Keri Jones comes round....

 This is Alfred interview

Fwd: Housekeeping Tasks

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: peteralleyn <peteralleyn@btinternet.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2021 at 19:42
Subject: Re: Housekeeping Tasks
To: Anna McDowell <dorsetbuttons@gmail.com>, CLAIRE WATERS <claire.waters@live.co.uk>, Cali Norton <cali@thedorsetretreat.co.uk>, Diana Girdwood <dianagirdwood@hotmail.com>, Emma Dunne <emmasteell@icloud.com>, Fiona Ingram <fiona@fionaingramjewellery.co.uk>, Francesca lombard <flombi@gmail.com>, Greg Bastin <g.bastin737@btinternet.com>, Grenville Allen <grenvilleallen@gmail.com>, Jason Fermor <fermorjason@gmail.com>, Lindsay Keir <lindsaykeir@hotmail.com>, Lisa South <lisasouth49@googlemail.com>, Maxine Chandler <maxine@maxinechandler.com>, Paul Phillips <phillips_paul@btinternet.com>, Rachel Raine <rachelraine@hotmail.co.uk>, Roz Legge <orchardfelts@gmail.com>, alan.rutter.sculptor@gmail.com <alan.rutter.sculptor@gmail.com>, gaynor.ringland@btinternet.com <gaynor.ringland@btinternet.com>, katetoms@hotmail.co.uk <katetoms@hotmail.co.uk>, lotsoffluffforjess@gmail.com <lotsoffluffforjess@gmail.com>, victoriagarlandprints@outlook.com <victoriagarlandprints@outlook.com>, yve.sturgeon@hotmail.com <yve.sturgeon@hotmail.com>

Well Done Grenville!

Excellent summary - Just right 👏 😃

Thanks very much

Peter 😷

------ Original Message ------
From: "Grenville Allen" <grenvilleallen@gmail.com>
To: "alan.rutter.sculptor@gmail.com" <alan.rutter.sculptor@gmail.com>; "Anna McDowell" <dorsetbuttons@gmail.com>; "Cali Norton" <cali@thedorsetretreat.co.uk>; "CLAIRE WATERS" <claire.waters@live.co.uk>; "Diana Girdwood" <dianagirdwood@hotmail.com>; "Fiona Ingram" <fiona@fionaingramjewellery.co.uk>; "Francesca lombard" <flombi@gmail.com>; "Greg Bastin" <g.bastin737@btinternet.com>; "Jason Fermor" <fermorjason@gmail.com>; "Lindsay Keir" <lindsaykeir@hotmail.com>; "Lisa South" <lisasouth49@googlemail.com>; "Maxine Chandler" <maxine@maxinechandler.com>; "Paul Phillips" <phillips_paul@btinternet.com>; "Roz Legge" <orchardfelts@gmail.com>; "Peter Alleyn" <peteralleyn@btinternet.com>; "Rachel Raine" <rachelraine@hotmail.co.uk>; "yve.sturgeon@hotmail.com" <yve.sturgeon@hotmail.com>; "katetoms@hotmail.co.uk" <katetoms@hotmail.co.uk>; "lotsoffluffforjess@gmail.com" <lotsoffluffforjess@gmail.com>; "victoriagarlandprints@outlook.com" <victoriagarlandprints@outlook.com>; "gaynor.ringland@btinternet.com" <gaynor.ringland@btinternet.com>; "Emma Dunne" <emmasteell@icloud.com>
Sent: Thursday, 18 Mar, 21 At 19:13
Subject: Housekeeping Tasks

Hello All

With regard to the tasks that are required to be undertaken by each artist as per the new Cygnet Constitution this is where we are up to so far:

Task/Name of Artist(s) taking responsibility
Vacuuming (including cobwebs on the ceilings and walls!) = Greg
Steam cleaning the floor = Yve/Emma
Cleaning the common areas eg the staff seating areas & screens = ?
Cleaning the glass in all the entrance doors = Victoria
Cleaning the kitchen = Lisa
Tea towel washing and replacement = ?
Paper towels replenished in dispenser = Hazel
Tea, coffee and powdered milk monitor = Peter
Credit card rolls (make sure we don't run out) = Peter
Pens, sticky tape and miscellaneous stationery = Peter
Ordering packaging (bags, bubble wrap) = Rachel
Emptying bins = Lisa
Hand sanitiser monitor = Peter

Peter seems to have a lot of tasks but he feels these lumped together make sense and he's happy to do them. It's important that all artists are given the opportunity to take part in the smooth running of the gallery so the remaining tasks are open to those who have not had an opportunity to get involved. To that end, please let me know if you would like to take on either of the two tasks remaining.

