Julie & Julia

We went to see Julie and Julia last night. It is, apparently, the first film based on a blog.

The blog in question was written by a woman in who set herself the challenge of cooking her way through an enormous cookbook in a single year. Inevitably there comes a day when she hasn’t managed to cook a thing.

Her husband says: “Well, can’t you just lie – who’s going to know?”

And I think what she says is “I’ll know.”

And by astonishing coincidence, that’‘s exactly what happened to me today.

Today I did not say my piece to a single person. Not one.

I started off with a breakfast meeting (this is a week of three breakfast meetings which is a mistake). It dragged. I rushed home. The dog got a very fast walk while I made a series of phone calls (which meant I had to hand out cards with an inane smile and encouraging gestures but not actually talk to anyone). Then off to pick up my son’s saxophone from school and take it with my daughter’s clarinet to be repaired (don’t drop wind instruments on the floor).

The plan then was to go into town for a few things and hand out 50 cards which means at least six people are going to say “What’s this?” … which in turn means I can tell them.

But that’s not what happened. Just as I was about to leave, a customer phoned to say she was now out of her BT broadband contract and could she please have the Utility Warehouse service. Since she has not paid three bills yet, this is not something I can order for her. She would have to sign another form – or call the office herself. I started giving her the number. Then I came to my senses.

“Tell you what,” I said. “Why don’t I pop round now, I’m only five minutes away.”

Think about it: Is that the sort of service she was used to from BT. Is she going to be pleased?

You bet she was. And so after I had got the MAC code off BT and politely fended off their attempts to keep her, I said brightly: “Now, remember the club doesn’t advertise so we rely entirely on our members recommending their friends. So who would you like to recommend today. I can take six names.”

“Oh my goodness,” she said. “I might manage a couple.”

She did. But I had already written down the numbers 1 – 6 in my book and sat there with my pen poised over number three.

So she gave me another.

And then a fourth.

And sure enough, we managed to fill all six spaces.

Of course, if I had dashed home and called all six, I could have claimed to have met my target. But first I have to let my happy customer call to warn them I’ll be in touch – which conveniently turns them from cold calls into warm leads.

So I’m not going to beat myself up too much about it. Still, must do better tomorrow…