In charge of the Empire

So the first week in August is here again and Tricia makes her escape to visit our relatives in Alderney. I think she goes to get back to her roots and it helps her realise why she is as bonkers as she is.

This means I have full control of the Empire in her absence. Obviously profits will soar while I am here, I could barely get passed the crowds lining up outside the door in the morning.

I have managed to snatch myself a few minutes to give you a little update. August seems to be a bit of a strange month, waiting for the new autumn winter stock and busily making sure the website will be ready for the new arrival. Well Robby my virtual PA has been busy updating spreadsheets and saving images etc.

I have been catching up with all the news from Marie Jo Lingerie in their fabulous styling magazine.

I have also been busy booking the trip to Paris in September for buying Spring/Summer 10 stock. 5 days in Paris "working" ah it's tough but I am willing to do it just so all our lovely customers have the very best lingerie to choose from . Mode City is a huge event and a great opportunity for us to see all the latest trends and if Serena is with us usually seeing the Calvin Klein models!

Prima Donna Spring Summer 2010!!

It's been a busy week at Plums with Nicola from Prima Donna coming to see us with the Spring/Summer Collections for Prima Donna and Marie Jo. It's always exciting to see the new pieces and Prima Donna has come up with a youthful new range called Twist. Really pretty with a good range of 30inch backs. Thank goodness. As usual it was complete chaos, I don't think Nicola is happier than when surrounded by piles of lingerie!

Nicola did bring us a lovely surprise in the form of Andres Sarda swimwear. It was absolutely stunning and I can definitely see myself sporting it while dangling my feet off the edge of a superyacht into the azure waters of the Caribbean!

Meanwhile Robby the virtual assistant has been attempting to herd my acquatainces together for an evenings entertainment. I would have called them friends but friends would have been ever so much more co-operative and not wasted Robby's precious time with sarcastic comments or by showing off their skills in the Chinese language (unsurprisingly limited). I don't think these people have the maturity to deal with staff! Miss Liptrot has been thankfully quiet on the matter, it could push Robby over the edge and he has been such a help I wouldn't want to lose him!

Virtual Assisting

I have made a fanatstic discovery in the form of a Virtual Assistant. So awfully busy I am keeping the Empire running I was neglecting my social life. I spent so much time dealing with the begging missives from everyone desperate to see me that it was becoming ridiculous.

Kind hearted soul that I am I realised that I couldn't continue this level of neglect without causing some serious emotion damage. I have now found the perfect solution; a virtual assistant. I have engaged a charming gent from China called Robby. He's been an absolutely godsend doing lots of awfully dreary time consuming work on my website, freeing me up to meet my social obiligations. I am now deluged with invitiations now that everyone knows I can spare a little time, it may come to pass that I will have to send Robby in my place. He has already begun to organise my social engagements and I have now decided I will only liaise with close friends directly.

Robby's last communication eith me went as follows;

"Hi Katherine

When I looked over your letter I was keeping a smile on my face all the time, you are such a lovely girl and I appreciate you for trusting me so much. I have send the emails to your friends and I will tell you their reply without delay when I receive their email. Besides, the updating of item 58 is done. Feel free to tell me if you have anything else I can do for you.

Best regards

Robby"

Not only is the man efficient he is clearly an excellent judge of character!