Cheers

Grenville

Grenville

Allen

f i n e a r t i s t

www.grenvilleallen.com

Twitter Facebook Blog

'Albert's Little Vice'

About Albert's Little Vice....

Just thought I'd point out how far ahead of its time my novel actually was. There's humour but also a lot of dark episodes. Mitch's wife, Jackie, is sexually harassed by her immediate office boss. The novel essentially is a satire about office life. I really do tell it all like it is. As I say, Albert's Little Vice is chock full of swearing, physical violence, the lot. Penguin saw the mix of humour and more sober sequences as problematic. As did Hodder and Stoughton, where Hazel ended up working. It was because of this connection that I was able to write to Fay Weldon, who was very encouraging. After numerous rejection slips I gave up. And went back to my painting.

Have a good weekend.

Cheers 👍🎨

Grenville

 

Zoom meetings

Subject: Re: Shelves
To: Gaynor 

'Afternoon Gaynor

Ta for your nice compliments re our new display.

And yes, go for it on FB etc. This 'idea' of renting that area out to 'visiting artists' won't work.

Here's handy advice for setting up a Zoom meeting btw: just click here. 

And as regards Jackie Weaver.... Just click here!  

Would you like to be on the committee? We definitely need people like you.  👍

 

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

On Fri, 12 Mar 2021 at 10:06, Gaynor wrote:

Hmmm what a shame. Sorry you had to go it alone. Perhaps we need to get Jackie Weaver in!

I was off work yesterday but forgot about the zoom meeting. It annoys me that I miss them because I don't feel like I have a voice, though I know that you speak for me, which is appreciated. 

I personally feel that throwing money at an old rag like the Blackmore Vale is a waste of time. I do like the paper but what's the readership? You have to have a good editorial piece to capture people's interest. 

We need to move forward not back. That corner where you have moved your work to looks bloody brilliant! It looks fresh and clean and as a customer I would head over in that direction. The other corner which I want to tear down! Haha! Is cramped and dark. I personally would not want the window space but I can see its potential as a shared space. Also whilst I'm on a rant, I think we need a decent potter and another couple of jewellers. Am I allowed to spread the word on FB etc?

I like change. Change is good. 

Thank you so much Grenville and don't worry we shall get there. 

Gaynor

Xx

It's all up in the air, Gaynor.

Having been to this Zoom meeting tonight, I can see why nothing ever gets done. None of them can decide whether to open that area up to visiting artists and rip out all the shelf units. Or not.

I dunno. Enough to make one lose the will to live.

Reminds me of my days in advertising. I'd get a bright go-getting idea so far only for it to be shot down half way through.

Aaaargh! No thanks for all the FB posts and tweets I do either. There seems to be a sense of humour bypass. (I spent many years at JWT Manchester in Dean St where they got where I was coming from ~ and McCann Erickson in Prestbury ~ before I was poached by a London ad agency.)

Cali's response upon reading 'Albert's Little Vice' intro....

From: Cali Norton 

Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2021 at 10:24
Subject: Re: 'Albert's Little Vice'
To: Grenville Allen <grenvilleallen@gmail.com>

I really enjoyed reading this, Grenville! I can see it as one of those illustrated adult comic books, a bit like Posy Simmonds, Thomas Hardy's heroine!

Well done indeed!

C x 

On 5 Mar 2021, at 10:17, Grenville Allen <grenvilleallen@gmail.com> wrote:

'Morning Cali and Roz

Here you are, as promised, the opening to my novel. The paper aeroplanes were being thrown over the Tottenham Court Road from our ad agency in the adjoining Percy St was all invented in reality by me. The silly nonsense I came up with was called the Across The Road Club. This is how we spent our time in a top London ad agency. I've swapped it all round in Albert's Little Vice to occurring in a downtrodden agency up north. This is where our hero is endeavouring to escape from to get into a swish metropolitan agency.

