Today started in one of the nicest ways, with a cheque arriving in the post; a sizeable one for some work that I thought I'd have to invoice-chase on. This is a good thing as it means that I can afford to buy something for other half's birthday on Saturday. I have no idea what it's going to be yet but I'm pretty sure it'll be something geeky. Cos he likes that kind of thing.
Why didn't I pick a man who was into football; infinitely cheaper than computer peripherals. Ah, but I loathe football. And standing in the cold in the mud. And meat pies are fine in their place but I'm not exactly enamoured with them. So that would be bad. (I hasten to add that I do know the offside rule but that's just a matter of female pride. And watching Spain demonstrate breaking it again and again and again in the World Cup when they played against Ireland. OK, I got excited at that match but that's cos it's Ireland. Couldn't bring myself to support England ever since they seemed to develop an uncanny knack for putting wife-beaters on the team and didn't see that letting them play was sending out a terrible message to kids. But I digress.)
OK, reading. That'd be easier. But then again, as I've got over 400 books (Discovered one very dull Sunday. Counting them seemed a good thing to do as I rearranged the bookshelves. God knows why.) it would probably be a bad thing to have a fellow reading fiend as a partner.
Music? Well, he likes it enough but every time I find something I think he'll like, it turns out he's already got it on vinyl.
As it is, I have to call in the reserves to help me find something computer-related that's suitable. It's not that I'm not geeky - but other half is at a rather higher level than me, to say the least. He uses Linux. He got very excited discovering an open relay on our street. He once DJd a party using his PDA wired into the speakers and has DJd other parties using his laptop (good justification - he can play music through a radio automation system thus DJing from the comfort of the bar). I've lost count of the amount of random wires in the house but don't dare throw away the carcass of any computer (and there are *many*) because he usually ends up doing something clever with it.
Which is useful. And explains why we have a server and a wireless nework in the flat (IMing each other to say 'fancy a cup of coffee' is going too far. But it still happens.)
Anyway, after the niceness of getting a cheque, I then got an apologetic mail from repro. There was a *huge* error in the latest magazine; three pages run from the last issue and one page with nowt but a pull quote and half a page of blank space. I loathe confrontation but had to write a deeply shitty email to them explaining why this was not acceptable. I was stressed all night about the response, certain they were going to try to pass the buck/wriggle out of it/be mean. So getting an apology within 30 mins of them getting into work was a very nice surprise.
Then off to lunch at Grouchos (schweedie, darling etc etc.) I'm not a member but one of my clients always insists on meeting there, and who am I to argue, given that only members can buy drinks there? As ever, no sign of celebs (though I did see a TV presenter who I can't remember the name of in All Bar One next door when I went for my next meeting.) but they do do extremely nice burgers. Great meeting, lots of potential new work (well, with the last issue of the magazine out in six weeks time - and only four more weeks of editorially things to do - I've got to set up some more options) and generally a fun time.
Next meeting also fun and may also lead to work.
Then, bought a copy of Cosmopolitan and there's a huge quote from me in their lead feature, along with a Cliterati mention.
Decided, as I was in town, to go to Borders and discovered, because I've been so busy working, that three (well, four really) of my favourite authors had got new books out so bought them all. They're all deeply trashy (I mean that in a good way!) reads: The Devil You Know by Louise Bagshawe, Love Lives by Josie Lloyd, Emlyn Rees and Spellbound by Jane Green. Even better (and again, I mean this in the nicest possible way) the meeting I had scheduled for tonight got cancelled because the person I was supposed to be seeing has flu. So I have a whole night of deep bubble bath and trashy novels. Bliss.
Posted by emilyd at February 17, 2003 07:24 PM