companion flight the next time I book - making our planned January trip to Africa significantly cheaper.
Anyway with all the late nights (left the office at 10pm yesterday) and early mornings (6am start this morning) I'm starting to remember what my life used to be like before my body said 'no' and threatened to close down completely.
So this is the last 'silly week' that they'll get out of me - after this I'm chilled, I'm sitting out in the sunshine with my laptop and I'm heading home early; where I shall relax without the aid of alcohol.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Hurry up and wait
Waiting for a 9am meeting to actually start (it's 11.33 right now) and for London to call me (it's 1948 there and they're still mourning the blitz) and for somebody to in the building to smile with something that approximates genuine warmth.
Meanwhile I'm looking at this guy's pictures - so many of them are great. Wish I had his talent.
Short entry - don't have the energy for anything else.
Meanwhile I'm looking at this guy's pictures - so many of them are great. Wish I had his talent.
Short entry - don't have the energy for anything else.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Where we want to live
Lots of things should be coming to a head today. I hear about a possible short term move out of New York (and out of the US), about a possible new job at another company within New York, about my options should I stay with my current company in New York... though not (yet) about Judith's job options moving forward.
As my Dad might say "It's all go"
Really though all I want is to live in the apartment from which I took this picture. It overlooks McCarren park, has an elevator for the dog, views of the city, is absolutely beautiful and is within our price range.
Or it would be if I could get a mortgage. Nobody wants to insure a mortgage against somebody who has an 80% chance of having a fatal cancer within two years. A brutal but understandable truth.
Anyway this is all tedious, personal stuff. We'll offer it up to the universe and see what karma brings us (to mix religious philosophies)
It is a very cool place though.
As my Dad might say "It's all go"
Really though all I want is to live in the apartment from which I took this picture. It overlooks McCarren park, has an elevator for the dog, views of the city, is absolutely beautiful and is within our price range.
Or it would be if I could get a mortgage. Nobody wants to insure a mortgage against somebody who has an 80% chance of having a fatal cancer within two years. A brutal but understandable truth.
Anyway this is all tedious, personal stuff. We'll offer it up to the universe and see what karma brings us (to mix religious philosophies)
It is a very cool place though.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Hypno-cat
Hypno-cat says "Do exactly as I say. Go to the cupboard. Take out cat food. Feed me."
He's a funny old thing is inky, forever licking at your arms and trying to get your attention (he's been on the desk for every post of this blog I think)
Me? Well I only did an hour or so at work - I'm more into provocation than proof when it comes to initial meetings and it was all getting just a little chart heavy. I think it's better to come clean, to say "we know nothing... yet - but here are some interesting places we'd like to look."
I'd rather leave the analysis until we have official data.
Anyway have to run, writing this while Jude is out with the dog and she'll be back soon as we're half watching Ms Universe (manish jaws very in vogue this year it seems)
More tomorrow, no doubt
He's a funny old thing is inky, forever licking at your arms and trying to get your attention (he's been on the desk for every post of this blog I think)
Me? Well I only did an hour or so at work - I'm more into provocation than proof when it comes to initial meetings and it was all getting just a little chart heavy. I think it's better to come clean, to say "we know nothing... yet - but here are some interesting places we'd like to look."
I'd rather leave the analysis until we have official data.
Anyway have to run, writing this while Jude is out with the dog and she'll be back soon as we're half watching Ms Universe (manish jaws very in vogue this year it seems)
More tomorrow, no doubt
Finding beauty in the differences
Well despite my protestations my first week back at work has been a seven day one. I've arrived early, skipped meals, filled up on crap and left late only to come home and start over on e-mail. Everything I thought that I'd not do in essence. The only good news is that I'm now acutely aware of how badly this kind of behavior can impact your health. I didn't survive cancer to kill myself at work. Of course there's a piece of me that quite likes the fact that I'm no longer wrapped in cotton wool - but that piece is small next to the look of concern on Judith's face as I drag myself home from another day at the office.The picture above is of Redcar's premiere nightclub - Leo's. Many may argue that it's not the top club in my desolate seaside 'home town' - insisting that it's part of the Redcar Triangle into which drugs pour and welfare money disappears. They may be right but Leo's has been there, crumbling on the seafront for aeons with it's mix of downmarket entertainment, lethally spiked 'snakebites' and girls dressed to spite the bitter winds blowing in off the north sea.
I may well be back in the UK within the next week or so, depending on whether a work project comes through. Just a short blast through the place but enough time I'm sure to remind me just how alien I've become to the country on my passport. I will try however to find beauty in the differences between the UK and the other places we've seen rather than seeing only signs of deterioration everywhere - from the production values of the TV shows through to age (and price) of the trains.