Again ~ in real life ~ one of the copywriters throwing those paper 'planes went on to TBWA in Kings Cross, another top ad agency, where he began another club of his own, throwing fishing lines out of the office window in an effort to catch a fish from the canal below. That copywriter is Trevor Beattie who came up with FCUK, etc, became a creative director and ultimately a joint creative director/chairman at his own agency, Beattie McGuiness Bungay. (According to Wikipedia he is a founding partner, chairman and creative director of Beattie McGuinness Bungay (BMB), and was formerly the chairman and creative director of TBWA London. Considered one of the leading figures in advertising in Britain, Beattie has been responsible for a number of high-profile and sometimes controversial advertising campaigns, most notably the "fcuk" campaign for French Connection and the 1994 Playtex Wonderbra campaign featuring Eva Herzigová.)

Anyway, that's how we spent our time in advertising, fuelled by plenteous amounts of drink. On the downside, the chap who gave me my big break in London, Terry Howard (famous for "Were you truly wafted in from paradise? Nah, Luton Airport"), ended up on a Zimmer frame in a care home and his art director came to me years later looking for a job! Both of them have now passed away; the one who came to me for a job, Cyril Vickers, followed me on Facebook and died recently at 84.

Just click on this to see the intro to Albert's Little Vice. Don't worry. It's quite brief.

Cheers! 👍🎨

 

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

On Thu, 4 Mar 2021 at 15:17, Grenville Allen <grenvilleallen@gmail.com> wrote:

No probs. It was my way of softening Hazel's blunter, slightly more confrontational approach. 

Don't ever worry about my altering what I've written to suit. Spent over twenty-five years doing precisely this in the advertising business. I'll send you a link to the 1st chapter of my novel 'Albert's Little Vice', satirising that world. A literary agent said he'd love to see the next 75,000 words on the strength of reading my intro. Then he chickened out on receiving the conclusion. Aargh! 😲

Anyway, just drop that para. As the literary agent wrote back to me: humour is an uphill struggle to find a publisher!

Cheers.👍

Grenville

        Grenville Allen
www.grenvilleallen.com

On Thu, 4 Mar 2021 14:55 Cali Norton wrote:

Thank you Grenville, for your swift answer re Peter. That's 7/9 so far in approval for him to come onto the Committee!

Just one little thing in discussion with Roz. Would you mind editing some of this last para in your email re Cleaning? Could you edit out:

Reggie Perrin's Grot Shop springs to mind. Or Sunshine Desserts ~ where another one of the letters on their sign would fall off in each new episode. As in S_shin_ D_ss_rts!

So it reads:

Hello everyone

Now we have a date for reopening our wonderful gallery this is just a reminder about cleaning duties. You may remember that at the end of last year I put in a request for Cygnet members to take on a task to save our employing a professional cleaning company. This is for a trial period of two months to see if we can all make it work.

A list of tasks to be filled is pinned up in the kitchen. These are the results so far.... 

Task/Name of Artist(s) taking responsibility
Vacuuming (including cobwebs on the ceilings and walls!) = Greg
Steam cleaning the floor
Cleaning the common areas eg the staff seating areas & screens
Cleaning the glass in all the entrance doors = Victoria
Cleaning the kitchen = Lisa
Tea towel washing and replacement = Peter
Paper towels replenished in dispenser = Hazel
Tea, coffee and powdered milk monitor
Credit card rolls (make sure we don't run out)
Pens, sticky tape and miscellaneous stationery
Ordering packaging (bags, bubble wrap) = Rachel
Emptying bins = Lisa
Hand sanitiser monitor 

Now then. Any more of you willing and able to go on the list? After all, the tasks aren't onerous and it would keep our lovely gallery looking tip-top and inviting. It's all about enhancing the customer experience. You may greet them with a smile but it's not a good look if there are cobwebs dangling all around you. So please, please come forward and light your own name up blue ~ as above. You know it makes sense.

And leave out:

Reggie Perrin's Grot Shop springs to mind. Or Sunshine Desserts ~ where another one of the letters on their sign would fall off in each new episode. As in S_shin_ D_ss_rts!

Roz is a bit worried that some of the artists just don't 'get' this kind of humour… and that a more transactional approach might be better.

Thanks, Grenville. You're doing a great job!

Cali

Housekeeping tasks in the Cygnet Gallery

From: Grenville 

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2021 at 12:55
Subject: Housekeeping tasks

Hello everyone

You may remember that at the end of last year I put in a request for Cygnet members from January 1 to take on various tasks to save our employing a professional cleaning company. This is for a trial period of two months to see if we can all make it work.

