What a week

This past week has been chaos. And if I’m completely truthful, I’d say that last week was chaos too.

First let’s discuss last week…
Doofus (the event assistant) put in his resignation last week Tuesday. It just so happened to be the day that his three month probationary contract expired. This couldn’t have been a better explanation of a Catch 22 if we tried – he wasn’t doing a great job so we were happy that he resigned, but we had a wedding in Durban that Saturday and he was going to be driving down in the company vehicle transporting our props etc. The rest of Tuesday was spent trying to “plug holes” by finding an alternative driver, ensuring all the things he was supposed to have done were done, etc. It was a stressful day! He arrived at work on Wednesday, after he and The Boss had gone to coffee on Tuesday evening, and announced that he would be assisting with the wedding and then would be leaving after that. Crisis semi averted. Now we needed to get help in to assist with the chaos that was this week. Luckily we managed to find an appropriate “new” events assistant and brought in another events co-ordinator to assist.

Now to the chaos of this week…
Event number 1 was a breakfast on Tuesday morning at 08h00 for 8 guests. Luckily it was a small number of guests as we only got confirmation on Monday morning. This meant running around sourcing caterers, flowers, getting the decor ready, etc.
Event number 2 was the styling of rooms at a bank for their exclusive clients to sign new credit cards or such like. We only received sign off of the quote yesterday afternoon which again meant chaos in getting the relevant props from suppliers, flowers delivered, etc in time that we could setup at 4pm yesterday.
Event number 3 is a 50th birthday that took place this afternoon. When we were first briefed on it, it was going to take place at the client’s private home. The relevant suppliers were provisionally booked so all was in order. Then last week the venue changed to a restaurant in Morningside. So we had to cancel some suppliers and change other orders to suit the new venue. Then at 2pm yesterday, it was moved back to her private home again. Chaos ensued! We needed to get in touch with all the suppliers and get them booked for the last minute change. It took some serious effort in getting the bar and catering services booked as well as the necessary tables and chairs delivered in time.
Event number 4 is a wedding that takes place tomorrow afternoon. We had the final meeting with the client on Wednesday afternoon and she decided then that she needed table numbers. So again, more chaos in trying to get an urgent printing job done with our already busy suppliers. On the brightside, all other aspects of her wedding are sorted so this last minute hitch didn’t matter that much.
Event number 5 is a 50th birthday party also taking place tomorrow except it’s an evening function. This client has been particularly difficult and demanding. We were approached with this event a couple months ago but she has been so disorganised that everything has been last minute (I am still waiting for the table seating plan). She requested last night that she no longer deal with me because I’m rude. Gary made me feel better about this snotty comment by saying, “some people just mistake rudeness for efficiency”. Thanks my Sexy.
And finally, event number 6 is a small teaspoon exhibition that is taking place at our offices. Everything was setup during the day yesterday with the opening taking place last night. They are exhibiting today until 6pm, and again tomorrow from 10am until 1pm. I am “running” this from my desk as not much needs to be done from my side other than letting in the visitors.

How’s that for chaos?!

Hope your week(s) has been better than mine!

Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles

10 things I learnt this week

1. No matter how organised I am, critical things can be overlooked, so I’ve learnt to check and recheck and check again just to be sure
2. I should always double check the DSTV guide as they are wont to change show timings when they feel like it (which means I’m left having only a few minutes of Cake Boss PVR’d)
3. The busier I am, the more productive I am
4. Running out of gas in the middle of making dinner after a long day really sucks
5. Meeting Twitter friends for dinner is awesome and I’m going to be doing it more often
6. I really am quite a great organiser, even when it comes to organising personal dinner parties (said Twitter friends dinner)
7. Thinking that I’ll drink more water because there’s a water cooler in my office is stupid
8. I truly have the most caring fiancé (he welcomed me home after a particularly long day this week with a hot bubble bath in a candlelit bathroom)
9. The eventing “silly season” is upon us way earlier than expected
10. The long weekend ahead is most appreciated but with the amount of work I need to do for next week’s function, I could do with the public holiday being the following week instead

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What a day

I know I shouldn’t moan because being busy is a good thing. It means the money’s coming in, the day is going faster, and there isn’t any clock-watching. BUT it’s not good when I’m so busy that the first bathroom break I manage to get is at 6:30pm when I finally am able to leave the office. My day went like this…

1. Last minute Larry:
Some background: we were contacted yesterday about a small cocktail function taking place THIS Thursday. I duly put together a costing and got this through to the client yesterday afternoon.
This morning I received an email saying that the costing needed to be changed to include more decor (this after being told yesterday that they only had X amount of budget). Between the many calls from the client and the constant changing in brief, the telephone became my neck’s #1 enemy – my neck was in such pain from lodging the phone between my ear and shoulder. And after the final change in brief, I amended the costing once more. And just when i thought it would be finalised I received another call from the client where I neededto put her at ease that “yes, the decor is perfectly suited to the event” and “yes this is what The Boss suggested”. She finally sent through the signed documents confirming the event just after 5pm along with the invoicing details. And my last move was to draw up an invoice and send it through for full prepayment.

