Internet World

As part of the marketing strategy, this week Pure360 exhibited at Internet World. "The UK's longest running, best attended and biggest annual event for digital marketing and online business, attracting over 12,000 visitors and more than 300 exhibitors."


I went up on Thursday to meet people and gather leads. I enjoyed my day out of the office, especially as the day before I hit my sales target so there was no work to worry about. The show was held at Earls Court in London, which is a massive events venue. I travelled up by train in the morning and spent the day at our stand talking all things email marketing. All of our major competitors also attended the show. I enjoyed observing their stands and different approaches to attracting prospect through the show. Our stand wasn't as big as some, but it was directly across from the Email, Mobile and Analytics theatre meaning most people who went there for a session were actually interested in email marketing, perfect for us! I am not sure yet how many leads I gathered, but the people whose details I took were all looking into providers so will hopefully turn into sales and more money for me!

Love

A meal at the hippy commune

Shaun, who is one of Tom's very best friends, and one of my good friends too, lives in a hippy commune.

It's not literally a hippy commune, but close enough we joke it is. It is a shared house with seven rooms. Shaun and two of the girls have lived there for a couple of years but many other house mates have come and gone. Everyone in the house shares food, which is often healthy hippy whole foods, they share chores and are very into growing their own food in their vegetable garden.

On Wednesday I met Tom there after work. I arrived just in time for food prepared by their Spanish house mate, Surea. Absolutely delicious! I was surprised to discover no one in the house is actually a vegetarian despite always having veggie options at their BBQ's, and no meat on the table this night. I truly would like to be vegetarian but know it would make life horribly difficult, especially being with Tom who loves all things meat. And I know my Dad wouldn't be impressed. I was pleased though that on this night contains loads of healthy veg and no animals. Just lovely Tabouleh, a potato dish, olives, home made lemonade and courtesy of Tom, oysters. Surea loved the oysters claiming, "It is the ocean in my mouth." A scrumptious feast!


Love

Success in Sales at last

I finally did it this week... after months of calls and sweat and frustration, I have made my first sale, my second sale and hit my target for this month! I think this means I am a sales woman.

Sale number one. Quick and easy. I was lucky to get forwarded the lead of a man who was using Pure360 through a marketing agency. His company is no longer using the agency, but he still wanted to use us. My job was to get him signed up once again. The info I was given said the man was not happy to have to pay the set up fee again as he had paid it with the agency, so my manager said if I sold him 50,000 email credits I could give him a 25 percent discount. I didn't really want to discount as it means a bit less commission for me, but I was desperate to start getting figures against my name. I rang him, sold him 100,000 email credits and gave a ten percent discount. More money than expected, and a sale to my name!

Sale number two. I gave a demo to this lady and three others including her CEO. Whilst I was in hospital on Friday she rang in and spoke to one of my colleagues to say they decided to go with Pure360. It was exciting to open my emails Monday morning and see that. She just needed confirmation from her CEO exactly what they wanted to go for in terms of package, email credits and other services, also she was out of the office on Monday. I called her Tuesday morning to discover she was still waiting on confirmation from her CEO but she would let me know their decision by the end of the day. Bad news followed. Ten min to five I hadn't heard from her, so I called her only to find out she had already left for the day, the CEO hadn't confirmed and he was leaving for holiday until next week. My dreams of hitting this months target vanished. As you know the end of the story, that all turned around this morning (its Wednesday for those of you paying attention to the timeline). I opened my emails this morning with a wonderful surprise. The CEO emailed my lady his confirmation, and wanted more services than I expected. This made the deal large enough for me to hit target! Instantly I was on the phone confirming with the lady and getting the forms orgainsed. Her order was faxed back to me just after lunch making it official, and me an official sales woman!

I don't think I've found my life calling, but at least I've started earning commission!

Love

A day in hospital

As many of you, my dear readers, know my back has been giving me trouble for a number of years now. It cracks and crunches, my neck hurts, it makes me tired and grumpy. Chiropractic treatment helped but didn't cure me. Exercise does make me feel better. But as I am lucky to be on private health care here in England I decided it was time to get things properly looked at.

I went to the doctor about a month ago and he sent me in for an MRI. Yes, I was stuck in one of those scary white tube machines you always see on medical shows while it took x-rays of my upper and lower spine. When the doctor examined these he diagnosed me with lumbar disc degeneration. Pretty much a couple of disks in my very low spine are dead. I was given three options; do nothing, start physical therapy, or get a few injections that will help jump start physical therapy making it more effective. I of course went with the most logical choice, get the injections! That meant a day trip to the hospital.


