Friday 2nd May
I can now croak - hurray!!!!
Been the usual pretrip manicness today catching up with lots of bits & making sure alls shipshape before I leave.
Also booked a couple of new events - a chocolate experience (yum yum!) in Castleton & a paint your pot party.
So thats it from me folks for a week & a bit so see you all when I get back from the Tenerife Chillout trip - ta ra!
Thursday 1st May
Had a very quiet day today as have lost my voice so can't take any phonecalls. For some reason everyone who phones seems to find it amusing!!!
Wednesday 30th April 2008
Ian Rowlands our new event coordinator started today. Hope we've not bamboozled him too much. His first job is a fun one though - he'll be working with Keith Donkin sorting out all the games & buying the equipment for the krazy kamping weekend. This is selling really well with nearly 50 on it now. Ian has also said he's happy to coordinate the Huddersfield pub meets so we'll be bringing those back soon.
Booked a fabulous new fun event - a buggy treasure hunt which really does sound superb. details will be on the web mid May.
Tuesday 29th April
spent today preparing for our coordinators meeting next week (That I can't go to because I'm on the Tenerife chillout trip). Done my quarterly report, a membership trial report & my three year plan - phew!
Monday 28th April
Had a crisis with the southern ramble elders insurance last week. We have had to change the cover & its been a big price increase for everyone. As a result some walk leaders have chosen to go voluntary so they can be covered under Spice insurance as our volunteer coordinators are
Getting good feedback in from the pigout especially about the food.
Caught up with lots of bits & pieces today including re-writing all the enquiry follow up emails.
Friday 25th April 2008
Had a meeting up at Sheffield Ski village today as it has now changed ownership. They've reopened so hopefully we'll be able to run a few events up there
Tuesday 22nd April 2008.
Just finished the newsletter (That's why I've been quiet for a few days!). Lots of new & exciting events in there. It's gone off to the printers now so should be with you a day early this month.
Thursday 17th April
Been to see a new accommodation centre in Kettlewell today. it is amazing & has lots of facilities for Spice; 96 rooms, lots of function rooms, assault course in woods, playground (yippeee!), volleyball court, indoor sports room & we can even have a bonfire there (Keith will be pleased!) . Just finalising rpices for our fisrt weekend there in Oct which will be a ceroc & dance weekend.
Tuesday 15th April
Had a meeting with Joy today planning our next recruitment moves. She'll be posting info shortly on the Yorkshire messageboards.
Off up to Leeds tonight; I'm running a new members drinks night in one pub & Marks running the poker night in another pub!
Monday 14th April
Great to see so many new members at Spice dines in the city in Leeds on Saturday.
Had the style workshop at my house on Sunday too. Watch this space for the next Colour Me Beautiful event - Spice Goes Shopping!!!
Had a chat with Ian Rowlands today & he's' going to take on the position of event coordinator from next month so hopefully that'll help staffing all round.
Friday 11th April
Am home alone today as Jonathan & Val have gone up to Oasis - well apart from the man who came to service the fire & burglar alarm!!
Been handling phonecalls mainly & paying bills. Closed Spice Dines in the City for Leeds on Saturday - good numbers on that one again with quite a few prospective new members coming.
Got two new Walkwise weekends in for June & July to Skipton & Whitby so they'll be going on the web soon.
Thursday 10th April
Had a meeting up at Whirlow Hall Farm today to finalise details for our Spice barn dance in a barn! This is going to be a fantastic event. We have also chatted about lots & lots of other events we can do there as they have accommodation, meeting rooms & of course lots of fields. So watch out for lots of new events here.
Phew Doncaster Races tix finally arrived today - Jonathan & I were panicking about those! Speaking of Doncaster just booked the Xmas party at Keepmoat Stadium for 12th Dec 2008!
Jonathon has sorted our cable waterskiing dates out today so they'll be appearing on the web shortly.
Fort Belan is almost sold out so book quick if you're thinking of doing this one & Krazy Kamping now selling really well now too.
Off to buy Jonathan a new computer this afternoon as his is a bit slow so he'll now be even whizzier on it - well once we've got it & its all setup that is of course!!
Wednesday 9thApril
Yum yum last nights Gourmet burgers in Leeds were delicious!