2. The I-don’t know-about-timelines Company:
This particular company is a pain in the butt! They are known to spring briefs on you at the last moment and need the costing and concept before the close of business on the SAME day they sent the brief. Now I work pretty quickly but when you’re working on numerous proposals and costings, a same-day turnaround is not always possible. Now in this particular case there are a few events in the pipeline… The one event (which is taking place next week) required feedback from the client so I could amend the costing in order for it to be signed off to confirm the event, an invoice to be made and the necessary supplier orders done. I finally managed to get this costing updated and sent off just after 5pm. And while I was finalising this costing, I was being hassled for the costing for their new event… This new event brief was received late this morning and they needed the costing etc by…you guessed it…the end of today. I managed to get everything through to them before I left at 6:30 and as I was switching off my PC I spotted another email from them for another new event and…no prize for a correct guess…they need this proposal and costing soonest tomorrow.

Add to this a phone that rings non-stop, meetings to sit in on, other events that need supplier confirmation, meetings to setup, dealing with a Doofus, triaging emails, and and and…

On the brightside I have an amazing fiancé who welcomed me home in the best way possible. I arrived to a wonderful bear hug and was then escorted inside to a closed bathroom door. I could hear the soft sounds of a bath being drawn and upon opening the door (or rather having the door opened for me) I discovered a candlelit bath awaiting my tired body. It was awesome and definitely the highlight of my day!

I’m hoping tomorrow won’t be as bad as today. I’m hoping I’ll have time for a bathroom break at least once during the day. I’m hoping to have a proper lunch and at least two cups of tea. I’m hoping tomorrow will be better than today.

Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles

*Picture credit

10 things I learnt this weekend

1. Surprising your loved one with a romantic dinner out really does start the weekend off nicely.
2. It’s great to have breakfast with varsity gal pals and catch up but it’s not great to realise how little left you have in common with them.
3. I must be getting old because I can’t believe it costs R98 for two people to see a movie (we saw Twilight Eclipse on Saturday)…in my day…
4. Waking up to the smell of pancakes is the best way to start a Sunday.
5. The Dog Whisperer guy knows what he’s talking about – we took the doglets for a walk yesterday and put some of his suggestions to use.
6. I should not assume that a job is being done properly – upon cleaning and tidying my house yesterday, we found out our ex maid had not cleaned properly in ages!
7. I really should do more exercise – the doglet walking and house cleaning have left me feeling very sore today.
8. Watching all the episodes in a series’ season is the best way to watch – we finally finished the first season of 24 yesterday.
9. Sometimes it’s necessary to drive with the radio off – discovered Bullet needs to have it’s brakes checked (it’s going in on Thursday for a service).
10. Home-made prego rolls are a great end to a busy weekend.

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10 things I learnt this week

1. A day is ruined when it starts with a headache
2. I am really spoiled to have my fiancé drop lunch off for me
3. I get irritated when I’m supposed to meet someone somewhere and they don’t answer their phone
4. A lot can be accomplished in one day if I have a steady supply of tea
5. I need to make time for me each day
6. I must start working on my wedding plans because I’m starting to stress a little because it’s around the corner
7. My house is in desperate need of grocery shop
8. My ancient work PC’s slowness really messes with my productivity
9. Having a heater in my office really makes a difference
10. I must buy a new watch because mine either stops working or gains time

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10 things I learnt this weekend

1. Working on a Saturday really messes up a weekend
2. I am really in need of a few more early nights to bed
3. I love eating ice-cream, especially on cold wintery nights
4. I can be quite creative in the kitchen even conjuring up delightful dishes from leftovers
5. I love pancakes with sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice, but I always forget that too much cinnamon on a pancake can bring on an asthma attack
6. Sleeping in on Sunday morning is the best time for cuddles
7. I am really in need of a holiday or an extra long weekend
8. Grocery shopping at the end of the month in the middle of the day is a nightmare
9. Winter has hit Joburg with a crisp bang
10. My internal thermostat is broken – I am extra cold when sitting next to the heater, but boiling hot under two duvets at night

