It's Monday afternoon. It's grey and dull outside. I've just put my central heating on and I'm feeling miserable.
It hasn't been a particularly exciting week. My daughter and I were out every day for about half an hour delivering leaflets offering free delivery on our fragrances to people in our immediate neighbourhood. So far, we've not even had one enquiry from the 150 houses we delivered to. It's a bit demoralising to be honest, but I suppose there's no guarantee that they've all thrown the leaflets in the bin. Any one of them could call at any time to place an order ... we just need to be patient.
It was my brother-in-law's 21st birthday at the weekend and we made the journey to my mother in law's flat in East London on Saturday night for his party. It wasn't a party in the traditional sense ... there was no music ... in fact we spent the evening watching X-Factor and Who wants to be a millionaire ... but there was FOOD ... lots of it ... when the tuna vol-au-vents and vegetarian "sausage" rolls arrived, I thought that was the meal ... but oh no! The meal ... served after the birthday cake which was a bit weird ... was home-made Indian lamb curry & rice! It was very nice ... though I still haven't got used to the meat pieces having bones in them ... none of us could move after eating all that food. Even my daugher, who doesn't normally eat, enjoyed the tuna from the vol-au-vents ... though she wouldn't eat the onion it was mixed with ... or the pastry it was in!
(This is not a picture of the actual meal we ate - thank goodness!! It looks like a school dinner doesn't it!)Talking of my daughter, she was the life and soul of the party ... which isn't like her ... she doesn't normally like it when there are lots of people around her ... but I think it helped that everyone arrived in stages. For a while, there was just the two of us as hubby went to see his Dad and MiL was cooking in the kitchen - so she had time to adjust to her surroundings before being overwhelmed by a river of faces. It was lovely to see her so happy ... especially as she spent quite a bit of time with my MiL's husband, who she normally avoids like the plague. Probably the oddest thing of the evening ... other than seeing my oh-so-cool & handsome brother in law blowing out noisy streamers, was the fact that I was the only person in the room drinking alcohol! It felt a little awkward actually ... as if everyone was waiting for me to get drunk ... which meant I actually stayed completely sober, thus ruining the effect!
The subject of my little girl having her ears pierced was raised again ... but quickly dropped when it became obvious that I won't be bullied into doing anything! Don't get me wrong, my MiL, although the instigator of the topic, was not the ringleader, her younger sister, who tends to be a bit opiniated and loud, was the one trying to bully me ... it didn't work and I don't think she was happy ... she'd probably thought I was a pushover as I'm always polite in their company and never say or do anything to upset anyone!!
I was speaking to my mum this morning and was delighted ... and a little surprised ... when she told me she was on the Internet looking at houses in England. When my Dad was ill, it was agreed that they needed to come home to be near me in case anything like that ever happens to either of them again. It would be a total nightmare if they were in France and I was here. They haven't yet put their house on the market as they are still doing some work on it, but it's lovely to know that the intention to come home is still there!!
I was a bit disappointed with my football team this weekend. They played away at Plymouth and were winning 1-0 with very little time left when Plymouth were awarded a penalty which of course they duly scored!! To make matters worse, my favourite player, Fabian Wilnis, was sent off!! Good job I wasn't there, I'm very protective of Fabian and would almost certainly have screamed abuse at the referee ... however justified the decision!!
I've had a few culinary so-sos this week ... hubby didn't really care for my gnocchi with sundried tomatoes & olives ... and the coconut rice which accompanied my Caribbean chicken was sticky and sickly. However, all was redeemed yesterday with my pork vindaloo (recipe courtesy of Gary Rhodes). It took a long time to cook, but was worth it!! Tonight we're having linugine with crabmeat. I'm hoping for another success ... wish me luck!!
Before I go, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for all the kind comments about my leg. It seems to be on the mend now and I'm able to walk without a limp for the first time in almost two weeks. Fingers crossed, it'll be back to normal soon.
Til next time ...
14 comments:
Hi FM. Yes, be patient - I'm sure things will start to happen. What about setting up a stall nearer to Christmas?
The 21st sounded great! A typical family get together. And great news about your parents. I do hope they do the right thing.
Love Crystal xx
A cure for insomnia???? No way! I love any and all descriptions of meals - and yours sound delicious. I like to experiment with new recipes too.
Chin up re the pamphlets - you're still in the very early days.
Set me a place for supper tonight. Toady
Remember it takes a while to establish a business. It'll take a few leaflets before its gets 'through' in people's minds.
Glad your leg's OK and hope your Monday is picking up. The food sounds really good, though I haven't been in a large group where few others drank alcohol for a long time. Very strange.
I do understand how demoralising leaflet dropping with no response it - but they very often do get a low response rate. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising. Also web advertising nowadays is excellent but you may need to classes to learn web site optimisation . . . which may be difficult with a little one around. Do you have a local 'free' paper that you could advertise in every week.
It took us years with the self catering and many mistakes to learn the best way to market ourselves. Now going through it all again the photography sites . . but you just have to keep on keeping on.
Tell yourself that your leaflet drop was not a failure but an excellent opportunity to learn about marketing strategy.
You amaze me with all your cooking - I am someone who hates cooking and therefore has no understanding of why anyone would want to spend hours preparing food. But I do love the results when others have cooked.
I think the thing about leafleting - as with any form of marketing - is that it takes about three leaflets before someone says "I've seen one of these before." And it is only at that point that they start to read it. Maybe you just have to plod on. Have you though about an insert of a leaflet into your local free paper? It costs, but it also delivers.
Re the meals - sounds great. Much more interesting than what I cooked tonight - sausages (OK they were free-range garlic and herb)and a potato and pea mix and mushrooms and more garlic in a little bit of tabasco and passata.
Hello! Have you considered tkaing your elaflets to your local community halls, maternity unit, GP surgeries, libraries etc? Esp maternity unit opr hops as they would make a unique gift for an inpatient instead of flowers which don't last!
I think DJ Kirby's suggestion is excellent. Wasn't the weather terrible today here in the east? Really depressing. My little one is like your daughter - takes a while to get warmed up, and she needs a lot of time to adjust to new surroundings. That is wonderful news about your parents. Glad the leg is slowly on the mend.
It felt a little awkward actually ... as if everyone was waiting for me to get drunk ... which meant I actually stayed completely sober, thus ruining the effect!
This had me howling! I have been there.
Crossing my fingers for your business. Make sure you tell them one spritz is enough. =D
I'm sure the business will pick up soon, especially towards Christmas, and that's really not that far away if you think about it.
Glad your leg is better.
Oh now I am hungry after reading your blog, if hubby doesn't ever like your food, send it up here...please!
Re your pamphlets - your perserverance will pay off in the end although it is very demoralising at the beginning.
Drinking when everyone else is sober or vice versa is always really awkward.
Phew, was a bit worried about that picture of the grub!!! Glad you're not being hurried into a decision about the ears....plenty of time.
jxxx
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