Done all the food shopping for Oasis today including alcohol for the welcome drinks of course which will be Val's special sangria!
Finalised the details for our Hot Pants 70s night at Sheffield City Hall with a pre club buffet & drinks at Ruskins & a dance workshop in the afternoon with Sheena so we can learn the moves.
Still working on big kidz party - frustrating - can't get quite the right venue, date & price!
Friday 4th April
Jonathan has sent out the Oasis pax today.
Managed to get just 4 more slots for Jumeirah - 1st to book gets them!
Pigout now has a big 100 people on it - woo hoo!!! And the Return to the Druids ramble is going crazy - is the whole of Yorkshire Spice going to Masham that day?
Booked a date for croquet as this was so much fun last year. It's gets very competitive knocking someone else's ball out of the way it's all in the tactics!! Summer must be on its way. Time to book the gliding dates next. A new Yorkshire Dales photography weekend has also just been released for the 1st May Bank holiday weekend.
Compiled a CD of our photos for Spice UK so hopefully we'll get some Yorkshire folks on the next batch of front covers too.
Thursday 3rd April
Jonathan is busy working in the Oasis pax today & also booking a ceilidh in the West Yorks area for Fri 19th Sept.
I've sorted out the ski reunion today - will be some nice catching up with everyone again.
Finalised tickets for Last Laugh so that is now full & for Doncaster races which now has just 1 slot left.
Wednesday 2nd April
Had an interview on the radio station Sheffield Live this morning so again fingers crossed we get some enquiries.
Been paying bills & sending off deposits & confirmations all afternoon including for our New Year Ball at the Queens again next year - advance notice of date - its Sat 17th Jan 2009!
Behind the Scenes at the railway has sold out today. We're going to try & book another date for later in the year.
Tuesday 1st April
Am very upset no one fell for my April Fools event & booked my White Line Painting Day!!!
Been busy booking weekends away today for 2009 - yes you did read that right. I've booked Portmeirion for 9-11 Jan 2009 & rebooked our dance weekend at Blackpool for 30 Jan - 1st Feb 2009. Also booked Masham for July 2008 so that's now available on the web. Arranged an appointment on 17th April to see a potential new centre for a dance & walking weekend in Kettlewell although they have a very impressive range of facilities so we could be putting more on there.
Working on a big kidz party now like Manchester Spice has in their programme!
Monday 31st March 2008
The sun is shining & I feel like skipping around the office except it's not that big so I'd probably hurt myself. Better get on with some work instead then!
We have some very stylish ladies after yesterdays colour analysis went well. Just 3 places left on the Style workshop for in a fortnight.
Jumeirah curry club virtually sold out so we're trying to get more slots this week. The curry clubs seem to have a great following in Sheffield & the Spice dines nights have a great following in Leeds.
Just had to cancel the Kelham Island pub crawl as only 3 booked who said I couldn't organise a p**s up - well it did clash with the Oasis weekend - all our hardened drinkers must be on that instead!
Need to buy Doncaster race tickets in next day or two. Any more takers before I close the bookings?
Val has been working on an exciting new event - a ceilidh in a real barn with hay & straw bails etc.. to sit on. Watch this space!!!
Just got the newsletter back from the printers so should be with you guys in next day or two. We have 4 out of 5 front cover pictures from Yorkshire spice with a couple of people even starring on the same front cover twice and of course our cover star Christine is on there again!
Last chance today for booking our White Line Painting event??!!
Friday 28th March 2008
Been busy last 3 days training Lauren the new Manchester Coordinator who takes over on 1st April.
Had a good food & drink quiz on Wed even if everyone didn't find all my little eggs hidden round the pub on the Easter egg treasure hunt & I had to restrain Pete from finishing off all the shots!
Was up at 6am to do an interview on Radio Sheffield. Had 3 enquiries before 10am from it.
Tuesday 25th March 2008
Came in to 322 emails this morning & it was my newsletter print deadline - stressed me never!
Sounds like the Yurt weekend has gone really well but we've had a disaster on the multi activity day as it was cancelled due to snow but only on the day so some folks travelled there.
