Things that make you go hmmm..., vol. II

The BIG question

She said 'Yes' last weekend. 'Yes! Of course!' Without hesitation she answered she biggest and most important question I ever asked someone in my whole life. And no matter how sure you are or how perfect your relationship is going, you are damn insecure before asking the BIG one. Thoughts run through your head like: "What if she says 'No!' or starts laughing or - even worse: crying!" But she said 'Yes! Of course!' Without the slightest doubt or hint of hesitation.

It happened last weekend in London and of course we had to tell our parents before making it too public. Therefore the announcement here with a slight delay. It is nevertheless the most important post ever on 'Things that make you go hmmm, vol. I & II', don't you agree?

See, The Girl is the most amazing person I have ever met. I cannot tell you enough how much we feel to have found our 'other half' in each other. My life has been so much better ever since she stepped into it and therefore I want to spend the rest of my life with her. And so does she. We're planning to get married in late September or early October. Watch this space for dates and stuff!

...and wish us luck!

Quick one

Gosh. So many exciting things going on, I don't know where to start. Lots and lots of work mainly: going to Heilbronn for a local trade show there (Thur. and Fri.) and after that heading to Frankfurt (non-work related)...

Meet the Girl there and go with her to a party Friday night. Staying over at her parents place (Important!) and then home for a hopefully relaxing weekend!

Currently playing (for Julie!)

* Bar Classics Vol. 6. It seems to be from the cover and the concept a cheesy collection of relaxed smooth jazz on one CD and even more relaxed smooth classics on the other. But I do like this series of compilations. Because it is indeed a very relaxing and intelligent selection of 'quality' jazz and classics.

* 12"/80s. A 3 CD box set of great 80s 'maxi-singles'. You know that long version of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love/Where did our love go' and other timeless classics... Very tastefully selected!

* Gaelle-Transient. See for full comment below

So this one is for Julie then (sorry, I didn't do the fifth one...):

1. How much space is taken by music on your harddrive right now? 248 tracks, 20.3 hrs, 1.26 GBs to be exact (yes, that's iTunes on my laptop although I don't own an iPod - but then someboday does...)

2. Last CD bought? Gaelle - Transient (the latest Naked Music release): 'Ambient Soul' I would call it, lovely voice, superb production!

3. Which song are you listening to - like, right now? 'Push Push'- Rocker's HiFi in the (Re:Jazz) interpretation

4. Five most important songs for you? This would be the 'at the moment' choice, this selection can easily change from day to day.

• Fly me to the moon / in all those variant versions out there (but most preferably the Vince Guaraldi one)
• The Ace of Spades / Motörhead
• Hunk of Heaven / Lemuria
• Ain't nobody / Rufus & Chaka Khan
• Can't get you out of my head / the Lisa Bassenge version

London, the romantic life

Das Mädchen kam dann Freitag nachmittag nach Finchley um mit mir das Wochenende in London zu verbringen. Zuerst aber sightseeing durchs Headquarter und shopping in ‚The Source’, dem company-eigenen Outlet Store. Lacosteschuhe für Cousinen, Nichten und Patenkinder. Kickers für meine Nichten, Cousinen und sonstige Bekannte. Was für ein Start ins Wochenende: 9 Paar Schuhe, Socken und Kleinkram!

Dann mit der Tube nach Notting Hill. Das Guesthouse West ist so 'ne Art Geheimtip in Sachen Designhotel. Klein, mit smarter Bar, mitten in Notting Hill (bekannt aus Funk und Fernsehen) und vor allen Dingen: bezahlbar! Wir haben uns da sehr wohl gefühlt…

Noch am Abend mit Freunden bei Wagamama in Camden Ramen, Fried Chicken und andere japanische Leckereien verputzt und dann allein zu zweit einen sehr romantischen Abend in der Hotelbar verbracht. Vielleicht erzähl’ ich euch Details hier später!

Samstag begann im Coffeeshop um die Ecke (merke: Immer versuchen dem klassischen englischen Hotel-Frühstück samt Kaffee zu entkommen. P***-brühe, mieser Toast und Ei-aus-der-Tube für 20GBP sind too much!) dann head-first in Selfridges eintauchen. Shop til you drop! Weiter nach South Moulton Street, zu dem sehr neuen, sehr hippen Dover Street Market in Mayfair und schließlich und endlich Covent Garden mit Neal Street, Floral Street und all den umliegenden Strassen. Lovely Stuff – das Mädchen hat die Kreditkarte glühen lassen!

Die Electric Brasserie ist DER hippe Platz in Notting Hill 'to eat out' und so hat es dann auch ausgesehen. Super-voll und super-chic, aber all das verdientermassen! Klasse Essen, guter Service und angenehme Atmosphäre- es war ein sehr gelungener, sehr netter Abend! Nach einem randvollen und tollen Tag!