Actually that's not a bad mantra against which to live life - "find beauty in the differences"
Right breakfast, dog to groomers, work. Beautiful cereal, beautiful walk, beautiful... something or other
Friday, July 21, 2006
Like, who says I'm, like shallow
So with Jude dancing the silent dance of a woman who’s just seen Travis do a solo before finding a fully charged I-pod and with the animals cowering from a thunder storm that seems boundless in its ability to terrify I find myself with a couple of minutes to bang out something to the blog.
I have no idea what I’m going to write – doubtless it will be more profane than profound but then as one anonymous person here commented we ‘advertising types, like, often mistake shallow sham for profundity.”
Of course they didn’t express it quite that well – but then why waste eloquence on ‘advertising types.’? The Ad Exec. is, of course, Hollywood shorthand for the emotionally stunted, the self centered, the crass, the vulgar… the guy who needs to learn a life lesson.
He’s a professional and personal manipulator. A skilled liar. Duplicitous, deceitful and downright detestable.
And I know ad’ men very much like that. I know dentists, doctors, school crossing guards and supermarket managers like that too.
I also know ad’ people who are empathetic, insightful, human, funny, flawed and rippingly good company. I don’t know any supermarket managers like that – though I guess that there are lots of them out there.
I actually think that what made me bristle about the post was the use of the word “like”… it conveyed a valley girl empty-headedness that I’ve not seen in advertising. Oh we’re many things – arrogant, egotistical, over-paid, over-sexed, self-important, expensively scruffy and at times a little too removed from reality but I’ve yet to hear a good ad’ person that wasn’t concise and precise in their articulation of an idea.
So anonymous, like, say what you will, man; because, like, it’s like totally, you know? Dig?
Does this face look bothered?
I have no idea what I’m going to write – doubtless it will be more profane than profound but then as one anonymous person here commented we ‘advertising types, like, often mistake shallow sham for profundity.”
Of course they didn’t express it quite that well – but then why waste eloquence on ‘advertising types.’? The Ad Exec. is, of course, Hollywood shorthand for the emotionally stunted, the self centered, the crass, the vulgar… the guy who needs to learn a life lesson.
He’s a professional and personal manipulator. A skilled liar. Duplicitous, deceitful and downright detestable.
And I know ad’ men very much like that. I know dentists, doctors, school crossing guards and supermarket managers like that too.
I also know ad’ people who are empathetic, insightful, human, funny, flawed and rippingly good company. I don’t know any supermarket managers like that – though I guess that there are lots of them out there.
I actually think that what made me bristle about the post was the use of the word “like”… it conveyed a valley girl empty-headedness that I’ve not seen in advertising. Oh we’re many things – arrogant, egotistical, over-paid, over-sexed, self-important, expensively scruffy and at times a little too removed from reality but I’ve yet to hear a good ad’ person that wasn’t concise and precise in their articulation of an idea.
So anonymous, like, say what you will, man; because, like, it’s like totally, you know? Dig?
Does this face look bothered?
Nary a whiff
So the office party came and went with nary a whiff of scandal. Finance fannies remained covered - if vigorously shaken. The mailroom didn't start a rousing Viking Skol chorus of 'minge, minge, minge, minge" and not a single creative was caught red handed or genital'd.
All rather adult - perhaps because we all live such debauched lives the rest of the time that a party is a chance to relax without the pressure of 'the crazy ad folk" moniker.
And it is pressure. As the concert violinist / diplomat we had in yesterday said whilst playing the opening of a violent death piece - "pressure, panic, more pressure, death" - it's how a fugue works, it's how most business works.
I woke up this morning tired. And not because I had a curry and a beer with the Lord's Whimsy and Willy last night - but because since I've been back at the agency (5 days now) I've not started work after 8am, not finished work before 8pm, have been to 23 "meetings", a party, have been asked to change jobs, to get on planes, to fix things left undone and - of course - to work the weekend.
Well bollocks to that.
And on that decisive if petty note I shall bid you adieu and call a man I know in Brazil about the differences between retail there and here.
All rather adult - perhaps because we all live such debauched lives the rest of the time that a party is a chance to relax without the pressure of 'the crazy ad folk" moniker.
And it is pressure. As the concert violinist / diplomat we had in yesterday said whilst playing the opening of a violent death piece - "pressure, panic, more pressure, death" - it's how a fugue works, it's how most business works.
I woke up this morning tired. And not because I had a curry and a beer with the Lord's Whimsy and Willy last night - but because since I've been back at the agency (5 days now) I've not started work after 8am, not finished work before 8pm, have been to 23 "meetings", a party, have been asked to change jobs, to get on planes, to fix things left undone and - of course - to work the weekend.
Well bollocks to that.
And on that decisive if petty note I shall bid you adieu and call a man I know in Brazil about the differences between retail there and here.
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