A Day in the Life of ESTA Folk
Written in 2013. A lot has happened since then. (Ed)
Written in 2013. A lot has happened since then. (Ed)
I was musing the other day on what a rich and varied group of businesses and social enterprises we have within The Ethical Small Traders Association so I decided to write a little story about you all. I think I have managed to get you all in there. Humble apologies if I have missed anyone (let me know)
For those of you old enough to remember Trumpton and Camberwick Green you will remember the cosy trading arrangements between the characters, as they went about their day to day business. Well here is my up-to date version.
Good morning what a lovely day it is here in the Bay as I draw back my curtains supplied by Clare and look out onto my lovely garden. There's Gavin maintaining it for me and he is working with Anna who is just planting out some new bee-friendly new plants. At the far end Simon is landscaping and building me a new pond for all those pollinating insects that are going to be attracted by the new flowers.
As I go downstairs for breakfast I am reminded of that squeaky floor board in the hallway. We shall have to do something about that. I must phone Sam (Worgan) and get him to fix it and, whilst he is here and as he is such a handy man around the place, I will ask him to replace that old bit of skirting board that has come loose and tidy out my garage.
And this afternoon Allan is coming round to fix some solar panels to the roof and install some low energy lights in the house. He will be bringing Scott round with him to help him with all that work.
Oh! No time for breakfast. I have a busy day ahead of me, Alison and Frances are going to be filming my typical day. So its a quick cycle into town on my Proud Ride Classic to meet them. But first I must pop into Concept Hair for a quick trim and drop in on Ken next door for those business cards he is printing up for me. I need to order my pop up display from Mark but I think I should get Adrian to help me design it first.
I love how compact Lancaster is and the fact that I hardly ever need to use my car. Which is just as well as it is currently with Darren at JD Motortech for its MOT. But if I was really stuck I know I could hire one for a couple of hours from the Lancaster Car Club.
At the meeting point now and Elly is going to join us to take some photos. My damaged old family photos are currently being restored by Andrew.
So on with my typical day and its off to the Chamber of Commerce for a quick meet up and to compare notes on making Lancaster and Morecambe a great place for businesses then over to Lancaster & Morecambe College to discuss their hosting of some forthcoming ESTA events. On the way back we pop into St Leonards house for a quick chat with Jo, Lionel and Simon. Their organisations are working hard to provide facilities and creative opportunities to some of our vulnerable Lancaster citizens, and helping them become more self-reliant. Darren has also dropped in to see them to discuss how they might make best use of his community networking skills.
Its time for lunch so I grab something delicious from Sanah in the Market and take a break in the Square whilst Kerri informs and entertains with her latest street theatre performance. Then, before the afternoon kicks off, I shall just pop into the Lancaster Bed Company and order a new super-duper eco-friendly bed. I know exactly which one I want because, thanks to Laura the inside of their shop is available on Google Maps so I have already taken a virtual tour of the shop.
Then is off for a big coffee meet up with Mandy who is going to give me some support in thinking my way through the next ESTA project idea, then one with Jan to talk about her facilitating a workshop I am planning. Then its off to see Mark who knows so much about open source software and how to build software systems from the bottom up and then onto Ruta who can mentor me on the value of being more present in the moment. then finally I have an appointment with Michael to help me step back and see the bigger strategic picture in all I am doing.
Time for a break from work now and for a spot of self-care so its over to Ceri for a good tension-relieving massage then over to Dacrelands for an appointment with Dawn to advise me on nutrition for health. I will also pop in on Julia my favorite herbalist for some herbal remedies.
Then its back home for a spot of desk work. Its a good thing that Sarah is helping me with some of my admin load otherwise I would never get through it all and Phil is there to help me with my accounts and deal with the tax office for me. I am so glad I asked Dawn to help me de-clutter and organise my life better.
My big task is to build myself a shiny new web platform for all the things I do. Tony is going to build me a website tailor made for my smart phone whilst I can call on Sharon, Tom, Kui and Tom (other Tom) to build my big all singing dancing web platform for me. Then I think I will get Aaron and Tony to make sure it is optimised for the search engines and then Chris can host it all for me. Finally I need Sarah to help me develop a full blown marketing strategy. Should I ever sell anything Steven will be able to provide me with a chip and pin service and I can also ask Fiona at LL Deals to promote my business with some great customer deals. And should I have any customer data that needs analysing I can call on John.
Then its back home to check all my social media accounts. I love the cartoon avatar that Jack has dawn for me.
The garden is looking good. I think I will call upon the services Bittern Countryside to give me some additional advice on how to make the garden even more eco-firendly and some practical advice on what kind of wood-burning fire to install. And Jodie is coming round to take some photos of my lovely garden and eco-home improvements.
Time for supper and Anne Marie has just delivered a lovely fresh box of organic veg to my door, whilst eating I remember that I need to learn a new language with Kerstin. Should I go for Spanish or German?
Its on with the coat now for a night out and a full evening of creativity, fun and cultural enrichment. I have a painting class with Lucy then its over to Wendy the "Fairygodmum" for a craft-making workshop then a spot of dance therapy with Anna and Anne.
Then its off to a concert of travelers music organised by Nicky before founding off the evening with my weekly Salsa lesson.
