Surrey Life Editor's Blog

Hole in one

I can hardly believe that a) it has suddenly got to 8.20pm and b) that it is dark outside... Whatever happened to summer?

It's been a really busy day today - hence the late hour - but I was determined to at least attempt to clear some of my inbox before leaving the office.

It's also going to be a very busy weekend with little time to be catching up on e-mails.

Tomorrow evening, I've been invited to a charity bash in Guildford by our good pal Max Clifford and his friend Bobby Davro, soon to be joining the cast of EastEnders we understand (Bobby that is, not Max...). I will report back to you with any interesting gossip from that on Monday!

Then on Sunday, it's the much anticipated BBC Southern Counties Charity Golf Day at Dorking Golf Club. As well as sponsoring a hole (look out for our one near the clubhouse), we are also entering a team, so fingers crossed that we do okay! (not that I'm playing, mind, I think I've been given the job of caddie...).

Spectators are very welcome - it costs just £5 - so do come along and support us - hope to see you there!  

 

 

Points of view

I found myself in the weird position today of having to write an advert for this blog to go in the magazine.

The problem is, I wanted to make the blog sound really interesting, to encourage new people to check it out, but on the other hand, I didn't really want to sound like I was blowing my own trumpet.

In the end, I went for the straight approach - this is what it is and why not pay a visit (sort of thing).

The advert came about as the result of a suggestion from our regional director, Suzanne Heaven, who is a great believer in the importance of websites - not least because it's such a fantastic way of engaging with our readers.

The thing about the Internet is that it's so quick and immediate - no faffing around trying to find a stamp or make the last post... If you want to air your views on something, you simply bash out a few words on the keyboard and you're away. 

So, on that basis, let me remind you that if there's something you like about the magazine or website, or if there are things you think we could be doing better, then please do post a comment - we would love to hear from you.

I promise to read all of them and will respond directly to as many as I can. 

 

It's a celebration...

It's my assistant Matt's birthday today and I would be in serious trouble if I didn't at least give him a little mention...

So, on behalf of everyone here in the Surrey Life office, Happy Birthday!!

To mark the occasion, I got him an enormous chocolate cake from M&S, though strangely enough he hasn't opened it yet... I'm sure he's probably just saving it til this afternoon, though, rather than taking it home; right, Matt?

Seriously, we all hope you have a great day!

That Friday feeling

Bank holidays weekends are good for many reasons - not least because so many  people take the Friday off as well, with the result that I have received only a handful of e-mails and phone calls today.

As a result, I have got far more done than I expected - a rare thing indeed!

It also means that I can afford to take a couple of much-needed days off and catch up with the rest of my life (suddenly realised today that I haven't submitted my expenses for close to three months, which means unless I act quickly the accounts department will issue a warrant for my arrest).     

I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing weekend.

 

That time again

I can hardly believe a month has passed since our last planning and review meeting but this afternoon saw us all assembled again for the usual post mortem.

Our senior designer, Donna James, made me laugh actually when she told me beforehand that the production guys secretly refer to these meetings as a 'mag slag'!

Happily, though, that was not the case today and everyone seemed to really like the latest issue.

There was particular excitement, of course, about the first of Max Clifford's new monthly column, which really is a fantastic read, and everyone loved the features on Heritage Open Days, Miss Marple being filmed at Polesden Lacey and Surrey's Top 50 celebs.

In fact, unlike last month, the most heated anything got was deciding whether we should be including illustrations of exercises in the Get Fit With Gary column (which we all decided in the end was probably a bit naff). 

We did decide, however, that it's about time the contents panel got a bit of an overhaul and we're also going to redesign the corner slugs (the bits at the top that say 'food & drink' or 'interiors' or whatever) so look out for that from next month.

Anyway, better get back to work... Still trying to catch up with the deluge of e-mails after being away last weekend and now's a good time to tackle them while I've got a rare moment of peace and quiet.  

Back in the hot seat

Today was my first day back in the office after a long weekend at the V festival.

It's the first proper time off  I've had for a while so it was great to go and see some live bands and, dare I say it, forget about work for a couple of days.

Mind you, it already seems like a distant memory, not least because I came back to over 150 e-mails in my inbox. Consequently, if you're one of the many people still waiting for a reply, I promise to get back to you as soon as I can.

In other news, the new magazine arrived today - always an exciting event in the office, though scarey too (I had a nightmare last week that I had forgotten to write any coverlines at all...).

