The May Jotter
A collection of things that have piqued my interest, sparked a thought, or compelled me to do something.
01. A story - about great service
From an article in the Observer Magazine by Jay Rayner.
“Here’s a story of great service (which I’ve told before, but it deserves repeating).
A friend took a date to Elena’s L’Etoile on Charlotte Street. It was named after Elena Salvoni, the legendary maître d’ who had run the dining rooms of some of Soho’s most famous restaurants…
Early on in the date, my friend started surreptitiously patting his trouser pockets. A waiter tapped him on the shoulder. He had a telephone call at the front desk. (Yes, it was that long ago.) The chap was baffled. Few people knew where he was that evening.
When he got to reception, he found Elena, perched as always on her stool, watching the room, missing nothing. She said: “You’ve forgotten your wallet, haven’t you?” He agreed that he had. That was what he had been searching his pockets for. “Don’t worry,” she said. “Pay me tomorrow. Go enjoy your dinner.”
02. A Book - The Backbone of Britain: The People Behind the Craft by With Love
I saw a tweet saying there were only five copies of this book left and so I jumped in and bought one straight away. I’m glad I did.
Not only is it beautifully presented; it is also beautifully written. The book was written by the creative agency With Love. They drove the length and breadth of Britain to meet “the people behind the craft.” It’s full of tales of inspirational people who love what they do and care how it is made.
03. Talented friends - Dunleavy Vineyards
Ingrid planted her vineyard in Somerset in 2008 and after a few years of hard work, produced her first rosé in 2013.
Her 2019 rosé is excellent and demonstrates that English wine is as good, if not better, as any wine our continental neighbours can produce.
She is currently offering free delivery on orders of 6+ bottles, which is a perfect excuse to sample some.
Chin-chin.
04. A quote
From someone who borrowed a fiver from my great-grandfather, Professor F.S.Granger (true story).
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Albert Einstein
05. Something new - Hey
Those clever people from Basecamp (formerly 37 Signals), are launching Hey on 15th June. They say:
“It’s a redo, a rethink, a simplified, potent reintroduction of email. A fresh start, the way it should be.”
They explain more here: 25 reasons why email needs some love.
06. Design - retro posters of Bradford on Avon
Beautifully designed posters commissioned by our Town Council.
07. Work
This month, we have finished the website for a Bradford on Avon based sports massage therapist. It will be launched when current Covid-19 guidelines allow him to return to work.
We have started a new project with our favourite patented entrepreneurs, Digital Drink Dispensers, and we edge nearer to the launch of a new website for the Wiltshire & Swindon Cultural Education Partnership.
In addition, you may recall that last month we helped to launch a new charity called care4carers. This month we launched the full website.
