This morning started with a spate of phone calls. now, if you know me well, you'll know how much I hate telephones. I'm ridiculously awkward on the phone. Just ask Louisa. I called her last night and in our five minute chat managed to swing wildly between tongue-tied silence and embarrassing babbling half a million times or so. I have a bad case of phone phobia and probably always will.
This morning's first call was a cupcake order. Apparently I bake and sell cupcakes now. This was a friend who was at Roo's birthday party and liked the cupcakes I made. She's ordering a batch for her engagement (it's a big family event as a Muslim) to give to her fiance. So this weekend I'll be baking "boy" cupcakes.
The second call (and two more after that) was from one of the members of our neighbourhood committee that's fighting this development. Seeing it's now such a massive part of my life, I might as well explain what I've been on about. Makro wants to open a 20 000 square metre shop on the border of the development where I live. For those of you who don't know, Makro is a sort of warehouse store where you can buy in bulk, everything from booze to toilet paper or catering equipment. This will wreck our whole suburb if it comes about. All other Makros are built in commercial or industrial zones and I think it's outrageous that the company thinks it's ok to put their huge eyesore of a warehouse next to our homes. So the calls coming through this morning were about some of the campaigns we've embarked on to publicise the issue. More on that another time.
The third call was from my "big boss" at the first job I ever worked, let's call her Tannie. I was the junior copy writer for a small ad agency in Cape Town and she was the sort of top director person. I adored her (while I was totally terrified of the woman I reported to, who was between me and Tannie), but didn't get to know her very well as I was only there for four months before TSC and I relocated to Johannesburg.
She called this morning to say I should expect another call - she's been asked for a recommendation on a writer and she's given the person my details. I was so touched! I mean, I haven't seen her in a good few years and I only worked for her company for those four months, so it was incredible that she thought of me. She says she told this other person, "You can't go wrong with Tamara."
Wow. Such a confidence boost. I've since chatted to this other person and her project sounds very interesting, so we'll see where that ends up.
It gives me hope that there are people out there who are willing to give you a leg-up even when it benefits them nothing. Aside from the fact that the day has been spent on the phone, it's been pretty good so far.
10 comments:
I love the telephone, no awkardness, it is as if I am sitting opposite the person I am talking to. I know people like you though. You'd chat very nicely with them in person, but the moment you get them on the phone, it is as if you hardly know them. My brother-in-law is one of them.
I'm going thru a serious 'no phone' phase. every time it rings i scream inwardly.
i don't mind doing the phoning, but not receiving.
hope you get right with the makro thing and well done on the cuppie order. don't know waht the 'boy' wants but my hubbie goes crazy for my double choc with choc icing and topped with a Malteser (chuckle).
I HATE speaking on the phone! I think it's because people always confuse me with my mother and then whenever I answered the phone at home they'd launch into in-depth descriptions of their private lives...
it sounds like you're having a good-busy phase! I hope you beat the developers, let me know if you need an additional placard-waver!
And there's a makro in woodmead, why do they need another one in fourways? It's all of 10 minutes on the highway!
ET Phone home!
lol I'm also awkward on the phone, in the past I've made a list of points to talk about to keep the conversation going, now I usually just avoid answering the phone. Except at work, work calls I dont mind at all.
Anyways, you're right about Makro, there are two in Durban and both in industrial areas, no houses nearby, I'd be rather worried too at the prospect of Makro right next door, shame!
I no longer own a phone. I mean. I have one there. I just don't charge it and have misplaced the sim card. I am literally unreachable.
I don't want one anymore. I'm over it. But there is pressure from all sides to get one.
I guess after a while. You just have to deal with it.
Well done on your (unexpected) side business.
I think people who go out of their way to boost others like that are rare and wonderful. What a lovely lady!
Phone to say something or to ask something then end the conversation. If I want to chat I will come to visit you. I also dislike phones.
Hahaha, I think you do fine on the phone. You probably feel a lot more awkward than you are. ;-)
"You can't go wrong with Tamara." Well that is just friggin awesome!
Post a Comment