Russell Davies

fit bit

Fitness talk is everywhere right now. It's not just the summer, there's real genuine revolt against fags and alcopops. This bar near work is even offering alcohol-free happy hours during the olympics.

DoThinkPlan

One of the things I realised on sabbatical is that I'm constitutionally an employee. I'm never going to start my own business much as I'd like to think that I am. I couldn't do it. I couldn't waste my days away if it was my own time, I have to do it on someone elses.

On the other hand I have all these grand schemes and crazy notions about a start-up creative business should be run, which I get really frustrated that I can't do because I'm not in charge (and they're wildly impractical).

So I've started a fictional agency instead. Called DoThinkPlan. Which is how I think great things are created. And I've built a little website for it - as that's the only place it exists. It's only four pages at the moment but I have great hopes for it - as a place where people can become fictionally employed and make imaginary contributions to mythical projects. If you'd like to apply for fictional employment visit the site. Though if NetworkSolutions hasn't made it happen yet you should go here

authentic

Look, authentic is now a word you can just write on your brand/window. Presumably meaning 'authentic-looking' or, to put it another way 'not authentic'. So it becomes its own opposite. That's literally the most annoying thing ever. (see what I did there?)

Reminds me of all those conversations you have with clients where you write stuff and say 'obviously, this is just internal, it's not consumer-facing language' and the next thing you know it's plastered all over the point of sale.

We used to joke that no-one could fake authenticity like us. Seems we don't need to bother any more. We can just claim it.

teenagers in the house

We've got my nephew staying for a few days. And his mate. I spend a lot of time trying to work teenagers out for work but it's a long time since I've shared a house with them. They spent most of their time looking through our itunes library and giggling at names like Echo And The Bunnymen and Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark. Quite impressed by my DJ Shadow completist tendencies though. I like their combination of shyness and bravado; they won't move rooms without asking permission, but they're quite happy to brave the security guards and go skating around Euston station. Good kids.

back at work

First day back at work. It's 4 o'clock and I can't believe how long I've been here. All day. And I've got hours to go yet. This work thing is insane. I wish I thought Pat Kane was right.

day 66 - it's all over

Markeaton Park and then back to London. Work tomorrow. It's all over. What a fantastic time I've had. I'm very lucky. And we seem to have worn Arthur out too.

day 65 - dovedale again

Dovedale is a great place. At 6am in November it's quiet, calm and lovely. Bits of it are almost isolted. On an August weekend it's like Blackpool. People turn up with rubber boats. This is Arthur falling off a stepping stone. He was very brave about it. Went to see Rocester draw 1-1 with Stourbridge.

Nice sunset.

day 64 - friends

Abigail, Josh, Lettie and Louie arrive. Eating begins.

day 63 - tissington trail

Splendid day cycling along the Tissington Trail, listening to the Soundtrack installation in Asbourne tunnel and playing in the little stream in Tissington.

day 62 - love that wifi

Back to Starbucks in Derby for more email etc.

Anne and Arthur arrived. He's not quite got the hang of cricket.