Funny Hours

I found myself up until silly o'clock this morning as I was busy on the internet reading up on businesses that I found in the Aug/Sept edition of Your West Midlands Wedding.

I was pleased to discover that the British Heart Foundation have branched out into supplying wedding favours, confetti and other paraphernalia including special confetti to stick onto cars. They have an online shop which can be accessed via their website www.bhf.org.uk - I think it is a brilliant way of supporting a charity whilst at the same time buying some nice and different things for your wedding.

At long last I think I may have found somewhere to sell my wedding dresses - they are far too good to go onto ebay and the lady at the local couture shop seems to no longer be keen on having a sale even though I was going to share the profits of the dresses with her. The shop that I have found is based in Kidderminster and they sell pre-loved dresses either through their shop or by attending parties and taking a few dresses along to the bride's home for her to try on. Selling your wedding dress is a good idea because not only do you get some money for your dress which would otherwise be gathering dust in the loft but its also an opportunity for others to have enjoyment and the pleasure of wearing something that they may not otherwise be able to afford. It cuts down waste so its very ethical and I am all for being ethical as far as is possible. www.wornoncewithlove.co.uk - I have tried to contact the shop today but the owner appears to be on holiday judging by the ringtone on the phone so I have emailed her instead to see what she has to say.

I am extremely frustrated at the moment because I have a lot of visits to book but am unable to do so until I get some new glasses - my eyesight has deteriorated to the point that it wouldnt be safe for me to drive :( Thankfully for some meetings I have arranged to meet people in Birmingham City Centre which is only a short bus ride away - I could take the train but I don't like New Street Station and feel extremely uneasy on the stairs - its not a very user friendly place if you are disabled.

I was exchanging emails with a fellow planner who was a tutor on my course (not my tutor but she gave me some brilliant advice and we are now friends) as she has become involved in setting up a Federation of Event & Wedding Planners which will be along the same lines as the Federation of Small Businesses. There is nothing in our industry that is an offical organisation, there are others such as the Institute of Professional Wedding Planners but they don't really support planners or provide regular information and from what I can see nor do UKAWP - this body are strange because they offer planning courses which are two days' long and you cannot possibly learn everything in two days whereas the Institute's course is longer and it gives you an opportunity to do some research and even get some suppliers under your belt.

I have had my final assignment marked and the Institute are being advised that I have now finished the course. Soon I shall be receiving a logo for my website along with my Diploma and I can now call myself Denise Meredith Dip.WP (Inst.WP) - who would have thought that I would ever have letters after my name? Roll on the next course in Event Planning - I could do this as an online course but I prefer to have literature that I can keep and refer back to - hopefully I will be able to claim this cost from the business and get some tax relief. I need to check that with my accountant Sammy. Again this course will give me new insights into organising events although I come from an events background one can never know everything plus it will give me yet more letters after my name and another logo for my website.

Catch Up

I have had a busy couple of days so apologies for not updating my blog. I went to the eye hospital yesterday but could only manage to get rid of one eye drop but I still have to take the steroid ones 2hourly and the dilating drop at night. Whilst I was in clinic I realised that I had put my sweatshirt on back to front and to say that I felt like a nit was an understatement - I knew it was going to be a bad when I slept through the alarm that I had set for 6.00am and got up at 7.15am thinking that it was 6am.

Later on yesterday, an ex boyfriend dropped in on his way back from Ooop North, it had taken him 3 hours to drive back and after a cup a soup and slice of bread, he fell asleep on the sofa and then moved to my bed...humph. I was expecting him to leave but as the driving conditions were too bad he took me out for dinner - we took my car because it has been sitting and the run did it good.

I was back at the hospital today for an eye test and as I suspected my eyesight in my right eye has worsened so I need yet another pair of glasses. I was still miffed that I couldnt read the bottom line on the chart and could only make out about 3 letters on the line above. So now I need to go back on Tuesday clutching my working tax credit notification to get some cheap glasses. On getting home I had some wonderful news - I have passed my final wedding planning assignment and received an A grade. Unfortunately, I have received two C marks so won't be getting the Diploma with Merit which is what I was after, the Institute wouldnt allow me to retake the assignments either which is a great shame. In fact my previous tutor gave me a C grade and I discovered after speaking to fellow students she ensured that she gave them C grades for the same assignment too. I had a C grade more recently but then I knew that the assignment I submitted wasnt up to scratch. So I will now be able to display a logo on my website and on my stationery, I will also have letters after my name Dip. WP (Inst.WP).