Thursday 20th March 2008
Very busy on newsletter today - June Center Parcs is sorted & on web now as is the ski trip for 2009
Jonathan has been busy booking all the Oasis sports which are now online for booking.
All the Sheffield meals are up as is a trip to the circus & a cream tea on a vintage train from Oxenhope & a new Rap workshop in Leeds.
Got a few more slots for Jeera curry club next week as it had sold out
Just now working on a new 70s dance class with a trip to Hotpants at Sheffield city Hall after but that'll be for June so in the May newsletter.
Office is closed over the bank holiday weekend so have a good Easter & we'll reopen on Tuesday.
Wednesday 19th March 2008
Had fun in ASDA last night shopping for food & drink quiz. Can't reveal what I bought until quizzes happened though!!
Have booked 2009 Yorkshire ski trip to La Plagne on 18th Jan with Mark Warner. hope to have writeup in next newsletter.
Been a Busy bee on the newsletter so keep your eyes peeled online for all the new events - dragonboat racing in Leeds, Barcelona night at Baldwins Omega, aerial extreme, beginners surfing...
Just waiting for June Center Parcs writeup too from Spice UK
Tuesday 18th March 2008
Just back from a fantastic Yorkshire ski trip. Feel like I've been abroad for most of last 4 weeks - oh I have!! So next job is to book 2009 ski trip.
We have had a new software upgrade today. All details of changes are on the message boards.
Pigout has sold out last night. Clay Pigeon now sold out. Managed to get more slots on Indian Head Ramble though & abseiling for the Terrified. Trying to get more slots for Curry Club to Jeera as that now has a waitlist.
Starting work on the newsletter today - I hope if I can see the wood for the trees.
Wednesday 5th March
I'm still swaying after the ferry to the Dead Rat Ball. What a fab weekend & what super Spice members were on this weekend. They certainly knew how to party. One new member (naming no names) was the last to leave the Dead Rat Ball at 7.30am!!!
Been really busy today catching up on emails, setting up March's feedback survey, submitting the files for our monthly direct debit returns & writing our enquiry follow on emails.
Just time for a quick tea before dashing off to the ramble leaders meeting tonight.
Thursday 28th February
Feel very relieved I've found a costume for the Dead Rat Ball yesterday although it does involve wearing a turban covered in fruit on my head.
Got an overflow date for Grassington Challenge walk (although its earlier than 1st one - 21st June), got another villa for Oasis & now have the field archery dates for this summer. Quite a few events for the next couple of weekends are now finalised & fully booked. Still struggling on Leeds sports. Think we'll be cancelling next weeks spiceball as only 3 are booked.
Been busy preparing call sheets for our new member care programme for ringing all this months new trial members. Thanx to Lynn & Nettie who will be coming in some evenings in March to make the phonecalls. Also preparing a mailshot with help from Dianne at Spice London to go out in March to all last years enquirers.
I'm not in now till Wed 5th March now as will be in Belgium with the Dead Rat Ball crowd. Am a bit worried Craig has set his heart on bringing a dead rat home - I'm not sitting near him on the coach!
Tuesday 26th February
Sent names off to mail house today. Newsletters should be back from printers on Thursday.
Been working on Dead Rat Ball itinerary for handing out on coach on Friday & sending out invites for the Spice in the City nights to new members & enquiries. With 108 new members so far this month they could be busy!
Now time to prep for tonight's Pre ski meet
Monday 25th February
Catch up day today with 179 emails that needed looking at!
Great to see 50 laready booked on Yorkshire Pigout - have just got another 20 slots as we'd sold out. The Grassington Challenge walk sold out really quickly - will ask Steve to do some more of these.
Saturday 16th February
The Prague weekend is now written up & open for bookings.
I'm off to Cervinia skiing so leave my blog for a week. I'll leave the Spice office in Val & Jonathans Capable hands. Ta ra!
Friday 15th February
Up to 97 new members so far in Feb now!
Frantically working on newsletter as am away skiing next week. Trying to find a venue with internet access for a family tree workshop.
Am looking at options for next years ski trip too.
Had to cancel Stevie B's rambles as he's come back from a ski trip with a broken leg! Must ban walk leaders from skiing next year!!!!!
