So then, where to start? I'm really not that sure. Could it be to do with the glass and a half of fizz that I have just had (lightweight - and two days after our wedding anniversary!) which means that I can't get my thoughts together, or is it just the fact that there is a lot going on?
Well, I have to start somewhere, so here goes. Helen at Fashion Felines has been lovely enough to pass on an award to me - the award of "Versatile Blogger". Being new to the blogging game I am not quite sure how this award stands in the blogging community but I accept it graciously and with many thanks, on the basis that it is nice that someone out there likes my blog enough to read it and to give me an award. On the other hand I am hoping that Helen is reading this so that she can get in touch and tell me what the flip to do next. There are certain rules that attach to the award, such as nominating other blogs etc and I don't want to offend blogging etiquette by getting it wrong and being ostricised before I even really get started. I can't work out for the life of me how to contact her through her blog so Helen, please get in touch and tell me what to do next!
I am pleased to report that the Harvey Nichols event was a real success - well I think it was - the Chief Executive and the Chairwoman of the Children's Hospital were very positive and no-one booed me, other than when I referred to one models as having shapely hips, but she had actually referred to herself as having a "big bum" beforehand so I was actually being sensitive. The models were lovely and had their friends there to cheer them on, so the atmosphere was great. They also played up to the crowds brilliantly so there was much hilarity. Although we had to do some outfit substitutions, on the whole most of the outfits that we had chosen were available and ironically it was the last minute subsitutions that were, in some cases, the biggest hits. The only thing that I needed to select on the night were some further bags. Being told by the Events Manager to "go and help yourself to whatever you like off the shelves" was lovely. I have to say that I love the "Loopy Leopard" Mulberry bags - if only for the name. I am hoping that we will have raised lots of money for the Birmingham Children's Hospital.
It is almost a year since I gave up my job reviewing miscarriages of justice and stepped into the murky world of styling. I have to say that whilst at times it has been challenging and lonely - starting out on my own without anyone else doing the same thing as me locally - I wouldn't have missed it for the world. So, what's next? Well, I have lots of individual clients to style between now and my next event on November 26th so life is going to get even busier. Will that mean an even larger pile of odd socks that need to be paired? Almost certainly but hey, life's short and there's plenty of time for socks to be paired when I haven't got anything else to do with my time - that's what I figure anyway. There's also the time that it takes to market the event and style the models. I am also looking to the future and to the first few months of 2011 and considering just how I am going to grow the business when no-one has any money and the thought of spring is just too far away to even contemplate. Hmm, tricky but I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Oh crikey - and then there's Christmas to sort out. Do you think that we could just delay that for six weeks or so? Please?
The children continue to amuse me (and baffle me - how is it that an eleven year old can be so mature. Aren't I meant to be the adult?!) Our two year old proudly informed me today that she can now do a "toilet roll" (forward roll) so in her world at least, life is pretty exciting. I like that, viewing the world upside down and with a slightly different way of expressing things - I must try it some time.