Feeling throughly pleased with myself

I sometimes venture onto a moneysaving forum (ok, I am there quite a lot) and occasionally give advice to people in debt, brides and even those with employment issues. During this past week I have been advising a young person who made a mistake during an internal promotion giving a different referee than their direct line manager with whom they didnt get on. This poor kid had been caught cheating at University and as a result had all his examination marks downgraded and was forced to re-sit the exam where he was caught cheating (I am assuming this person is a chap). Needless to say this kid was worried sick about what would happen at his disciplinary meeting which was held yesterday, so I gave him some non judgemental advice both on the forum and in private. Well he sent me a message today thanking me for my help - he has now kept his job albeit with a note on his file but he has promised not to anything so silly again. I was slightly appalled to hear that his own union rep had refused to accompany him as they had drawn their own conclusions to let this kid fend for himself. U wasnt expecting a thank you at all - at long last someone has acknowledged that I give excellent advice, its a pity that when I was branch secretary of UNISON not so many moons ago that my clients never said thanks and in fact my union didnt support me when I needed their assistance.

I have been busy on facebook again - giving advice to other planners on negotiating skills (I knew my union knowledge would come in handy some day) and have been joining groups based in the USA - some of them display inspiration boards that they prepare for clients and maybe it is something that I can think about for my own business.

I had my welcome pack from the Federation of Small Businesses today and at some point since joining I have had a sex change without my knowledge because according to them I am now a man! Even the membership card has me listed as Mr D Meredith!!

I am recuperating nicely and hopefully I will be drop free after Wednesday.

Today

I haven't long come home from the city centre - I went out this morning to go to Selfridges because I needed to get a tin of biscuits which I am going to take to the hospital next week for the theatre staff to say thanks for looking after me. Actually, last week's theatre session was the least traumatic of them all and I was treated like a person and not as a piece of meat. Theatre staff are always the last on the list when it comes to presents from patients as all presents seem to go to the ward staff who don't share.

I decided today that Selfridges needs to be done under the trades descriptions act because I bought a sherry trifle from them (I was after the ramekin dish as its a nice deep one) - not one whiff of sherry in that trifle so I was disappointed.

The weather has been strange today and shortly after I got on the bus to come home the heavens opened and the rain was torrential - I felt sorry for any pedestrians as the bus was sending up tidal waves of water but by the time I got home the sun had come out. I received a new mandate from the chamber of commerce this morning who swear blind they have sent copies to me by post before which I have never received - I re-used their compliment slip (very MSE) and asked them to fax it across to the bank - I have decided that if they don't do as they say and relinquish my bank account then I will take them to court, my solicitor would relish it.

Well I had better crack on - I have a pile of washing up to do and I need to get my flat into some semblence of order before my visitor arrives at around 6pm tonight - I am hoping that he won't think that a strawberry tart is too sinful now that he is on a diet, I am packaging a few things together for him: some free filter coffee, a bottle of salad dressing, and a lakeland herb keeper (all these were freebies). I won't touch the salad dressing as it contains mustard and I am not too keen on mustard.

First day back

Today is my first day back at work although I am not yet up to driving - I will find out about when that will be possible at my follow up appointment next week.

I made contact today with an ex fellow student and now wedding planner - she has only just started out and I have agreed to share some of my contacts with her because she covers Walsall and around that area and I cover South Birmingham. We had a good chat on the phone and I feel sure that we will work together on things and we have arranged to meet on 4 August. I am back in Birmingham on 5 August for another meeting with the AV/Entertainment Agency with whom I was meeting a few weeks' ago but a sudden urgent appointment came up so the meeting was postponed. It is kind of spooky because I thought that I should ring and make another appointment and the chap said he was only thinking last night that he should call me but as soon as he got into work it slipped his mind. Hopefully something good will come from that meeting.