A list of tasks to be filled is pinned up in the kitchen. These are the results so far.... 

Task/Name of Artist(s) taking responsibility
Vacuuming (including cobwebs on the ceilings and walls!) = Greg
Steam cleaning the floor
Cleaning the common areas eg the staff seating areas & screens
Cleaning the glass in all the entrance doors
Cleaning the kitchen = Lisa
Tea towel washing and replacement = Peter
Paper towels replenished in dispenser = Grenville
Tea, coffee and powdered milk monitor
Credit card rolls (make sure we don't run out)
Pens, sticky tape and miscellaneous stationery
Ordering packaging (bags, bubble wrap) = Rachel
Emptying bins = Lisa
Hand sanitiser monitor 

Now then. Any more of you willing and able to go on the list? After all, the tasks aren't onerous and it would keep our lovely gallery looking tip-top and inviting. It's all about enhancing the customer experience. You may greet them with a smile but it's not a good look if there are cobwebs dangling all around you. Reggie Perrin's Grot Shop springs to mind. Or Sunshine Desserts ~ where another one of the letters on their sign would fall off in each new episode. As in S_shin_ D_ss_rts!

So please, please come forward and light your own name up blue ~ as above. You know it makes sense.

 

Cygnet Members Liaison Officer

Fwd: Cygnet photos

 --------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Liz Shewan 
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2021 at 16:27
Subject: Cygnet photos

Apologies for the wait... here you go.  Let me know that they work your end. There's two folders filled with photos (in the link below), one file edited and ready to use, another full of unedited photos.  I hope that helps you out.

Liz x

Items Shared on 04-02-2021

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Fwd: Thank you!

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Cali Norton
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2021 at 18:05
Subject: Thank you!
To: Grenville Allen <grenvilleallen@gmail.com>

Dear Grenville,
Firstly, a very Happy birthday for 21st(!) and secondly, a big thank you for the lovely 'blurb ' you wrote on Facebook re my GGG grandmother yesterday. That was really kind.
The whole Cygnet Facebook page is looking so much better....comments are vibrant and relevant and engaging....you're doing a great job 👏.
Thank you...it will keep our image alive!
All the very best,
Cali

Sent from my iPad

The art of the #CygnetGallery

The #CygnetGallery is a cooperative of around 25 fabulous artists and makers. Whether you're out to buy a greetings card or a piece of original art you'll always be welcome.

Pop in for a browse. There's always something new to see.

Our range pretty much covers the lot: paintings and prints, jewellery, fused glass, woodwork, leatherwork, textile art, photography, pottery, sculptures, metalwork.

A veritable cornucopia. No wonder we're known as the creative  of Shaftesbury.

We're open Monday to Saturday, 10 'til 4.30. We've hand sanitisers and follow all the government social distancing guidelines.

 

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January

From: Grenville Allen

Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2020 at 09:16
Subject: Re: Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January
To: Des Alner 

Oh dear, Des. Sounds like with FIVE in the gallery last night it was hopelessly over-staffed. If there'd been Lisa's idea of putting bouncers on the door it would have been nigh on impossible to keep socially distant. Remember the government guidelines: wash your hands, cover your face, keep space. Hands ~ face ~ space!

Anyway, that was that. Late night openings are over now. But. With normal opening hours from Christmas to the New Year the Cygnet could possibly be in with a few sales. We've found many people are out looking for something to do during the aforementioned period and are keen to spend their gift money.

If ~ and admittedly it's a big if ~ we can continue without being put into a complete lockdown. Government announcement due for the latest tiers and guidelines from December 30. I fear the worst. But like you, Des, I don't want to appear too negative. It's like we're living in a horror movie. Surreal.

Our experience on Sunday at Salisbury gave a fair indication of how the public is reacting to all this. Most wearing masks. V subdued. We took a third of what we took there last year.

Hazel and I up for it ~ hands sanitised, masks on, socially distant. As I say though, there'll probably be a complete lockdown soon! 

So to sum up: we'll be guided by the science. 

PS Rent goes back up from January 1. Unless we hear to the contrary.

 

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 23:11, Des Alner wrote:

Hello All.

