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TCM_3

Afternoon!!!

Horace your knowledge indeed does have no bounds! Thank you very very much for your help with the business plan - I managed to produce a 30 page document based on your templates! I printed it off & the ink run done, cue much drama & noise from the OH, me saying "flibberty giblets, calm yourself, no one has died" Tesco is 30 seconds away, new cartridge installed, printing finished "have you no f**£%&ing stock in this shop" as he can't open his eyes to see what is infront of him, off he storms to the meeting only to be told there are no grants available for setting up the website & storms home in a sulk. Last night then I went to the chineese (my thursday treat) and opened a bottle of tesco special offer juice (off the wine as too much at vets opening last week!) and let him huff.

I fell over in the chemist this morning too - such a wally - and they have insisted on putting a support on my wrist as I landed on it trying to save my handbag! I feel as if I am working with a boxing glove on!

Star - I am delighted you are able to go to Vienna! Thats a great incentive! And Mudbath, I'm really pleased you have your assignment finished - brilliant! Horace, I got the email too from the Brad Sugars guy - is he any good?

Have a box to unpack now of clippers and a big fluffy mat to put into the washing machine as its owner is convinced the dog has hurled up over it and she hates the man in the dry cleaners so her horsey chum told her to bring it to me!

Have a good day everyone!
T

Horace

TCM - your OH needs a flick around the ear with a wet towel..he sounds like a right grumpy nincompoop:rolleyes: I am glad the business plan template helped. I am still sorting out the magazines - honest, I will send them when I have a moment.

I have been thinking about the other bits that I need to type up but haven't actually done them yet, I got distracted..by dinner which has been cooking slowly since about 2.30pm. I have also been dispensing advice here there and everywhere.

Brad Sugars is brilliant but his action coaches cost a flippin fortune which is why he pointed me in the direction of his free things. I am going to see him in Worcester on 7 October, he is such a jolly nice man that all his UK FB friends were given a code to use to get into his talks for free, plus if you have paid for a ticket then half the money that you pay goes to a local charity - in Worcester's case it is Worcestershire Association for the Blind. A lot of his words make sense much like Deborah Meaden. Every so often he will send me a youtube video of him sharing his knowledge:cool: If you can get something for free then do - don't pay out money.

I still feel a bit strange..but I am doing my best to fight off whatever has taken a fancy to me, in fact I feel a trip on the bus coming on..so that I can dispense with the germs:j

Mudbath

It's quiet on here....anyone would think we all have lives to lead!! I've spent the evening watching a film and tweeking my website. Little things were annoying me like font size, slight colour variation etc. It's taken three hours but I really like the look now - much more professional. I've also put a special offer on the front page for anyone who books an appointment in October to receive 10% off. It will be interesting to see if that increases bookings.

Right, i'm all computered out now!

Hope you're all having a good weekend xx

Horace

Hi Muddy well done on the website update.

Saturday I took myself off to Pershore too mooch and buy stuff. Yesterday I spend the day procrastinating about work and chatting last night to a fellow planner who did her first show yesterday. Her fee is less than mine - she charges a minimum of £1500 and then 10% of the total budget - whereas my min fee is £2000 and no percentage on top, I have always tried to avoid percentages because you just wouldnt know what you were getting. There are some planners out there who just work on percentages and nothing else:rolleyes: She told me yesterday that my fee is too steep but I have pitched myself in the middle of the local planners plus I am on a richer side of town with Solihull, Barnt Green, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and even at a push Gloucestershire whereas she has the poorer side Walsall, Wolverhampton, Cannock etc.

This morning I rang the people putting on this fair as they haven't sent me a receipt nor have they advised what time I need to be there to set up:rolleyes: Today, I intend to set up a client form (I shall make one that I can use for weddings and other events rather than just weddings) and sort out a schedule of what I do ready for Sunday.

Tomorrow and Wednesday I am out at a trade show but will be continuing my professional development:

Do you come here often? New venue concepts to impress your delegates.

Theming on a budget: Make your event look a milliion dollars without spending the big bucks.

One size doesn't fit all: Tailor your events to your audience.

In the face of adversity: Overcoming the trails and tribulations of outdoor events and exhibitions.

What is a pain in the posterior is that they have two lots of seminars running each day but there are ones that I want to go to that run at the same time so I am having to choose which best suits my needs.

I am so fired up by this trade show:rotfl: In fact last year I was told "oh wedding planners don't go to Events UK because its not for the likes of us" and now 2 planners that I know of are going:D Was it something I said

Horace

Am I having to talk to myself today? Has the internet gone down or something?