This afternoon, I have been talking to the bank and to Business Venture at the Chamber of Commerce because they still havent handed control of my business account over to me grrr I actually want to close the account and move it somewhere else - it would mean that I would have to walk to the local post office to deposit money into my account but I need the exercise as I am getting fat. I will be glad when it is all sorted out - I hate complaining but needs must. I get free banking with Lloyds TSB but only for 18 months and I would rather have free banking for life via the FSB and the Co-operative Bank especially as they will give me a £25 loyalty bonus every year and promise to pay me £25 if they muck up my account.

I have also been giving advice on a moneysaving forum - I don't limit myself to weddings as I will give advice on employment matters as well - it comes from years of experience as well as a stint as branch secretary of a union. It is very rewarding in its own way. One of the ladies on the forum got married on Tuesday complete with nature's own fireworks of thunder and lightning but she was wearing a dress made by my friend Linda Davey at Dresses at Number 9 www.dressesatnumber9.co.uk - I cannot wait to see the photographs especially as the dress was a long distance one as the bride lives in Scotland and Linda in Bradford.

A wedding venue that I must arrange to go and see

Recently I have been exchanging emails with one of my fellow wedding planning students as she lives in Essex but is getting married in Gloucestershire and she asked for some contacts in the area. I only have a few myself but have recommended two photographers - one based in Gloucestershire and the other in Birmingham but he is superb and will travel. Today, I actually looked at the link to the place where she is getting married and I can't wait until I am able to drive again so that I can book an appointment to view. The place would be ideal for ethical weddings and is called Matara which is a fusion of East and West and is non-denominational. They believe in planting trees and recycling their water - www.matara.co.uk - I think it looks like such a relaxing place where a person can just be (if that doesnt sound too hippy-ish).

I am normally unflappable but last night I had a massive panic as my distance glasses virtually fell apart in my hands - so I tipped my flat upside down looking for my special screwdriver (its one that came with some lens cleaner) but despite tipping out all handbags I couldnt find it so had to try and resort to using a normal screwdriver which was a bit big. I couldnt fix them so when I got up this morning I put on my reading glasses and vowed to get the bus into town to find an opticians who could fix them. The house fairy must have taken pity on me because after another rummage in my handbag I managed to find the screwdriver and have managed to screw my glasses back together - hurrah.

I received a call from the toyota dealership today asking me if I was still interested in a new car so I explained that I was recuperating after an operation and it was doubtful that I would be fit to drive for a couple of weeks (I cannot and dare not drive whilst I am taking dilating drops). Well, it seems that the prices have gone up (surprise surprise) and that the SR model Yaris has been discontinued so now there is only the T Spirit and the TR model available. What's the betting that the £2250 they offered me for my old yaris has also been withdrawn? Well, I am now wondering if I will get a discount for cash - or if I really want to buy a car - would I be better leasing one?

I am not really at work today

I am not really at work today, I am still recuperating after my op last Thursday. I feel as though I am neglecting my readers hence my typing a little something.

Last week I planned to read my book Green Weddings but time did not allow on Thursday and after my surgery I was incapable of reading anything as I couldnt wear my glasses. The book is on my list to do - so when I have read it I will be able to give you some insight into it.

Last night I was watching Living TV and managed to get to watch the programme Four Weddings which is a bit like Come Dine with Me whereby 4 brides go to each others weddings and give marks on presentation, venue and food in the hope that one of them will get enough marks to win a honeymoon. I don't normally feel like throwing things at the television but that programme drove me mad. Why do they pick the wierdest people to take part in these programmes? There was nothing about the actual planning but we were given an insight into what each bride paid for their wedding. These varied in price from £3000 to £18000. We had four brides last night - one was painfully thin and wanted an anti-wedding because she didnt believe in getting married in a church - almost as though she would be struck by lightning if she set foot inside one. Her wedding was quite normal and was a bit of a disappointment after all her hype about it. There was another wedding whereby the bride said she was all pink and girly and yet this wasn't what I expected and seemed quite tame although her table decorations were simple pink gerberas and wired white butterflies. One bride was a school teacher who looked as though she would cry at every available opportunity but she was quite smug - her wedding took place in a wonderful castle. My favourite wedding was the bride on a budget - she had stayed fairly true to what she wanted. She married in Warrington Town Hall which is quite a stately building and then it was onto a church hall for the wedding breakfast which was a jacket potato buffet - she had already said that she wanted simple food. The funny thing was that she said all along that she didnt like speeches at weddings and yet she stood up and thanked everybody thus doing the one thing that she hated most. I was so pleased when she won because her wedding was simple and she didnt try and outdo people which is what I thought the others were trying to do.