Looking forward to the Champagne Bar on Saturday evening. Could do with a glass right now to help me type up newsletter. Mind you the I'm typing up the Prague trip so it may end up in Paris if I did so maybe not!!
Talking of Paris I went to St Pancras & saw the new Eurostar terminal - must get that on for Spice -its so easy to catch the train now. It's in my to do file!!
Tuesday 12th February
Now up to 82 new members in February.
Busy working on events for next newsletter as I am away in London for Marks 40th tomorrow & Thursday & then off skiing next week.
Trapeze has sold out but we have an overflow date for May. Leeds wine tasting just 1 slot left. Ski lessons at Xscape are now full.
It's handback day on Friday for Oasis slots so book by then if you fancy going.
Booked a fab new White Line Painting Experience for April!!
Monday 11th February
Recovering from a fun weekend. Nice to meet some new members at Spice in the City & to catch up with some old friends at a reunion from the Spice Canaries cruise I did in October
Been busy processing new members all day which is great. Had 49 join over the weekend!
Friday 8th February
Sent out a big membership promotion today via email so hoping to get lots of new members in February.
Thursday 7th February
Sold last slot on Yorkshire ski trip today. Been finalising meal package for Dead Rat Ball - 22 of us are doing the meals.
Spice Birmingham have given us a fantastic one off airship experience event - full details on the web. Also booked a Behind the Scenes Railway visit at Haworth.
Wednesday 6th February
Had my annual review with Dave today. We have decided to try some new recruitment methods & for me to recruit a new part time position of events coordinator so will need to write a job description for them.
Monday 4th February
I'm aching all over from the Spice Dance Extravaganza weekend!! It was such a brilliant weekend though - I want to be a Bollywood dancer when I grow up!
Been really busy in the Spice office today. I've not even managed to get through all my emails. Val is off on the Spice UK Ski Deluxe trip so I'm manning the phones by myself.
Just been finalising dates/deals for next years New Year Ball & next years Dance Extravaganza weekend.
Thursday 31st January
Oh no I have a leak in bathroom cupboard - all my Spice leaflets are soggy!!! Got Pete the plumber in looking at ballcock type things!
Had a nice meal out last night with some girlfriends at The Marrakech, the new Moroccan restaurant in Sheffield so have booked it for Spice in April.
Working on the Dead Rat Ball today with Jonathan juggling bits & pieces.
Wednesday 30th January
Handed lots of leaflets out this morning - thanx Jacqui. Fingers crossed for some new members from it.
Been writing my report for the next quarterly coordinators meeting this afternoon although I can't attend it as it falls exactly on Mark's 40th & we're off to London then for 2 days. Also been analysing January event feedback & looking at entries for the Spice Live Your Dream competition - some fascinating ideas there.
We've managed to increase numbers for the Aagrah & Yorkies but not Spice Dines Jamaican as it's a small venue. The bridge abseil & ladder climb has sold out as has Leeds bowling on Thursday & the Mongolian Yurt Weekend.
The newsletters are back form the printers & going out to members today.
Tuesday 29th January
It's been a day of admin bits today; paying bills, updating the direct debit system & sorting out next months renewal letters.
Just preparing now for tomorrow when I'm at a company day where we've kindly been asked to do a presentation on Spice by Jacqui. Happy to do presentations elsewhere if anyone else thinks their company would be interested just give me a yell.
Quite a few of the Sheffield meals are nearly full although we'll endeavour to try & increase nos. Nearly full are Yorkies Dinner Shuffle, Curry Club at Aagrah & Spice dines Jamaican. The walkwise Lakeland weekend has also now sold out. Just 1 female slot left on the Dead Rat Ball.
Monday 28th January
Just back from the Tignes Ski trip which was fabulous. The ski conditions were excellent & hotel fab too. Don't mention the flight delays home though!!
On a major catchup day on emails & getting names off to mailing house for Feb newsletter which Jonathan finished while I was away. It should be with Spice members on Friday if all goes to plan.
Saturday 19th January
Off on the Spice Uk ski trip to Tignes with 60 others. See you all when I get back. Ta ra!!
