8.30.2013

...confessions of a cape town freelancer: part 1...


Last Roll of the Week


Working from home has its fun side, but no one ever talks about the downsides. 
Us freelancers know them all, and snigger at ourselves behind the full-timers’ backs, but I intend to share some of these less-than-charming secrets.

Since I can remember I’ve always had a thing for 2-ply toilet paper. The ones with the Labrador puppies, to be exact. I see them as a sign of luxury, and that all must be well in a household where a pyramid of these rolls live.

I think we can all agree that 2-ply is a non-negotiable, but when did that happen?! As a full-time working adult I never even hovered near the crusty 1-ply rolls, but now, as a freelancer I spend a bit more time in front of the toilet roll racks. And I weigh up my options: 1-ply and a treat, or 2-ply and no treat? The 2-ply always wins (and my waist is loving me for it).

My usage of toilet paper has increased exponentially with the decline of my income. 
I used to take loo paper for granted. At an office it’s available at your beck and call, and you can drop it like your bitch at any time of the day. Runny nose? No problem! Just use your company’s Labrador puppies to wipe that right up. The last sheet of white loveliness as you sit down? No worries! Just take a new roll out of the heap neatly packed in the rack, or the corner, or wherever your company keeps its stash.

I have become frugal with 2-ply like there’s no tomorrow. Just the other day a friend visited and as she excused herself to go to the loo, I almost followed her into the bathroom to check how many sheets she would tear from my beloved puppies. 
I didn’t, of course, since she is also a freelancer. But I did hover outside the door, and semi-shouted: “That’s my last roll for the week, friend”. She wasn’t offended at all, and even offered to bring me eggs the next time she visited. Bless her soul. (If only I could turn eggs into loo rolls, right?)

My true desperation was tested when I went to this fancy schmancy restaurant in Franschhoek on a special occasion (the name shall not be disclosed for the protection of the vicinity), and spent much longer than was needed in the bathroom as I sat admiring their 2-almost-3-ply rolls. Lots of them. Stacked high and beautifully. 
I sighed, finished my business, and left. Back at the table I asked my dinner companion, a very close friend of mine, if she would think less of me if I had stolen a loo roll from the restaurant. She laughed and shook her head, but much later, when we had paid our bill (me swiping the credit card grudgingly), she gave me a sneak peek into her handbag, and there it was: a majestic 2-almost-3-ply roll of greatness. 
I almost cried from happiness. On her own trip to the bathroom she had done what I couldn’t, because her handbag was bigger. Now that’s what true friends do.

Apart from the much-lusted-after Labradors (which are the most expensive loo rolls on the market, by the way), I’m also a big fan of Woolies’ 2-play. With pretty little leaves. It reminds me of the change of seasons. Don’t ask me why. Anyway, the point is: 
I have one roll left for this week, and I plan to make the most of it.

8.27.2013

...our monster auction...



...so finally our monsters are coming to an end, and we have joined forces with the book lounge and their silent art auction. so our 9 fabulous laundry monsters will be auctioned off and all the proceeds will be added to the proceeds of all the other artworks on auction.

every year the book lounge set up a library, with librarian, the admin and books (of course). this year they are helping westridge sencondary school in mitchell's plain during the 'open book festival', held from 7 - 11 september.

all the people attending the festival and and visiting the shop will be able to take part in the silent auction by simply writing down their bid next to the art work of their choice. on monday evening, after their illustrators sports event at the shop, they close the bidding...

for more information about the festival feel free to email them: booklounge@gmail.com

8.22.2013

...our amaaaazing new badge...


...oh wait, no one has volunteered to make us one, 
so we won't be doing a badge this lunch. 
so for our 11th meeting we will be handing out, ummmm, 
nothing!

come on, you know you wanna make one! just do it!...

8.13.2013

...best laid plans of mice and (wo)men...


...in the spirit of entrepreneurship, just hours after our first post
introducing our new theme, h and i popped over for some dim sum
at i love my laundry, when a new business opportunity was thrown
in our path.

a breath takingly beautiful space had come available in the royale hotel,
and the option for us to open a 'permanent' pop up shop arose.
h and i were vibrating with excitement and set up a viewing of the space
right away. it was awesome, and perfect and so exciting.

we called leila right away to get some advice on how the experts do it,
as the discussion progressed, it seemed we had not considered all of the
hidden costs, tax implications, friendship/partnership responsibilities and
of course the costs involved in getting set up and daily running of the shop.

all this info was a lot to digest and we had to do some serious calculations
to see if it would be viable, to not just cover the costs but to make enough
of a profit for the amount of work and responsibility it would involve.

so, after much excitement, think we had already designed the shop layout,
decor, logo, packaging (all in our heads at least), our 24 hours of hopes
and dreams of owning a fabulous designer pop up shop fell flat like a cake
without it's baking powder.

hmmmmmph! oh well, thats the thing about opportunities i guess,
they pop into your lives and you have to be ready, ready to grab them
and run with them, but don't forget in all the excitement to make sure
that you have all the ingredients before you slap on the icing and
get ready to serve it!

so, we'll wait, something else will come up, and while we're waiting,
who knows, perhaps we'll just create an opportunity for ourselves...