I have just come back from a trip downstairs to my postbox - only one letter for me today, when I am able to sit in front of a computer for longer than 10 minutes I will have to write a letter in reply. I received a letter and CV from a lady who despite having a degree in sociology wants to work in the field of events organisation - unfortunately, I don't have enough work for one person let alone two at the moment so I shall write her a nice letter and point her in the direction of where to find some events vacancies. I will, of course, keep her details on file until such time that I do get busy and maybe able to pass some work her way.

I am signing off now - I need to take more eye drops (2hourly) and rest my eyes for a bit.

Today is the day...

.....that I have my eye operation. I am fully prepared and am currently sitting here with a towel wrapped around my head waiting for my hair to dry a bit before getting the hairdryer out. I had a surprise this morning a text message from my ex friend - she, who made it perfectly clear that I wasn't to contact her and my response was to cut her off completely. She wished me well for my operation which was nice of her but I doubt that our friendship will recover because she has been particularly foul towards me, I saw the comments made that she posted on her fb site - funny I still got the comment despite my removing her from my friends listing.

I have packed my CD player so that I can chill out with some music and have taken my book The Green Wedding Guide as I haven't read it yet - just flicked through it. I will be able to give a more balanced view on it when I am up and about.

No more procrastinating

Well folks, you will be pleased to hear that my final assignment for my wedding planning diploma was finished and sent off today so no more procrastinating about it from me. I can't wait to get my diploma and I shall be starting another course in event planning which should be a cinch as I have organised more events than you could shake a stick at.

My office is looking a bit more organised now that one set of metal shelves has been put together by my ex OH who came up to stay on Monday night as he had to go to Coventry for his work (he took me which is why I wasn't around yesterday), he also came to pick up my spare key as he is coming up again tomorrow night so that he can pick me up from the hospital on Friday. My bag is nearly packed - I just need to add some undies and my toilet bag, plus a CD player, batteries and a few CDs. Must remember to take off my posh watch and wear my cheapo old one as I don't want my watch to be pinched.

I have a new pen at the moment - its a prototype that I am testing and for the most part its jolly nice, the top is irritating though as it is loose and keeps coming off. Gosh you must be thinking - working for yourself must be fun if you get things to test too - well it sure beats flat pack scratchy toilet paper which is one of the last trials that I did LOL.

Well Well Well

I have just received a text asking me to send a brochure and price list. Now I replied by text asking the person to look at my website - now I hope I haven't done the wrong thing - should I have rung her back? As yet I don't have a printed brochure nor a printed price list because prices are subject to change depending on the size of the wedding party. Its great to get an enquiry but why does it have to come just as I am getting ready to go into hospital?

Talking of hospitals, my blog won't be updated because I won't be able to see to use the computer but hopefully I should be fit within the week although I have to wait 4 weeks before I lift anything or even drive - so I shall have to bus it everywhere or even travel on the train and I hate trains.

PAYING FOR LAZY WEEKENDS

This weekend was spent doing not a lot. It wasn't all play this weekend because I did spend time reading two trade magazines: Gift Focus and Attire Bridal. I love Gift Focus as it features all kinds of gifts available to trade buyers to put in their shops, unfortunately the main focus of the magazine this month is the trade fair in Harrogate which clashes with my operation this Thursday. Still, it has given me a few ideas so that when I visit the Autumn Fair at the NEC in September, I know which stand to visit. September is a busy month for trade fairs as I shall be attending Events UK in Birmingham and hopefully the BBEH which is in Harrogate. Why does Harrogate have to be an awkward place to get to?

Attire Bridal shows some of the latest trends it it seems that baby pink as a colour is in this year. I have also picked up some ideas too and am now wondering whether or not to sell hen party and honeymoon items - or would this be too tacky?

Last night I watched the film on BBC2 called Confetti which was about a bridal magazine and a competition to win a house and have the wedding take place in front of hundreds and the wedding was then judged. I missed the first 15 minutes but watched the rest and it was quite funny especially when the wedding planners walked out of a client's home because they couldnt work with foul mouthed people. It was quite a freaky film but it contained a few faces including the comedian who did the flashdance routine for Comic Relief.