Entsprechend müde war dann der ganze Sonntag. Lange geschlafen, ein bißchen gebummelt und noch T. samt Sohn getroffen, der uns nach Heathrow gefahren hat. BA nach Köln und im Schneesturm nach Hause. Eine Hammer-Woche!

London, the working life

It has been a busy week with absolutely no time to post, sorry! Tuesday saw the first proper ‘CM meeting’ for ages and we were in for a treat indeed. I don’t want to give all the gory details away here, but let me just say that the boss wasn’t too happy with the proposed numbers for the second half of 2005 and that he demanded an action plan from each of us to make up for the possible desastrous result. It’s gonna be a hefty H2 for me!

Wednesday and Thursday then were filled up with the SS 2006 range review and contrary to what I wrote in my last post the collection did look much better than the CADs were showing - although we were only able to achieve this after some lengthy discussions. In the (late) evenings my colleagues and me went out for a Burger Place on Muswell Hill on Tuesday, a Thai restaurant on Wednesday and then had a team dinner at a, …ehm, Pizza Express Thursday night. It certainly shows that the brand is going through a tough time, when we’re only able to buy everyone a pizza and a beer after two and half days of tough work. But, we made the most out of it: lots and lots of beers and red wine and even the odd cigar for me!  

Suddenly it's Sunday evening

Just like that. All of a sudden the weekend's over again. It started really early Friday afternoon. Once every report was written, every transfer made and my colleagues had left the office I was on the motorway as well. Then dinner with R. and M. somewhere in the Belgian countryside. Although the food was excellent the restaurant was kinda weird. Dodgy service, someone playing piano way too loud and the 'Espresso Linde' scared me...

Saturday was all too basic: Breakfast at the usual place, some minor shopping in the most sh**y weather you can imagine and then a well deserved and relaxed evening in front of the tube. And today followed the same scheme. Nothing exciting, nothing too stressful... And therefore not too much to post about. But - to be honest - after all these weekends on the road, in hotels or at trade shows I really needed that...

'Cause there is more come. Tuesday I'm on my way to London once again. 'CM-meeting' on Tuesday, which means 'Country Manager Meeting' and in that we're all in for a major treat. Poor numbers, the moral in our teams on an all-time low and us displaying almost no faith in a possible change in SS 2006 will result in some hefty discussions. Which usually after a while turn into arguments when I'm in there. Then two and a half days of reviewing the next (SS 2006) seasons product. More discussions (and arguments). But then Friday the Girl will come to London in order to spend the weekend with me!

Can't wait for the next weekend begin!

Bundesvision Song Contest 2005

Ein schöner Abend vor der Glotze. Das Mädchen und ich saßen wie angeklebt vor Pro 7 und fiebern mit. ... Juli oder Fettes Brot? Sido oder De Randfichten? Ich persönlich habe ja für Nordrhein-Westfalen's Beitrag gestimmt, weil ich fand, daß Gentleman selbst diese müde Mamadee noch aufwerten konnte. Das Mädchen hingegen hat für die überraschend moderne bayrische Krachband Slut angerufen und jetzt harren wir hier gerade der Ergebnisse. Für wen habt Ihr gestimmt?

The weekend is at hand!

It would seem to most people that working on a tradeshow (i.e. sitting or strolling around, talking to customers or colleagues, fancy dinners and hotels) isn't 'real work' in a basic understanding of the word. But it is. And it is very tireing. Ever since I came back on that last flight with DBA to Düsseldorf Wednesday evening I'm tired. And constantly yawning.

I so much crave for this weekend. Just being for myself for a while. No worries about entrance tickets for English colleagues, no fighting with free agents and no shallow statements for the trade press ("It has been a very successful show for us. Lots of quality contacts throughout the first two days. Blablablablabla...") It will be me and The Girl having late breakfasts at my favourite place, do some minor shopping, watch those DVDs and prepare myself for the coming weeks.

But I also will find the time to post something more recent over the weekend. My mind's just bubbling with ideas and thoughts! Bear with me!

The day after...

ISPO! Back again at my desk after five exhausting days in Munich. The usual stuff in terms of meeting nice customers and nice colleagues. And also the usual in terms of too many useless discussions, too late and too unhealthy dinners and too many worries...

But then again it was different in many ways as well. The nicest hotel for quite some time with a lovely bar, cool rooms and great service. For the first time I did not find the time to meet up with friends in Munich (Apologies!). I have never left the trade shoe with such a feeling of insecurity about the future of that trade and the brand I'm responsible for... And we did attend the show by exhibiting at the ISPOvision - the 'most fashionable' part of ISPO. Did this help? Can't tell - hence the sleepless nights!

More (Gossip. She. K. Rants. The girl. The latest fashion trends. Whatever) later

Sidebar update

It was about time, wasn't it?

I finally found the time to re-do the sidebar. Although 'Belle de Jour' has picked up writing again she fell out of my recommended blogs. Check out my latest book and recors recommendations as well. Now with covers! Then an all-new DVD-list. And I also managed to update the hotel-list. Hope you enjoy all that...