Everything worked like a dream this morning. D really comes into his own when talking about our business with advisers, specialists and financial people which is somehting that always makes me uncomfortable. Having run thru the business plan yesterday and finished off the 2006/2007 cash flow statements in advance of the meeting with Barclays Local Business manager, we felt confident that it was in the best state in could be in and identified "Pressure Points" for cashflow after January next year althoughits tight enough now.
We were offered a £15K load just like that, and the adviser really is the nicest most enthusiastic guy I've met for ages. Feels really good to hear someone raving about how strong, viable and exciting our business is, even if he then proceeded to do us down for massively understimating ourselves and the value of what we do.
No worries now. I know its an immediate reaction but everything suddenly seems to be sorting itself out. We can pay ourselves double from the start of the New Year, afford to pay Jo, pay off our (very late!) bills and possibly have a bonus before Christmas!

Hurrah - if I had a hat I would be throwing it into the air at this point!

Its all going according to plan, even if things have been ridiculoously bad for money this year. Could be that in six months time I'll be feeling more relaxed and possibly earning by the end of 2006 as much as I was on when I left LJ in 1994. That will make living a bit more comfortable and we can start making serious attacks on Debt Mountain. If things then double again after that as we hope by the end of 2007) I will be well and truly into uncharted territory.

Probably not before time…

And so this evening I have been painting. Not grown up DIY painting in the kitchen, but with poster paints on a big sheet of paper for the first time in a million years. Not counting an art session with the kids of course.
I'm doing two big A0 posters for the church Bazaar, but I have already given up hand lettering them when it occurred to me that it would be much easier to print the letters off at work and simply stick them on.
A cop out I know, but it was taking me absolutely ages to do. I am only halfway through one and they both have to be put up on Sunday!
Using a mixture then of stuck on print and painted background - so I've actually made quite a nice effect with the Christmas tree and the star background glow. Repeating this graphic behind a cutout silhouette of the building looks very effective.
I've given up with the fliers too - only managed another 500 today and there is no time left.

Only half a day in the office tomorrow which will be taken up meeting a bank man and presenting our new Business Plan for the first time (tarting for finance begins now), and then going to Mrs ("Old") Bailey's funeral in the afternoon. Our neighbour ("the lady over the back") died in a care home last weekend at the good old age of 95. She was great too with the kids and everyone loved her around here. She's not lived at home for more than a year tho and the house is looking very shabby. Hope her son finds the strength now to sell it and let the place live again.

Rewards day at School tomorrow for Alice and Stan. he's very excited as its the first one for him, his class having made their target of 20 Reward points this term. Alice in year 2 needs 50, but she is dead please dto have earned the last 3 needed for her class by herself, showing visitors round the school during her Civic Awards session on Wednesday morning.
This is probably the beginning of the end for this term. It alwasy detiorates into a shambles the last two weeks, and we're already halfway thru the half term. Seem spretty much a waste of time going in at the end - I really don't see what's changed. We had ONE day of games and stuff on the last day. Not two weeks...

This week I have been listening to:
John Foxx - Cathedral Oceans 3 Inspired. A work of genius.
Asrea Redux - Fractals Interesting, but of its time and will go out of favour quickly. Depeche Mode & Fad Gadget meet Eno
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats Outstanding, creative, dark, clever. Iconic, mad, difficult, underestimated
Anne Clark - Pressure Points I keep trying, but its still crap. Too much attitude and rubbish voacls
Harold Budd - Avalon Sutra Calming, radiant, hypnotic.