This was the first time I have actually been admitted to a hospital, luckily I was only in for day care. My room was lush though. Private with tv, own bathroom and very comfy bed. I didn't ask too much beforehand about what they would be doing because I didn't want to get too scared. I just knew I was in there for an epidural and few other injections of steriods into joints near my spine, but the good part is I would be asleep the entire time.


I was admitted to the hospital at 11:30. The first three hours were boring waiting. A couple nurses came in asking questions/filling out forms, I read a Cosmo and then flipped through aweful daytime television. Finally they came to wheel me away. I was almost laughing as they rolled me to the Theatre as I felt like I was in a hospital TV program, especially as I didn't feel ill. Then it was time to be put under. Not a highlight of my day. They couldn't get into the vien in my little hand because it's too delicate. After prodding about a couple of time I nearly started to feint! My head hurt, I got really hot it was horrible, I felt so ill! Luckily they revived me and jabbed the anesthetic into my arm. I was out.

When I started to wake I was freaking out a little. They were wheeling my and I started exclaiming, "I need more, I'm awake, I don't want to feel anything, I need more drugs!" The kind nurse man then reassured me everything was over already. "Oh, okay" I said as I went half asleep again. I was slowly coming out of it, and wanted to be comforted. I told the nurse man, "I want my boyfriend, Toom Niiiccolas" and friendly nurse man kindly called and let Tom know I would be fully awake in half an hour. Then I was confused at why my throat hurt so bad and why it was hard to talk. Nurse lady told me because of my breathing tube. Yikes! I tried to not really think about the fact they shoved a tube down my throat. She said it would feel better once I had something to drink. My last question in this confused state was how they got injections into my back, when I was lying on my back. Nurse man said they just flipped me over like a pancake. Nice.


Back up in my lush private room, I arrived in time to recieve a text from Tom letting me know he was on his way. South African nurse man, Charles, was surprised that he was going to come and wait with me for four hours. "Four hours! I'm not going to be here for four hours." I scoffed. Completly thought he was joking. About that time Tom walked in surprised at how fragile I looked. He was excellent though and sat and entertained me. An hour went by. A man came to check my forms and I told him I was ready for food soon (I had ordered a prawn wrap and pineapple juice before the procedure). Half an hour later food arrived. Half an hour after that (6pm now) the man who prodded my poor hand came to check on me. He did mention he was shocked at how white I can go. Thanks. He also let me know I should be dismissed soon. That was good news. An hour and ten minuets later Charles finally came back. I told him I had all feeling back in my legs and he was about to let me go as I am young and fit and should recover well. Excellent news, especially as Tom was becoming restless. However, I underestimated the effects of general anesthetic. As I tried to stand my legs were shakey and after a few paces around my room I almost feinted again. Straight back in bed I went. Forty-five minuets later I finally felt like trying to stand and walk again. Took life more slowly and was successful this time. Four hours later as Charles had said I was leaving the hospital. It was eight o'clock and I missed the sunny day. I was happy though to be out of the hospital, and on my way to ice cream.


Love

yummy yummy couscous

I successfully made couscous! For so long this simple grain has caused me many headaches. My problem is usually not measuring and adding far too much water (once had that prob with milk and mac and cheese when I was young.) Last night Giovanna came over for a sleepover and I decided to be very brave and try this once more for her. Danny at work had given me some advice on how to make his perfect couscous, so feeling confident and ambitious, out of the cupboard my couscous came along with loads of veggies to top it with.

It was delicious! Here is my recipie:
1. Smash cumin seeds then fry then for a little bit in a big pan.

2. Start chopping and frying vegetables. I used onion, spring onion, red and green pepper, broccoli, celery, garlic and mushrooms. Pretty much whatever I found in my fridge. Then added a bit of cayanne pepper to spice things up.

3. Once the veggies were going well I poured in a good amount of couscous in with the cumin seeds, added a thing of vegetable stock for added flavour and then covered with boiling water, just enough to make a layer above the couscous about the height of that half moon at the root of your fingernail.

4. I then covered the couscous, turned off the heat and left to set for 5 min.

5. Once it was done I pouffed it with a fork, divided it between two plates and topped with all of the vegetables.

It was devine! Definitly a cheap and easy dish to do again and again. My only mistake was not taking a picture. So you can imagine it with this one below:


Love

Tom White Celebrates 24 in Brighton

Tom White there.