Today I am rushing around, I am expecting my ex to arrive tonight to pick up the keys. I am trying to do the housework that I meant to do over the weekend as well as tidy my office to make way for the shelves that he is going to put together for me - no longer will the floor be my filing cabinet LOL. Now I bought two shelving racks but looking at the space now I only need one so I will have to find somewhere else for the other rack (maybe I will use it in the front room when I clear it out?). All my magazines will be stored neatly as will my business papers and the guillotine which seemed like a good idea to buy at the time but sits here unused.

Sorry - Disasters all round lately

Sorry for not updating for a few days - I forgot my password. Life has been a little hectic for all the wrong reasons lately. Monday was spent at the eye hospital being poked and prodded ready for my operation next week - I came out feeling like a pin cushion because one of the nurses couldnt get any blood out of me, she tried twice and couldnt manage it but one of her colleagues drew some straightaway.

On Tuesday I had a hair appointment and when I turned up at the salon, discovered that although I had made the appointment for yesterday it had been entered in for Tuesday next week - thankfully though, I got my hair done. Then to compound it all when I arrived home from the hairdressers, I had no power - my lights worked but nothing else. So I reset the trip on the fusebox and followed my landlord's instructions and bang everything went off again and I couldn't reset anything. I was left without the means to make a hot drink, cook my dinner, watch tv or anything else. One good thing was that I managed to defrost the freezer but did lose about half the freezer contents so now I shall have to stock up again - no point claiming on the insurance for a bag of chicken legs and a few chicken joints. I was without power until lunchtime yesterday - the landlord's man came out and reset everything but once again, you've guessed it everything went off and he had to be called back. It took him 4 hours to resolve the problem - faulty wiring!! The fault was traced to the room where I have my office and my adjoining bedroom. I do wish though that they would put things back as they found them - I am now struggling to fit the coveronto the fuse box which although it is in a cupboard I don't like the idea of cooking steam getting at it.

I have a feeling that I am going to be let down again next week - my ex chap who has been trying to get into my good books promised to come up this weekend to collect a key only now he is sailing and last night kept asking me when my operation was. I now have the feeling that I shall have to find my own way home from the hospital as well as making my own way there - I am too mean to pay £40 for a taxi when the bus fare would be £3.30 for a daysaver ticket and I could get two buses - a bus into the city centre and a bus out. Why can't people be reliable?

I am looking for a new charity to support too - I keep being asked to help organise events but am never invited to any planning meetings so I am really wondering if its worth the bother? I had arranged for some good friends to sign some of their travel books that could be auctioned off at a charity dinner but now I feel as though their time and my time has been wasted, so I have withdrawn the offer of help - this may seem mean but I would rather support a charity that wants help with its fundraising rather than a closed shop who say they want help but when it is offered, is accepted and then I am dropped like a hot cake - I hate timewasters.

Plans

I am sorry for not updating yesterday, time ran away with me in more ways than one.

Yesterday I received a magazine called Gift Focus which is aimed at giftshops, however, it contains some interesting and useful information and yet more contacts. So sometime was spent reading that and I have bookmarked a section about copycats and what is to be done about them.

I also received two complimentary tickets to Taste of Business which is a business networking event taking place on 9 July as part of the Taste of Birmingham celebration, I guess that I will have to buy some crowns to exchange for food but I shall wait and see. I had initially thought of inviting my friend but as she is no longer a friend, I am now left with a spare ticket.

Today, I posted my booking stand for a wedding fair in September, it will be the first fair that I have done (although I have visited loads) so I am already feeling a little nervous..I have asked for a chair as well as a table for my stand because my back goes into spasm if I stand for too long and then I am unable to move :(

I also wrote to the charity that I am currently involved with saying that I don't think it appropriate that I should continue to support them - I am rather tired of being told that I am organising events and yet I am never told when planning meetings are taking place and then I am just sidelined as though my time and expertise don't matter, they are now wondering why events don't take place. I was using some of my contacts to obtain items for a charity auction and feel that my efforts have been wasted and I really don't think it fair on the people who have agreed to donate a signed book or whatever to be left hanging around waiting for a what if because the go-ahead hasnt been given..I just hate wasting my own and other people's time.