Friday 18th January
Had my head down full steam with the newsletter last few days before I set off on the Ski Tignes trip. Virtually there I think (hope!!). Most new events now available online
Finalised beer tasting numbers & closed off today. Will be closing the Dead Rat Ball too on 28th when I get back from skiing. Got 5 more spaces on Shapla Curry event now over 25 booked on that. Had to postpone trapeze date as only 2 booked & that one normally sells out.
Wednesday 16th January
Had a funny 2 days as windscreen wipers on car have broken & require a part so I am carless in the rain at the moment & of course it's done nothing but rain! Hence didn't make it to Dalesbridge but good ol' Keith did. We have now sorted all our details for our Krazy Kamping weekend at the May bank holiday so I just need to type it all up now.
We have also booked a Newcastle Party weekend for the Aug Bank holiday & Fort Belan is sorted for June 2008. Phew just Masham to finalise now!
Starting to work on the newsletter so that Jonathan can finish it while I'm on the Ski Tignes trip next week
Champagne Bar night has sold out, as has Dance Extravaganza weekend & Double adventure Day & Abseiling for the Terrified. The walks are also selling like hot cakes at the moment with quite a few of them full or very nearly full well into the future.
Thank you to the Sheffield spiceball crew for going up to Leeds tonight to support our new spiceball event up there.
Sunday 13th January
Sitting in office slightly jaded after the New Year Ball. It was a fab night & great to see Jonathan getting the dance floor going to Green Door! Need to gather some energy up to go blading at Xscape later & then am up early in the morning as going up to Dalesbridge with Keith Donkin to finalise our big new camping weekend up there for May.
Just getting Fort Belan dates sorted too especially for Claire Smith!!!
Ps The floating balls on Thursday didn't disappoint. You have to do this event to see these. A great fun cheap winter event. Pat Molloy was Cosmic golf champion for 2008!
Thursday 10th January
Today is the day of my floating balls experience!!! I'm off to Cosmic golf & the folks who went last time aid you wear these 3D glasses & it looks like the golf balls are floating.
The champagne bar event for Feb is nearly full & the rambles are doing really well with quite a few of them even a way off not far off full
My legs are aching from my first little ski of the season last night & I only did an hour. Hope I'm OK for the Tignes trip!
Wednesday 9th January
Jonathon is finalising all ball details today - menus, rooming, table plans etc.. & then we're closing event off 140 booked so far.
I'm off to test out the new Chill Factor ski slope in Manchester today to get my ski legs warmed up for the Spice UK Ski Tignes trip
Tuesday 8th January
Been to launch of Cliffhanger 2008 at The Climbing Works this morning where Joe Simpson was being interviewed. Should be in the papers at the weekend & on local news programmes tonight as TV crew was there.
Booked a big new camping weekend at Dalesbridge for 2nd May bank holiday in May. It will be run with lots of fun sports & games - hosted by our very own Keith Donkin. Also trying to finalise Masham dates for 2008.
Walkwise Lakeland weekend had quite a few bookings in today so this is now nearly full.
Monday 7th January
Had a good Spice in the City on Saturday. Nice to see quite a few new faces joining us.
Been in a recruitment & marketing meeting most of today. Planning on introducing Spice into the corporate sector in early 2008.
Friday 4th January
Managed to book a great new event - a Yorkshire Pigout & sleepover party at the Leeds/Bradford Cedar Court Hotel. Spice Birmingham have run these events many times & they're legendary!!
Mongolian Yurt weekend is now sold out.
Off to the Last Laugh comedy club tonight & going to test the new Aagrah restaurant in Sheffield beforehand - all in the name of duty of course!!
Thursday 3rd January 2008
Bookings coming in thick & fast for the New Year Ball on 12th January at The Queens Hotel, Leeds. There's only a handful of places left so don't snooze & lose!
Jonathan is busy working on the seating plan.
Also selling well is the Spice Dines Japanese & the Mongolian Yurt & the Dead Rat Ball weekends.
We're handing back any unsold slots on our Yorkshire ski trip tomorrow so again book quick if you fancy hitting those slopes in 2008 - snow so far this season is fab.
Wednesday 2nd January 2008
Happy New Year to all Spicers present, past & future. We're braced here at the Spice office for a fun packed & busy January with our normal high influx of new members & event bookings.