I spent a brilliant weekend on the beach and out dancing to celebrate Tom White turning 24. It was one of the best weekends I've had this year! Perfect weather turning to summer meant I even started getting tan. After a quick spin class and house cleaning on Saturday morning I made my way into Brighton and down to the beach to meet Shaun. Others were due to arrive throughout the afternoon and met us out in the sun as they did. The group of friends that visited were the boys Tom lived with in the rugby house when I met them and their girlfriends. There are four couples in the group still together, and it is a very good group of friends. Unfortunatly Dave and Lucia are in Australia for the year, and Tom is stuck in Canada for now, so they missed out on the fun.

Shaun picked up a few ciders and beers and we sat out in the sun chatting and welcoming everyone as they arrived.

The Guys:

The Girls:

Most of the Group:

Around six it became time to return home to get freshened up for the night. After a bite of quick and easy food and a change of clothes it was back into town. We first went to the pub the Black Lion, after a drink there for some reason we ventured to awful, horrible, trashy West Street. The one good thing about West Street is that it is cheap, but it is always crowded and full of young people and those who came down from London. It is a bit more rowdy than normal Brighton. We did get cheap drinks from a couple different places then went for dancing in Oceana. I much prefer clubs on the seafront, but did have an amazing time! Tom's sis Flo had invited me out for a girly night which I had turned down due to our visitors, but I ran into her as soon as I got in the club. Went to get a drink with her and lost the others as there are many different themed rooms in the club, so ended up dancing the night away with Flo and her friends in the disco room. Luckily at the end of the night as the club was closing I did run into someone I was with so I could share a cab home and arrived about the same as everyone else who was staying over. It was a good night, it was a good good night!

Sunday morning was the first ever Brighton Marathon. Everyone in my house woke early and after a cheap lunch in town went to the seafront to watch the runners cross the finish line. It was pretty cool and the first time I had been to a marathon. After some good people watching it was down to the beach once again.

We grabbed a couple of ciders and went right to the water. As often happens on a sunny Sunday at the beach it neared late afternoon and I was still there. Some friends left to return home and others came down to join in the sun. Around five or six we decided a bbq was in order. It was such a great Brighton time, out on the beach with a couple of friends and many others I had just met. Finding a disposable bbq in town was a bit of a mission, but after a few stops we were successful. BBQ, meat, rolls, and drinks in hand it was back to our spot to cook some grub. It was delicious! Out on Hamburgers and sasages. By the time I finished eating the sun was starting to set and it was time for me to set off home.

The BBQ with randoms (and Shaun there on left):

Me, Emily and her friend:

I arrived home happy from such a wonderful weekend, and almost feeling ready to go back to work. See for yourself how beautiful it was:


Love

Pompeii distroyed a city, Eyjafjallajokull disrupts the world

I do not like Eyjafjallajokull. Its just a bunch of letters anyways, that's not a word just a ridiculous volcano. It is causing massive chaos and effecting thousand, no millions of people. I especially don't like it because Tom is "stranded" in Canada. He is in Toronto on business supposed to be gone only last Tuesday until Saturday, and now he will be lucky to fly back on Friday, an entire week later. Its not that horrible for him though he is staying at the Hilton, eating at fancy restaurants every night and putting it all on his corporate credit card. Lucky boy! He went to Niagra falls and all of the big sites in Toronto over the weekend, and it sounds like he is having an incredible time. But I am ready for him to come back to Brighton. I am poor living off whatever I can find in the bare cupboard. I never get to eat out, and I just go to the gym because it is paid for and I have nothing better to do. If you can't tell I am slightly envious of his glam business life!

Although I probably shouldn't be whinning so much. I did have a brilliant weekend on the beach with a bbq on Sunday, definitely got some colour, had loads of friends down and an amazing time out dancing on Saturday. Giovanna is having a sleepover at mine tonight, and I am going up to have dinner with Gemma on Thursday. I am keeping busy and having fun, but I am starting to miss him.

Back to the important issues though, this is a crisis! It is costing airlines £130 million a day! Some articles I've read claim that a number of airlines may go bankrupt because of this mess. Or perhaps they will need government bailout like the banks and car manufacturers. All because of a silly volcano. UK airports were due to re-open today, but the volcano started spitting more ash last night so once again there are delays. The UK government is now sending military ships across the channel to recover stranded Brits. A few airports are opening up north and some in Europe, but only minimal flights will be taking off, and its due to change at any second. Latest news is airports will be fully operational Thursday, but the number of times airports were supposed to open in this past week gives me no faith in this reporting. It is one huge mess with global effects.

