Blue Anchors Up to London today to work with Keith on bipolararity. Sitting about much of the day trying to get my head around manic depression, and reading testimonials from people with the condition. Making me think of Mark an old University friend who died in a motorcycle accent, who in retrospect must have had this condition. Had lunch at The Blue Anchor, an old haunt by the river where I had bits of salad and some nice thai style salmon fishcakes and generally caught up with agency gossip with Keith. At one moment thought about Mark as a Blue Anchor too, a catch of sadness somewhere deep inside when I thought about him. Nice few chats with people before leaving at a very reasonable hour to get home. Listening to The Lord of the Rings again as an audiobook, which Anton is doing too. Even though I have read that book dozens of times, I still find new bits of description in it that have never registered before. Journeys today all without incident, which was unusual and nice. Otherwis...
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Out of focus Squinting all day as had I forgot to pack my specs. Luckily I was working with a drawing pad and a black felt tip, coming up with lines and concepts about the MS treatment, so wasn't dependent on computers. Largely left to get on with it under my own steam again. I was invited by Keith to a drink with a new guy by the river outside the Blue Anchor. Nice to sit in the sun for an hour, with pleasant people in an old haunt. Very hot today in London. Once home (train delayed due to a fire on the track near Gatwick) I had slightly galling (arf!) copy comments from the French client, so had to fix these. Then a chat with Anna Cowie the designer as she had sent an SOS, and I supplied a couple of lines for a project she is working on. Lorraine and I trying to organise a holiday for a week or so. Everything a bit last minute-ish. La Barbarie booked out sadly. Bit low on energy today.
Untaxing Up to London for another day on neuropathic pain. Refreshingly, the new creative director reframes things interestingly, and stretches the creative work. Sean and I have been asked to work Thursday too, and then have a long weekend off before a few days next week. After work I met Mark Hill and Robbie in the Blue Anchor for a few swifties . The place redesigned from when I used to go there. But done quite tastefully. Heard about Mark's tour of Europe, which he is hoping to get a book out of, and discussed ways to get agents. Robbie on good form too, telling us about his new Swedish girlfriend. Made off fairly quickly, and bumped randomly into Paul on a platform at Victoria, returning from visiting his son. Home to my accounts sent by my glamorous accountant, and a calculation of the tax I need to pay. Luckily, it turns out I have saved quite a bit more that I owe. This means my financial cushion is suddenly a lot plumper that I'd thought. Went to bed feeling lucky...
Old friends in the new Blue Anchor Bumped into Paula at Victoria this morning, off to see a client with Juliette. Nice to get a big hug in the middle of the rat race, and it got the day off to a nice start. I was in London for another day with Betsy working on the wound infections. We work really well together, and she has that nice American open friendliness. We had a nice lunch of panninis and fruit smoothies in a nearby cafe. Interesting brainstorming session this afternoon with Betsy and a very good young Australian designer called Simon. I'll be going in for another day next week, which is fun. After work to the Blue Anchor for a drink with Matty boy and the French Bloke. Betsy also popped by for a glass of water, before going off to a singing lesson. The Blue Anchor has been redesigned and changed since I was last there and, unusually, they have done quite a nice job with it, which has resulted in it getting busier. Matt and the FB both contagiously positive about the new ye...
Ebbs and flows at The Blue Anchor Working on stuff for my new pitch with my boss and we flew through it. We went to the Blue Anchor pub for lunch and had a chat about my career and to swirl some cloaks. I have decided not to go part time now, as by a strange twist of fate it looks like I may be promoted. It has been my constant refrain in the last few years that when I decide on a course of action, something else happens. But this could be an interesting challenge. More details here later. Then phoned the FB to join us in the pub to run some concept ideas past him, which was fun. In need of coffee after, as I rarely drink at lunchtime. Managed to bluff my way through the afternoon. Bit of a Mexican themed party in the agency this evening, which I left early to meet Liz, who I'd not seen since she left the agency a few months ago. Loads of gossip to catch up on. Went into an Argentinian restaurant where we were served a huge lump of nearly raw steak which although tasty, and bill...
No accounting for it Nine hours sleep certainly helps things. Felt happy and cheerful this morning and simply got on with things. One of the things I simply got on with was popping into see my accountant who has an office near my work. Seana is a splendid accountant, and gave me lots of free advice. I did feel slightly short changed that she wasn't wearing the leopard skin leggings, but then I haven't had a chat with her in some time. My Florida correspondent has taught me all about nail technicians lately, and looking at her nails, I suspect that Seana is intimate with one. She talked with passion and at some length about tax and the Chancellor's recent Budget, in such a way that it almost made me wonder why I hadn't opted for the fascinating life of an accountant instead of being a writer. Into work, and only a few bits to do today. Regained my equilibrium thankfully. I also called the radio station. Spoke to the producer, and Anton and I will pop in next week to see ...
Day One A lovely clear morning. As the train sped over the viaduct and mist threaded picturesquely between the trees, I decided to cheer up. Today, I decided, is as good a day as any other for a fresh start, and to this end I was busy making mindmaps and plans on the train. Trying all the time not to let the nosey person sitting next to me read what I was writing. Work suddenly a good deal more manageable too. I had time for a swim at lunchtime and enjoyed the virtuous glow it gave me afterwards. After work I sauntered down to the Blue Anchor after where I waited for Matty boy and First Matie. The pub was unusually busy with a few discerning Fulham supporters eating and drinking before their home game against Arsenal. Both Matty and Kate on good form. Much top-level gossip and chatting over a few drinks until a man sitting next to us provocatively began to eat. Then we legged it to the Agni for three Royal Thalis and more wide-ranging conversations. This followed by a brief sojourn i...
A night out with my ex-wife Another work frenzy today. The Gnome and me under the cosh most of the time. I will have to go off to somewhere near Manchester to do a pitch on Monday. Originally there was talk of catching a Nazgul from Gatwick airport and flying there. But it will now be a hideously early train ride. Left work at 7:30 however and met Mex, my ex-wife, in the trusty Blue Anchor. We hadn't seen each other for well over a year. We seem to have got to the stage where it's like meeting up with a really good old friend. Had lots of catching up to do, which we did over a couple of drinks followed by a tasty thali in the Agni. She has another book on the way also about the tube, and is doing well working at Yahoo, where she gets to do things like go to conventions of blogging women and so on. She has also moved back to Kew, not too far from where we used to live. It was really nice to see her. Slept on the train back home, and woke groggily in Brighton.
Ali B and onions Ferociously late into work today due to an inexcusable refusal to get out of bed in time. The Gnome was late too and we coincided outside the office and slunk in guiltily. Insubstantial bits and pieces at work, and we've been searching for some music to go with a TV advert we're adapting. For some reason this has proved fiendishly difficult, and we have sat looking at the same piece of film and listening to different tunes for days now. I had a really nice evening in The Blue Anchor with Ali B, who returned recently after a three year stint in Dubai. I not seen her for about five years, and it was very interesting hearing her news. I always feel a tad guilty about Alicia as I hired her several years ago and on her first day I told her I'd just resigned. She's doing really well working as an editor. Talked each others heads off for some time. Arrived in Brighton at 1:30am fired with inexplicable desire for a cheese and raw onion sandwich. And after thi...