As I lie in my new bed (delivered earlier) and muse on my day and my account of it I think that first thing in the morning I must get Judith to proof read it for me.
Good night all.
For those of you old enough to remember Trumpton and Camberwick Green you will remember the cosy trading arrangements between the characters, as they went about their day to day business. Well here is my up-to date version.
Good morning what a lovely day it is here in the Bay as I draw back my curtains supplied by Clare and look out onto my lovely garden. There's Gavin maintaining it for me and he is working with Anna who is just planting out some new bee-friendly new plants. At the far end Simon is landscaping and building me a new pond for all those pollinating insects that are going to be attracted by the new flowers.
As I go downstairs for breakfast I am reminded of that squeaky floor board in the hallway. We shall have to do something about that. I must phone Sam (Worgan) and get him to fix it and, whilst he is here and as he is such a handy man around the place, I will ask him to replace that old bit of skirting board that has come loose and tidy out my garage.
And this afternoon Allan is coming round to fix some solar panels to the roof and install some low energy lights in the house. He will be bringing Scott round with him to help him with all that work.
Oh! No time for breakfast. I have a busy day ahead of me, Alison and Frances are going to be filming my typical day. So its a quick cycle into town on my Proud Ride Classic to meet them. But first I must pop into Concept Hair for a quick trim and drop in on Ken next door for those business cards he is printing up for me. I need to order my pop up display from Mark but I think I should get Adrian to help me design it first.
I love how compact Lancaster is and the fact that I hardly ever need to use my car. Which is just as well as it is currently with Darren at JD Motortech for its MOT. But if I was really stuck I know I could hire one for a couple of hours from the Lancaster Car Club.
At the meeting point now and Elly is going to join us to take some photos. My damaged old family photos are currently being restored by Andrew.
So on with my typical day and its off to the Chamber of Commerce for a quick meet up and to compare notes on making Lancaster and Morecambe a great place for businesses then over to Lancaster & Morecambe College to discuss their hosting of some forthcoming ESTA events. On the way back we pop into St Leonards house for a quick chat with Jo, Lionel and Simon. Their organisations are working hard to provide facilities and creative opportunities to some of our vulnerable Lancaster citizens, and helping them become more self-reliant. Darren has also dropped in to see them to discuss how they might make best use of his community networking skills.
Its time for lunch so I grab something delicious from Sanah in the Market and take a break in the Square whilst Kerri informs and entertains with her latest street theatre performance. Then, before the afternoon kicks off, I shall just pop into the Lancaster Bed Company and order a new super-duper eco-friendly bed. I know exactly which one I want because, thanks to Laura the inside of their shop is available on Google Maps so I have already taken a virtual tour of the shop.
Then is off for a big coffee meet up with Mandy who is going to give me some support in thinking my way through the next ESTA project idea, then one with Jan to talk about her facilitating a workshop I am planning. Then its off to see Mark who knows so much about open source software and how to build software systems from the bottom up and then onto Ruta who can mentor me on the value of being more present in the moment. then finally I have an appointment with Michael to help me step back and see the bigger strategic picture in all I am doing.
Time for a break from work now and for a spot of self-care so its over to Ceri for a good tension-relieving massage then over to Dacrelands for an appointment with Dawn to advise me on nutrition for health. I will also pop in on Julia my favorite herbalist for some herbal remedies.
Then its back home for a spot of desk work. Its a good thing that Sarah is helping me with some of my admin load otherwise I would never get through it all and Phil is there to help me with my accounts and deal with the tax office for me. I am so glad I asked Dawn to help me de-clutter and organise my life better.
My big task is to build myself a shiny new web platform for all the things I do. Tony is going to build me a website tailor made for my smart phone whilst I can call on Sharon, Tom, Kui and Tom (other Tom) to build my big all singing dancing web platform for me. Then I think I will get Aaron and Tony to make sure it is optimised for the search engines and then Chris can host it all for me. Finally I need Sarah to help me develop a full blown marketing strategy. Should I ever sell anything Steven will be able to provide me with a chip and pin service and I can also ask Fiona at LL Deals to promote my business with some great customer deals. And should I have any customer data that needs analysing I can call on John.
Then its back home to check all my social media accounts. I love the cartoon avatar that Jack has dawn for me.
The garden is looking good. I think I will call upon the services Bittern Countryside to give me some additional advice on how to make the garden even more eco-firendly and some practical advice on what kind of wood-burning fire to install. And Jodie is coming round to take some photos of my lovely garden and eco-home improvements.
Time for supper and Anne Marie has just delivered a lovely fresh box of organic veg to my door, whilst eating I remember that I need to learn a new language with Kerstin. Should I go for Spanish or German?
Its on with the coat now for a night out and a full evening of creativity, fun and cultural enrichment. I have a painting class with Lucy then its over to Wendy the "Fairygodmum" for a craft-making workshop then a spot of dance therapy with Anna and Anne.
Then its off to a concert of travelers music organised by Nicky before founding off the evening with my weekly Salsa lesson.
As I lie in my new bed (delivered earlier) and muse on my day and my account of it I think that first thing in the morning I must get Judith to proof read it for me.
Good night all.