Full Steam Ahead!

A quick update to round of June as it has been a super-busy month. Just how we like it.

Emma is still working alongside the Soil Association Press Office and has had a busy month placing Farming Today stories, launching the Green Kitchen Standard and much more!

Alongside that it was the 10th birthday of School Food Matters, an amazing charity that punches well above its weight and supports schools directly in a hands-on way to make sure good food & food education is available in schools.

And we are ending the month on a high as we have added a fantastic new client in Box Steam Brewery to our roster! It really will be full steam ahead as we support them with full-service comms across Press, Social and Events.

Tickets please!

Wear sunscreen

No, this isn't a public health announcement! For those of you who are 'of a certain age' you'll remember this as a song from Baz Luhrmann. The full title being "Everyone's free to wear sunscreen." Apparently Baz can't take all the credit - it originated from a newspaper column from the Chicago Tribune.

So why am I writing about this song you ask? Good question.

This week it is also apparently international happiness day - it was on a Monday of all days and that was also the day I coincidentally created a new playlist called sunshine. Full of tracks from Happy by Pharrell to The Bare Necessities from the Jungle Book it is bursting with upbeat, happy tracks that even Scrooge would have trouble not crackin' a smile at.  Music is something that really influences my mood. I can tap into that; if I need to focus then it's a bit of Beethoven's Moonlit Sonata or if I need to crack on with the to-do list then it's Basement Jaxx!

I don't know about you but I find the start of the year a bit of a slog. It is dark - so very dark. I have tax returns, business insurances and all sorts of renewals to get done and the days seem so long. Music is one of the things that can lift my mood in an instant, hence the title of the post as this track can transport me back to University, long sunny days and in turn can make the day brighter - it's timeless advice too - perhaps I should leave off the pink hair dye sometime soon?

I for one am welcoming the Spring Equinox and the appearance of blossom and daffodils.

Should you be interested the playlist is here: SUNSHINE

Another year over...

What a year huh.

I don't often comment on world events, it isn't what this blog is for. However as we get ready to shut the office for Christmas I can't help but wonder in years to come how this year will be documented in the history books. It feels quite momentous.

Sadly, unlike the John Lennon lyric and inspiration for the title of this blog the war isn't over and as a business owner I enter a new year wondering what 2017 will bring.

At a local level all is good, business is thriving and I am enjoying steering good ship You Say. I have ended the year feeling proud of what we achieved this year, who we have chosen to work with and in the last couple of months I have felt hugely energised and supported by fellow PRs both freelance and agencies. Bristol is building a fantastic high-quality PR service and I am honoured to be part of it.

I was in Italy on a food and research trip when the UK voted for Brexit and I am still saddened that the majority of my country felt so disenfranchised and switched-off to Europe or were using the vote to try and have a say about our country right now that they felt a connection with Brexit and would rather vote for something with no plan and no strategy than try and change something. As a small business owner I am concerned about what it means for taxes, opportunities to offer my services in Europe and for trade. But more than that I am saddened that we don't feel stronger, better connected and safer with our European neighbours.

So as 2016 draws to a close and 2017 is on the horizon with the ongoing saga on Brexit and the 30 day countdown to President Trump I am going to continue to look forward and find the silver lining.

A very Merry Xmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

The art of the conversation.

I'm slowly making my way along Wapping Wharf which is steadily opening up on the waterfront in Bristol. It is half way from my office and home and is ah-ma-zing. Think local, indi, well sourced, well done food and drink.

Wapping Wharf

Today I got to try Wokyko and some Bao with Gail as we caught up about the next couple of months. We were talking about 2017 (yeah it is only around the corner) and some good old Biz Dev and if our next contact with current and potential clients would be a PDF or a good old fashioned letter with a stamp on it.

Bao from WokyKo

After our brill brainstorm I pootled off to get the office pooch Woody and we headed out in the rain to meet my business mentor and friend Liz and her pooch Bailey. A good stomp in Leigh Woods was just what I needed, not just to walk off lunch.

As the dogs snuffled in all the beautiful autumn leaves we stumbled onto the conversation of how good it was to talk and how some businesses work in silo even marketing and sales teams supposedly working in the same direction. I commented that due to the now quite heavy rain we could have Skyped but actually nothing beats a face to face chat - something I do worry is a dying art in a world of deadlines and email.

So that new biz PDF may have just become a good old fashioned letter and an offer for a coffee. After all it's good to talk.