Often, people ask what a typical day is when you run your own business, or how much riding I do as a sponsored rider - and then I sound like a dick who doesnt want to talk when I'm like "there is no typical day" but if i tried to describe it they'd get really bored and wish they'd never bloody asked. So, here's last week, you can read it if you want and if you don't care you don't have to read it. Win-win
Sunday - get pissed with family at Easter. My nana was sober, but is loopy, and reckons I was in the olympics at track, she said she was still proud of me even though I only came third. I was happy to know I had her loyalty. My brother and RB were pissed and sang Frere Jaques Dubstep remix - it was cringy. Cousin Alex and I talked about boys and Hula Hooping.
Monday - Cousin Alex cooked me a nice lunch and we did work. she did social work writing stuff and I did sketching for Spring/Summer 2013. It was raining, but I really wanted to kick start the AnaNichoola London Velo Sisters and 7 people were still up for going so I went. I was 10 mins late, felt bad as I had promoted the ride and they all waited for me in the pouring rain....oops. Anyway, it went well, we split into two groups, I chatted with Sol and Al, I was on my fixie with minidrome 51 inch gearing, I spun out the whole time and think I bruised my private parts, it was fun though. We sacked off the pub as had puddles in our shoes. I got home freezing cold and soaking wet and was too late for last entry at the gym (I don't have a shower in my studio) so had to towel dry myself and put on about twenty layers and hot water bottles, felt cold still and quite sorry for myself. put on some music on and carried on with the sketches, cheered right up, warmed up a bit and went to bed at 4am.
Tuesday - Did tasks, had a shower, spent 2 hours trying to get the last bit of money off of my credit card in the bank to pay my suppliers. Sent out some post to customers, tidied the studio a bit, went back to my parents to pick up my hula hoop and nearly died cycling home on my fixie, brakeless, SPD pedals with trainers, lightless, holding a hula hoop and two heavy bags. 3 miles down hill, it was gnarly as fuck and my legs were still tired from the day before.
Wednesday - Visited Big Foot bikes with some samples to see if they wanted to order. They do :-) Had a nice chat about their female customers and their huge cycling club (300 members!!!) Tried to create a price list for an international distributor, realised I couldn't do it, so called a couple of people who work in the bike trade and asked some advice. A couple of hours on the phone and I got a bit further, but my brain couldn't digest all the info, so I forced myself to switch off from it until another day and went to bed early. Found it hard to sleep, should have gone out on my bike.
Thurs - Had a BRILLIANT day filming with Markus from Cycle Film, Phil his assistant and Mon and Lola my models. I'd never spent time with Mon or Lola and was hoping they'd be up for working hard and having a laugh, and I couldn't have asked for a better pair. By the end of the day they were tired from cycling up and down the roads, I loved having the view from inside the car, and we felt like we'd known each other for ever. Can't wait to work with them again and ride with them more often in the future. Then went to the Coven Mag launch at Red Bull studios. I'd been excited about it all week, I knew it'd be a good party and I was proud to see Juliet doing something for female action sports off her own back. Check it out here: http://www.covenmagazine.com/ Got wayyyyy too drunk on vodka redbull, my team mates V and Marit joined the party and it all kicked off. The highlight was attacking a bike thief from behind who'd stolen Marits bike, we got the bikes back and felt like hero's!!
Fri - Was too hungover to think, read my emails but didnt send replies. Went to the lovely physio Anne to have my back sorted out (from an injury I did on my BMX in Oct) she really, really sorted me out. Watched the Undateables, got a bit tearful, so went to bed early feeling guilty about wasting my day.
Sat - trying to catch up from not doing work on Friday, tidying the studio and preparing a presentation for an investor meeting on Weds. They like my brand, they like me and the way I work, they are very interested, but they still need some convincing. So, I will have to stand in front of 3 guys with the money, a director of one of their fashion businesses and their head designer of that business and sell myself. I don't really know what to say, but am enjoying getting my thoughts out, and one thing I do know is that the presentation will be hand drawn. In a couple of hours I'm gonna go cheer for my team mates racing at Herne Hill, will bring my BMX to see if I can convince any of the guys to go to the skate park with me (even if they don't 6 miles each way on my BMX over crystal palace hill is healthy strength training) . I intend to come home early to continue work on the presentation, but I expect I'll end up in the pub with the girls......