Today, I need to clear my cache of cookies because I am still unable to view my new website as my cookies take me to the old site which is mightily frustrating although I cannot understand why that should be when the url is unchanged although the web contact has. No doubt I will crack it eventually, the same goes for the POP3 account with 123 as well.

I am feeling rather drained today, I didnt sleep too well last night and woke up following a bad dream, it frightened me because I thought I was being attacked and yet no-one was there but I did here screams and shouts from some inconsiderate neighbours who were stilly partying at 2.45am. I need to see what I can get done today, my flat still looks rather untidy despite me having a bit of a clear out, the thing is I just can't get motivated to do it as I would rather be doing other things.

Well I suppose I had better go back to reading Gift Focus and maybe find some unusual wedding favours etc.

News

My new website went live today but at the moment it is in changeover phase so my old one is still visible. I need to sort out the POP3 email too so that I can have my business one but it is too warm and I cannot get my head around the complicated instructions.

My friend emailed me today to say that she didnt want to be friends because I had dared to make a comment about the weeping and wailing over a cat - she left the ball in my court and accused me of not being an animal lover, nothing could be further from the truth but then she thinks she knows me but she only knows what I have told her, I like to keep some things to myself. It may be rash but I have decided that I have been feeling a little used over this FastAid charity - I paid for the insurance for their response vehicle and offered my help to organise events but each time she dangles a carrot under my nose and then yanks it away and to be honest there is only so much time wasting that I can take.

I decided today not to sponsor the vehicle next year as the advert has generated zero income for me (I know this sounds mercenary but I have to think in business terms too). The money would be better spent elsewhere, the same goes for the leaflets once they are gone they are gone. I refuse to throw good money after bad.

I think that with friends like that, who needs enemies - certainly not me. I have been a good friend to her and supported her when she was having problems at work and because I made a comment about a cat - she gets all precious about it, so I am afraid that I can no longer be bothered and I am certainly not going to apologise for a remark that I made.

Onwards and upwards as they say.

A travelling about day

Today, I am going into the city centre to visit my printers so that I can view my website on their computers - it seems that I have an old version of internet explorer (that's their excuse) so when I view it, it looks odd :(

Yesterday was a bit disastrous because I decided to have an ice cream whilst watching the Murray match and went to the freezer - trouble is I didnt shut the door properly and left it slightly ajar which wasnt a good idea in a hot kitchen. I only noticed at about 9pm when I saw an orange warning light on on the freezer. Thankfully things seemed to be ok and I shut the door - the freezer is now back to normal.

I have noticed that since the weather has become hot and humid - I have become ditzy.

Another Hot Day in Paradise

I have been told off by my friend Linda for moaning about the weather - we moan when it rains and we moan when its hot. I actually don't mind heat as long as its dry and not humid - humidity I cannot cope with at all.

Today is the day when the washing machine man comes to see if he can fix my demented machine - the spin cycle keeps on going faster and faster which is quite scary, its the washing machine version of Christine that car that was possessed by demons LOL. I nearly passed out this morning emptying the pantry - I have a large wooden shelf above the machine which is used to store my washing powder and tinned goods.

Its been quite a busy morning - firstly with a call from MRS who used to host my website, it was an apology for not sending a quotation and as a result they have lost a customer. I had a call from BT offering me free space in their directory but I don't want any numbers in their directory as I get spam calls. Then it was a call from a newspaper called Midlands Focus - they keep trying to sell me advertising space and the last time they rang they were so rude that I dared to call back to complain and I overheard them say that "there was a f-ing bitch on the phone who wants to make a complaint" if I was angry before I called them I was angrier after that. I didnt get anywhere but vowed never to advertise with them and so they attempted to call me again today but I told them the problems that I had had last time and that I would never advertise with them and in fact that I had notified other wedding professionals to not advertise with them either.

I had another call from The Village - this is a little magazine that is delivered free to homes in Barnt Green, Blackwell, Cofton Hackett etc etc as they are having a wedding fair in September. We have agreed a price for the stand and they rang me today to check that I had received the booking form - I hadnt so they are sending me a new one. I am looking forward to the fair as I love talking to people so hopefully I will get some bookings from it.