I have conned someone into fixing the bathroom basin for me:j Juanita did it for me:rotfl:

I have been busy racing around getting some fabby appointments and week commencing 5 October I am going to be out every single day. Am sooo pleased with one appointment as I am off to see tons and tons of fake snow courtesy of Snow Business (they did the snow for Bridget Jones' Diary and M&S).

Had a call this afternoon and I am going to have to get a wriggle on and send my copy to the magazine before 25 September:eek: I have been managed to be persuaded into advertising with a national magazine:eek: and I shall be the only wedding planner on the feature:eek::eek: I think I shall cheat and send the one I prepared earlier for a different magazine only my heart logo won't be on it but I am not that bothered about that. How very Blue Peter:rotfl:

I have news on the wedding fair too - apparently there are 37 stands and they are expecting hoardes (they want to come and see the wedding), I have also been told that I get a sandwich and a couple of drinks. My stand will be next to the chocolate fountain...so no doubt I will be making good use of it:rotfl:

I have just had a lovely man from Close Bros private bank on the phone, as part of my FSB membership I can open an account called a Diamond Account and its a way of saving for my tax bill, well they have said that if I keep a zero balance for a few months then I won't be penalised but I have said that at the moment I am happy and when I start earning then I will be squirrelling money away so they have said that when I am able to open an account with £2500 then they will give me £50 (this £50 was being offered by them if I opened an account within 6 months of my FSB membership anyway), I thought it jolly nice of them to honour this for when I am ready:cool: I likes free money:j

Hope you are all having a good day...I won't be around for the next two days as I am off to the NEC:D

Purpleroses

best of luck at the NEC H! look forward to hearing how you got on!
I am full of the cold so finished work early. boo! I don't have time to be sick!

Hope everyone else is well

moneymabel

Hope you feel better soon Purple :-)
Well done on doing your website Mudbath-theres a few things I need to do to mine but need some lessons from my web designer first!
Have a great time at the trade show/wedding fair Horace..mmmm chocolate fountain :-)
which magazine are you advertising in ? (being nosy)

Horace

Morning all.

Hurrah - I have gotten rid of the leech, I emailed my tutor about her who in turn emailed the student support co-ordinator at the Institute and the message has come back on how to deal with this stupid girl. I happened to be on facebook last night and she popped up in chat asking me to proof read her assignment so I said that I was too busy (not a lie, I am) and that really she should be speaking to her tutor, she then said that she had spoken to her tutor who had allowed her to write an essay (this is for the next assignment). I explained to this girl that she could use the tools on Word to spell check and grammar check her work and that I stressed that I am still learning myself and do not have the time to spare for her study as well. That is one chat that was cut off pronto by her - it must have been the thought of actually having something to do herself that put her off talking:rotfl: If she wants spoonfeeding then I suggest she continues looking after the babies and the aged in her care:D (oooh pass me a saucer of milk):rotfl:

Mabel - I am advertising with Perfect Wedding which is a national and will be appearing on their advertisement feature on the West Midlands. I got myself a very good deal and in fact it wasn't what I was expecting, it was less but I guess that's because I held out and stood my ground:D

As for chocolate fountains - I hate them as I cannot abide the stink of melted chocolate (going past Bournville makes me feel quite ill). Anyway, i think they are dust magnets:eek:

I shall be leaving for the trade show in a little while - I want the traffic to ease a bit first and I know that I need to be there before 10.30 which is when my first seminar starts. Yawn...I am still not properly awake - more coffee needed methinks:rolleyes:

Have a good day all.

nappentass

Morning All

Horace - hope you're having a good time & learning loads chuffed things going well for you

Mudbath - well done on the website

Purpleroses - do hope you are feeling better soon.

Finally finished sorting out the contacts data so ready to import to the database BB has built - will hopefully be able to demonstrate this week & get into place asap.
Trouble is I should really prepare a user/training guides to go with, but seeing the state of the files yesterday I feel like it will be an uphill struggle to train the girls - probably best done in person before documents.

Got another new client today so grateful business is picking up again.
I think I could do with planning my promotions in advance a bit more...

Hope everyone is keeping busy, have a good day
TTFN

TCM_3

Morning!

Quick post before I start the rug rounds!

Horace, have a fab time at the NEC and I hope you get loads and loads of referrals and business and make lots of contacts aswell - I am sure you will!

Get well soon Purple! Like you I am sneezing and do not have time to be sick - apparently swine flu is in one of the schools in town so I am debating about disinfecting all children at the door!

Has been steady enough the past few days, no great fortune in the till but plenty of folks in. My stock is running a bit low and this postal strike is beginning to have an effect things not getting to me as quickly (although I wonder is it an excuse!)

Have a good day everyone,
T