Love

Purites Party On

def. Purite = the term referring to an employee of Pure360.

Friday night celebrated a successful end to the financial year at Pure360! A year of hard work by everyone meant that the company reached over the revenue target (no thanks to any contribution by me, oh well.... this year!) and we were rewarded by the investors with a huge party.

After an introductory speech by the new MD, who starts the begining of next month, beers and wine were passed around before we strolled into town. The venue for the night was Al Duomo, an Italian restaurant located by the pavilion. Lovely Sarah and of our marketing department and her helpers arranged the entire night. It was phenominal. The lower level of the restaurant was booked out for the company, there was an open tab at the bar and canapes going around on arrival. A meal was to be served later and I saw pizzas lying on the buffet table, but the dance floor was the happening place meaning food was overlooked and ignored by many. What made the night? Stick It On! Chance to be a DJ for the night. Stick It On brings in the decks and those who want it get their fifteen minuets of spinning fame. Beforehand we choose a partner and three songs that would rock the party. Giovanna and I paired up of course, it was DJ Italiana and DJ Americana in the house!



It was brilliant. Such a variety of songs all night long and absolutly everyone on the dance floor. Lars the programmer from the IT room was even out busting his moves. Shocking how much all employees enjoyed it and danced danced danced the night away.

Love

Scrabbles, friendly pet hamster, dies at 11 months

She lived a life of luxury in her tri-level cage. Sleeping they days away and running around and around all night. She was treated well for most of her life and all those who met her were astonished at how friendly a hamster she was. Never biting just playfully running across your hands one after another. Let me share with you two incidents those who know her will never forget. First, her new night in the cage that was to be her home the rest of her life she was so tiny she managed to wiggle her body through the wires. A party was happening in the room and a shocked guest exclaimed "the hamster is on top of the cage" which confused everyone around. Second, once her cage was relocated to its new residence in Hove, Scrabbles was given the freedom to run about and explore. Left too long on the sofa one evening she dissappeared. Confusion and panic soon erupted. Looking all around it was soon noticed something was running back and forth across the fabric that makes the bottom of the sofa. She was found! Taking care to avoid her with the knife, a slit was made in the sofa so she could escapse and return safely to her home.

Cause of death unknown. She was found still in her cage one evening. A couple of suspicions arose post death, but nothing is confirmed. She is survived by her owner Jennifer are devoted caretakers Nick, Tom and Ceri. She will be missed.

Love

Easter in England

This year for Easter I went with Tom and his parents to his aunt and uncle's, Margy and Ian, who live near Portsmouth. Portsmouth is on the south coast about forty miles west of Brighton. I have met them and their daughters, Katie and Anna, many times as these are the relatives that holidays are shared with. However, I had never before been to their house. Margy is Sarah's (Tom's mum)sister. Katie was around for the day as she lives just up from her parents, but Anna is up in Scotland training to become a doctor and was unable to make it down.

We arrived around noon, in plenty of time for the Easter lunch that was to follow. After a tour of their home and competing to stack toy wooden pelicans the tallest(which Tom won) it was time to feast. We had a delicious started of Thai noodles with prawns. Followed by an incredible duck roast with roasted vegetables, savory Yorkshire pudding, and applesauce (although I probably forgot a couple of side dishes.) The meal ended with pavlova for dessert.

After we ate until there was no room for more, we attempted to walk some of it off along the beach. The seafront was a few minuets drive away and an excellent place for an afternoon stroll. I was reminded of home along this bit of the coast. I think it appeared similar because first, the Isle of Wight is just across the way, which means you can see land like in the Puget sound but unlike Brighton where the water stretches to the horizon. This also meant there wasn't surf like the little bit that crashes into the pebbles on Brighton beach. Second, it's similar because there were more boats out in the water. You do see some boats in Brighton of course, but not near as many right out from the main beach.

Tom and I

Margy and Sarah


The most interesting feature of this walk is that a stunt kite flying team was practicing a routine on one of the grassy areas. I had never seen anything like it before. It was like the Red Arrows or Blue Angels, but kites rather than airplanes. We stood amazed for a little while watching them complete their routine a few times over. Obviously practicing for something, but what I do not know?


We then returned to the car as it was nearing tea time. On the drive back to their home we took a detour to view Katie's home, which is a good size for a young single woman with a wonderful garden. I was still horribly full at tea time and unfortunately not able to take advantage of all the good cheeses and cakes that were laid out. I know family shocking... me without space for sweets!

Completely full up once again it was time to return home, and I couldn't resist a nap along the way.

Love