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10 things I learnt this weekend

1. Making the effort is a great start to bettering friendships
2. Fights can be caused by the randomest of things
3. There is such a thing as too much sweet food (oh my, did I really just say this?!)
4. Taking the doglets for a walk can be quite a challenge
5. Cuddling on the couch is a great way to spend time together
6. I am addicted to way too many series
7. Having internet at home again makes me super happy
8. Winter is definitely on the way
9. I make the most divine potato, broccoli and cauliflower bake
10. I am in desperate need of a shopping spree to update my wardrobe and get clothes that fit better

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A work update

In a previous post I mentioned how overwhelmed I was on my first day at my new job. Well I have officially been working at my new job for 7 days. And boy has it been a busy, crazy, hectic 7 days! I feel like I have been doing a ton of work but not getting anything productive done. The days fly past which is a great thing! But it doesn’t help that I’m so busy I don’t know that lunchtime has come and gone, that I don’t have time for a quick trip to the loo, or even a minute to make myself a cup of tea. As a pat on the back though, my boss said the other day that I have achieved more in the time that I’ve been here, than has been accomplished in the last five years. Quite a compliment if I do say so myself!

So what have I been doing…
1. I have put an orders system in place. This means that anything we need from suppliers (serviettes, flowers, printer cartridges or the help from a handyman, etc) requires a quote from that supplier so an order can be drawn up. This is then sent to the supplier confirming the job or order and is a guarantee of payment. Basically…
2. I have folder-ed and filed a lot of the documents in the My Documents folder on the computer I’m working on at the moment. It has been really tough trying to get this sorted and finalised as I’m trying to figure out what is necessary to keep (in terms of templates etc) and what can be tossed.
3. I am trying to sift through the gajillions of emails putting them in certain event folders etc. I still have +-1500 to go in the inbox alone!
4. I have had to implement a proper petty cash system.
5. I have started a database of previous clients so that we can eliminate quite a few shelves of files.

All of this while head-deep in event management! I am phoning to setup or confirm meetings, putting together concepts and cost estimates, organising my boss’ diary for meetings and trips etc, and replying to emails.

There has been a mountain-load of things to do and a lot of things that still need to be done, but I’m enjoying the challenge!

Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles

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I’m not missing, I’m just hectic…

If you read Monday’s post then you’ll have some idea of how hectic it has been and why I’m only operating on “speed of light”. My busy schedule and to-do list has not improved since Monday, and it seems that even though I’m getting through my work and ticking things off the list, I don’t seem to be getting on top of things!

Wednesday morning a last-minute function in Limpopo was confirmed so I rushed to find a car to hire. And since it was so last minute (and a three day hire), there was only one car available which we had to take even though it was too small to fit four tall and muscular technicians. Then it was time to rush to a meeting in town where I was at least fed a muffin. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of ticking things off the list, adding things to the list, and trying to remember to breathe.

Today has been manic! The phone has not stopped, I forgot to eat and drink, and I’ve had to get through my work as well as the to-do lists for my two colleagues who were out today (one is in Limpopo for that last-minute event, and the other was at food tastings and checking up on setups).

Tomorrow looks like it’ll be a L-O-N-G day so please send hugs! I have to be at an event at 6am and run it until midday when hopefully everyone will leave. Then I’ll race to the office to get more of my to-do list done.

Next week is looking just as crazy, if not crazier! I have two events to run on Wednesday, I have to finalise everything for my function in Drakensberg (I was supposed to be going to Zebula Lodge for a different function but I am now needed in Drakensberg), and I have to make sure all is in order for my sister’s baby shower. And I’m sure there will be quite a few things added in here and there. And before I know it, it’ll be time to pack my bags and leave for Drakensberg…

So please don’t think I’ve deserted you or forgotten about you! I promise to try and pop in next week even if it is just to post something funny to keep me smiling!

Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles

*Cartoon credit

Monday craziness

Today would have been wonderful had there been a moment to procrastinate! From the moment I arrived at work this morning I was inundated with a list of different things that needed to be done. All urgent of course!

I started the to-do list by sitting with the graphic designer. We needed to come up with two options for an email invitation. Luckily this only took an hour or so. Then it was time to finalise things with a client for an event this Friday. Then there were quotes and floorplans to be done. Then I had to rush to collect CD duplicates and hand deliver them to a client in town. Then it was a rush back to the office to sort out another event taking place in March where I’ve been coallating the RSVPs.

Does anyone know how I can clone myself?

Hugs & Kisses
Jessica Giggles

*Cartoon credit