 Having helped with tonight`s late opening. The whole town was shut after 5pm. apart from Swans yard. So extremely quiet. There were 5 of us in and in discussion were of the opinion that we should close from Xmas to new year on the 4th. As Lindsay and Diana have already expressed their views ,I propose we extend the views to all. Most of town will be shut and considering our current crisis , we need to decide quickly as many of us have to deal with family issues etc. which have been impacted by the crisis.  So does the committee want to take this on or leave to everyone`s response ? I think we need a decision SAP . Not wanting to be negative. 

  take care  Des     

On Monday, 21 December 2020, 11:51:27 GMT, Liz Shewan wrote:

I take it we're staying open... aren't we lucky when everywhere else is going into tier 4!  Logically we all sit in the gallery or shop for groceries and mix with people not in our households as it is, so I do wonder what's the difference to any other time?  

Happy Christmas everyone x

---

  

 

Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January

Subject: Re: Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January

To: Liz Shewan 

There's talk of tier 5, Liz! So we're especially lucky!

And more good news: we went up the step ladder to unlock the towel dispenser high up on a wall in the Cygnet Gallery kitchen ~ and then filled it with paper towels! 

Actually, Roz was on hand the other morning to supply me with a paper towel to staunch the blood caused by a little nail which caught one of my fingers. The nail was jutting out from one of the A-boards when I was taking it out to set up. All ok now, Roz, and no signs of any tetanus.

I've attached the tier 5 rules. And an overhead shot of how the proposed area in tier 5 will look....

A merry socially distanced Christmas, everyone, and HNY21! 🎅🎄

 

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

On Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 11:51, Liz Shewan <lizshewanart@outlook.com> wrote:

I take it we're staying open... aren't we lucky when everywhere else is going into tier 4!  Logically we all sit in the gallery or shop for groceries and mix with people not in our households as it is, so I do wonder what's the difference to any other time?  

Happy Christmas everyone x

---

Subject: Re: Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January

 

Well done, Kate! I admire your positivity.

One really can't assume that everyone's mixing with other households. It'll be business as usual for Hazel and me. We don't mix with people as a general rule.

Hazel and I are in for the Saturday and we'll be happy to do Christmas and the New Year.

And ~ by the by ~ we've just been into the gallery and pinned up the new rotas in the kitchen for those not online. We went in and did this after doing the #SalisburyChristmasMarket where we saw Fiona and OH Stuart also doing a stint there. It was fairly quiet and we took a third of what we took last year. Still, it was good to get some feedback and make a few sales.

Cheers! And #HNY21! 👍🎄

  

Grenville 

Allen

    f i n e   a r t i s t 

 www.grenvilleallen.com 

Twitter  Facebook  Blog

On Sun, 20 Dec 2020 at 12:54 Kate Toms wrote:

Dear All, 

I can cover for Diana on Wednesday afternoon.

Best wishes

Kate 

Sent from my iPhone

On 20 Dec 2020, at 11:58, Anna McDowell wrote:



I agree with you Lindsay, this is definitely something to think about.

Best wishes

Anna

www.henrysbuttons.co.uk

For all you want to know about the heritage craft of Dorset Buttons

On Sun, 20 Dec 2020 at 09:53, Lindsay Keir <lindsaykeir@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear all

Sorry Diana but I can't help but this does bring up a conversation that should be had about coming into the gallery during the week between Christmas and the New Year. 

We will all be mixing  with a couple of different households maybe and I feel that we should close to limit the risk of infection. 

Coconut and Cotton reopen on the 4th and we could follow suit. 

Does anyone feel the same? 

It's usually very quiet anyway. 

Best wishes for Christmas and a vaccine in the New Year. 

Lindsay

Sent from my iPhone

On 20 Dec 2020, at 09:34, Diana Girdwood  wrote:

Dear All,

Really sorry to do this but I am in Yorkshire caring for my parents and in tier 3.

I am down for a shift this Wednesday 23rd Dec. Being responsible I should self isolate when I get back. 

Would anybody be able to cover for me please ? I will do a full day instead of a half on one of my next shift days.

Thank you

Diana

__________________________________________________________

 

Subject: Rotas for week commencing 28 December & 4 January

 

'Evening All

Here's the rotas for weeks commencing 28 December and 4 January. Please note that the shifts are all full so ignore the handwritten rota in the kitchen for these two weeks as they are incorrect. I will leave hard copies in the gallery when I can get there.

Happy Christmas

Hazel