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Ross Smith, Head of Policy and Research at the North-East Chamber of Commerce »
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Paul Williamson from Deloitte »The list of 'things to do' is slowly turning into a tome of almost biblical proportions. Task 136: Thou must order more ribbon - probably two wilt be cheaper than one.' The business partner and I recite from it at length and use it to flag ourselves at intervals.
I find myself mentally rebelling against the neccessary rigidity of my day job and the depressing monotony of North-east weather. I will not make this just another thing that needs to be done. I want my business to be firstly creative and secondly a business. And the trade off might be less sales.
Like alot of people trying to get a business off the ground I cannot afford not to work as well as run the business. The upside of this is it takes the pressure of having to make money every month. On the downside it can leave you feeling less entused to deal with the day to day administration of a business. I'm starting to cling to the creativity it offers and resent the rest.
Today especially a memory from last summer kept popping up in my conscious and I know exactly what it's trying to tell me. I want to be more like Edward Gorey.
On my hols last summer myself and my business partner happened apon a real curio. We'd driven down to Cape cod from Boston and had come to a little town called Yarmouthport which seemed picture perfect to an almost disturbing degree. White picket fences, hosepipe ban inducing lawns, law enforcement that took off dark aviators and asked without irony 'How y'all doing?' all were present and not quite correct.
Barely had the door on our hire care slammed shut than a thin film of sweat appeared on our upper lips and our eyes hazed without sunglasses. Our guide book informed us that 'respected author and illustrator Edward Goreys house could be visited on certain days at certain times one of which just so happened to be the day and the time we were there.
It was one of those occasions where you feel really happy because you've been completely suprised in the best possible way. Intangibly you feel a bit different and a bit removed from the you that lives in reality. That's what the Edward Gorey house did for me. Weird and wonderful and completely removed from all the things that you have to do in life.
"It came 17 years ago - and to this day
It has shown no intention of going away.�
from The Doubtful Guest, by Edward Gorey
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