Getting up early, coq au vin and networking with the Queen

So I saw the Queen.  I have to say that Redbridge Council managed to organise a wonderful morning around the Royal visit and the London Pride Festival of Art and Design – the kick off to the Diamond Jubilee Tour.  (Don’t you think that sounds a bit Madonna-ish?)  Some fantastic exhibits on display in the park – iconic British designs from the Saatchi Gallery and Design Museum, and artworks by Lucien Freud, David Hockney and Damien Hurst borrowed from the Tate.  The atmosphere resembled a lovely holiday with people laughing in the sunshine, live music, flags, a beer tent…  As one of only 25 businesses representing the borough I did, of course, take a bundle of business cards and indulge in a fair amount of networking – which was all very nice until someone asked me to present a keynote speech to a business forum on the practicalities of using social media.  So, you may be thinking, that’s a great opportunity – after all, I’m spending a lot of time coaching people in how to use the media platforms effectively.  But… it’s at 6 o’clock in the morning!!  I’m not saying I don’t like mornings, but I don’t get out of bed until at least 8 and this would entail being up at 5.  I have no idea what sort of person would stare back at me in the mirror at that godawful time, possibly some axe-wielding homicidal maniac!  I’m joking, of course, I usually wake up cheerful.  However, I do have the good fortune to be friends with a real axe-wielding homicidal maniac.  He once took an axe to the local youth club to attack the elderly, rosy cheeked club leader – aversion to authority and all that.  It was 30 years ago, but obviously he wasn’t invited to meet the Queen, just in case.  He’s lovely now though… making one of my best friends very happy so all is forgiven on the psycho front.

I’ve actually done loads of networking this week – the east London-based Barking Enterprise Centre run so smoothly by Mark K, Ian and Simon, also the Docklands Business Club.  That one was great, we all got mini fish and chips overlooking the Thames at the trendy Battery Club.  I nearly missed it!  Got lost along the river. Luckily I met and made friends with a fitness trainer called Jason who had a better sense of direction than me, and together we made it in time to claim our free glass of wine.  I would have eaten a second portion of chips if he hadn’t been watching me.  

And then, after all the excitement of the Royal event, would you believe I came home and cooked?!  (Deedub doesn’t believe this!)  It is rare, I admit, but with an ex boyfriend coming for dinner and wearing a very posh dress I thought I should give the oven a special treat too.  Home-made butternut squash soup, coq au vin and chocolate melting puddings.  See – I can do it if I want to!!  Like Henry Ford said, “Whether you believe you can, or believe you can’t, you’re probably right.”  I believe I can, I just choose not to.  (Note added at bedtime:  The dinner came out purple!!  It was a true Bridget Jones moment.  Think I drowned the poor chicken in two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Looks good on my purple Pinterest page though.)

So today I’ve told you about a killer (well, not really, he’s in air conditioning!) and a Queen.  Where am I on that scale? Steven thinks somewhere between the two, bit regal, bit bonkers.  But my training’s good anyway!!  As they say: “Recommended at the price, insatiable an appetite – wanna try?”  If you do wanna, ask me about it here: @weekendwitch