In this issue (it's to help you decide if you want to read on really):
The sad - but sadly inevitable - end of a six year client/consultant relationship
The marvellous end to an age of the lumpy bumpy stuff
An evening at my country retreat in Denby 'Pie Village' Dale - aka the Tonkinson/Tasker residence (aka playing & chatting with Ruben and drinking wine & catching up with Lou - Leigh was in the Smoke at the What House? Awards)
So, I'm afraid it's true. I have been Wallasey-based Daryl Showering's PR bird for just over six years, and the beginning of the end came when they were bought out by the multi-national, multi-billion dollar turnover Kohler Corporation. It was two and a half years ago though, so don't feel too sorry for me. No, don't feel sorry at all really, it's not sad - just a new era dawning.
I was told by Mike - (he once said "The greatest tragedy in the world is that Ryan Giggs wasn't born a bit further east" I enquired as to where poverty, floods and famine came in his list. I shall say no more!) - that I had a big heart as I was very accepting when I was told the news on Wednesday.
However, when you have sourced, selected and set-up an international network of PR agencies (Australia, NZ, US, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain and South Africa) - and tried to do it in two days a week - for ghd - you do get some understand of how difficult it is, not quite impossible, to do - and do well more's the point.
They need an international agency to take on the stress and strain of global consistency for them. If it was just UK stuff I did say I would give anyone a bloody good run for their money!
I fell into homes & interiors PR by 'accident' eight or nine years ago when given the Pilkington's Tiles account, and then Formica. I love the lovely journalists I've met and still know. Recent meetings involved about 10 mins of work chat and then catching up with crazy PR stories and news of my kitchen and kittens! (Remind me to tell you the 'Captain Birds Eye with a lift phobia' and 'Paul Daniels cooking deskside' stories one day - neither mine I'm relieved to say).
The fact that I just have to take brochures, press releases and pics round means I am one of the more fortunate PR birds out there. PR bird tip: Pick clients whose products are way too big to lug around in bags (showers, doors, worktops, that sort of thing!).
The ghd gig did of course involve some great, great highs too. Fave trips included Stockholm with Miss Christina Elliott, Milan with Miss Karen Heras-Kelly (where I discovered I can still speak quite fluent Italian when drunk - also helpful in this year's holiday to Sorrento), and calling in to see the lovely Jennine Hannaway in NYC and the delightful Donoven Gloy in Capetown when on holiday there anyway.
The international conference in Porta Banus - where I was one of a few who presented to the global team of 200 - three years ago was not a bad bash too!!!
I'm very fortunate I know, and very grateful for the opportunities I've had too. Very.
So, I had a meeting with Mike at the Village Hotel just off the M66 near Bury yesterday lunchtime, to sort out handing things over. I gave him one of the calendars (I have 10 to give away, which I'm being very selective about, the rest of you can buy them!) to remember me by. He said "I don't think we'll forget you Clancy".
You may be wondering about the length of time working with them, compared to the nearly three years (29th November is anniversary time) I've been running Vital. They have - delightfully - stayed with me during three moves over the years. All done amicably I'm pleased to say. They are just used to me now!
'They' also includes the lovely Margaret (for those on facebook, she's the other one in the pic with me and Colin & Justin at the House Beautiful Awards a few years ago). Margaret is a lady - I don't know many but she is one - and a die-hard Bolton Wanderers fan to boot! I'm delighted to say that we will be ripping it up again at this year's awards on Thursday (soooo excited). Last year involved partying at Madame Tussauds then ending up in the Sherlock Holmes Hotel bar, along with my mate Michelle from Marshalls Building Products, and her mate too. We did chat to some other people too of course...!
Again, this is work?!
Mike will be sorting out a great reference, helping with referrals in 'the biz' and co-drafting a letter to send out to the journos so they know that I and Vital still 'rock', but global needs dictate changes.
As good an end to a client relationship as is possible I hope you'll agree...
So, back to the cellulite (I know you're all dying to hear about this one!). I went to Bodyline's Stockport clinic yesterday morning where four of us were covered with Emla cream (in the appropriate places). The only two not having treatments were Dr Anna and Dr Anna's Mum (she's 57 and looks stunning, she doesn't speak any English so I tried a bit of French, and then Croatian, which is remarkably similar to Polish really). I only speak a little tiny bit of Croatian of course - but would like to learn more. LOVE Dubrovnik. LOVE Mlini (little resort just outside)more!
Of course it's things (natural things - vitamins, minerals and natural Omega oils) being injected into your thighs and ass, so it was never going to feel like it was being kissed on by little woodland animals, but it wasn't that bad either, and it only lasts about 15/20 mins.
Bit sore today, but Arnica cream will help with the bruising, and it will soon pass. Next treatment in two weeks. I shall keep you posted as to the results, not really looked yet! You get inch loss as well apparently - I won't share my current circumference but will let you know of the reduction (in good old 'Slimming World' style!).
Any takers for models?! The things I do for my clients eh? I'm nothing if not dedicated aren't I?! I have to say it is a definite first for a meeting in my knickers - I would say it's the last, but I can't make any guarantees.
So, after a quick trip back home to collect clothes, wine and feed Connie & Squeak (and have a bit of a play too), it was over to Denby Dale for an evening with Lou and Ruben.
Ruben (Roo) is a proper little boy, and is big into the ladies too. "Aunty Clancy, do you have boobies?". Lou will kill me for sharing this, but it was soooo funny. She tried to say it wasn't funny and he mustn't ask anyone else that. He said "But Clancy's laughing Mummy". Ooops. I'm free for babysitting if anyone's interested, but somehow I doubt you'll be calling anytime soon!
This morning also involved me taking over (after he was waking from 3am onwards - he has a cough, I hope Lou gets a break this afternoon when Leigh returns) at about 7.45am for stories, listening (quietly, he only has little ears) to my ipod and chatting about Connie & Squeak. He likes them a lot - he was the one making sure they were OK in the carrier when we collected them from Diggle a few weeks ago.
Lou then showed me his nursery record of activities. He has one hell of an imagination (and I'm not just biased) and rather worringly has taken to walking round nursery with a clipboard writing down what the other children are doing and following the teachers "Very good tidying up, well done". Remind you of anyone? Wheels on the Bus?!
I was laughing at many of his other comments and antics (he has been to China apparently and when you ask him what planet he lives on he says Saturn, I love him, a lot!) and he kept saying "What are you like Clance". It's said in his Mum's ever so slight Brummy twang too, which makes it ever cuter really!
So, Fran has just arrived for a coffee and a chat, on her way back from a wedding in York, I need to see Dunc to give him some cash, then it's off to Nicky Clarke for a fringe trim from Thor - yes Thor - and a quick meeting with Astrid the manager, then a catch-up with Leah at Anthony's Patisserie in the Viccy Quarter, then a trip to Mint for a manicure and pedicure. Phew! Glad I'm in watching telly on the sofa tonight!
Enjoy your Saturdays too!
Clancy xxxx
p.s. Connie & Squeak's photo addition is purely to relieve some of my guilt for leaving them in their room so much over the last few days - and to show off a bit too of course!
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