Still, the rest of the team seem pleased with this one, so I hope you all like it too.       

Another one bites the dust...

Phew! Just sent the final page of the magazine to the printers after a marathon deadline day that began at 7.30am (there must be easier ways to earn a living...).

At risk of sounding like broken record, it never ceases to amaze me how many things can go wrong at the last moment...

Things like discovering we had used a picture of Kerry Katona with blonde hair (when apparently she has been a brunette for over a year); the subscription offer proudly proclaiming that it was valid to the end of August (when it's appearing in the September issue); and, not least, the sudden realisation that we had written 'bigger' instead of 'digger' on one of the cover lines.

Still, it's a cracking issue packed full with really strong features. Among the highlights are a really interesting article on what happened when the cast and crew of Miss Marple moved into Polesden Lacey for a month; an excellent guide to Heritage Open Days (when over 200 of the county's most historic buildings will be throwing open their doors to visitors); and a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at Ready Steady Cook with our resident celeb chef Tony Tobin.

Then, of course, we have the first of Max Clifford's new monthly column (a truly gripping read!) and we also reveal the county's top 50 celebrities - who they are, how they found fame and which charities they support.

Oh dear, have just realised that I'm starting to talk in cover lines - it is definitely time to go home...

 

Deadline - again

Apologies for the lack of entries over the last couple of days. Once again, we're in the throws of deadline week, so it's all hands on deck. 

I can hardly believe how quickly the deadline comes round, but here we are again - hence being in the office on a Saturday.

We go to the printers this coming Wednesday, and to avoid the early part of next week being a total nightmare, I'd much rather get as much done now as possible.

Actually, we're not doing too badly all things considered - all that's left to do from my end is the contents page and a mountain of proofing.

However, our title designer, Donna James, had the audacity to take a holiday this month, so it means she's still got a couple of fairly major features to lay out.

This, in turn, means that I won't get to see some of the final proofs until early next week - which is another reason why I want to get everything else done now.

I don't really mind coming in at the weekend - I'd far rather do that than have a horrendous time next week - but it would make it easier if it was pouring down with rain and not clear blue skies and blazing sunshine outside...   

    

Welcome back

Our advertising manager, Rhiannon Wragg, has returned from her holidays today, and it's great to have her back.

Unlike many editors, who often have a rather strained relationship with their ad managers, I am very lucky as the two of us have always got on very well.

As well as being something of a sales legend at Surrey Life, I can honestly say that she is one of the most knowledgable people I've ever met when it comes to the media. She is also a brilliant problem-solver - believe me, if she went on The Apprentice she would win it hands down. 

As a result, having her back in the office again feels a bit like getting my right arm back.

Editorial dilemmas

Now that we've got over the inital shock of the foot & mouth outbreak in Surrey, it's time to decide how we tackle it in the magazine.

This is a bit of a tricky one actually... There's a small part of me that feels we should go really big on it, as it's had such a devastating impact on our rural communities, but instint tells me this is not the right thing to do.

For one thing, we like to try and make the magazine a celebration of all the good things in the county - the most interesting stately homes to visit, the best places to go to see local wildlife, the new restaurants creating a bit of a buzz etc, etc, providing a bit of escapism for our readers - and then of course there's the issue of deadlines.

Being a monthly publication, we go to press a week before the magazine actually hits the shops, and with things moving so fast with the foot & mouth outbreak, there's a big risk of us being out of date by the time the mag actually arrives on the news stands.

In the end, having thought long and hard about this, I have decided to leave this one to our fellow journalists on the local newspapers in the county, hoping instead that the magazine can bring a bit of welcome relief to people already overwhelmed by flooding and now foot & mouth.         

Foot and mouth

Like thousands of others across the county, I was deeply shocked by the news that we had an outbreak of foot & mouth here in Surrey.

This is the kind of thing that happens to other areas - how could it possibly have happened right on our very doorstep at a small farm in Guildford?

At the time of writing, it appears that the case could be linked to a research laboratory in Pirbright, but the details are still sketchy, and this is yet to be confirmed. 

I'm the first to admit that I know very little about the disease myself, which last cast its spectre over the UK in 2001, but I do know that I really feel for the farmers affected and can't imagine what they are going through.

As a vegetarian, I also wince at the inevitable animal culls that are taking place.

Watching the TV coverage last night, it was a report from yesterday's Cranleigh Show that really brought it all  home - vast swathes of empty pens that would normally be bustling with noisy farm animals.

Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected.

   

  

The Max Factor

I have just received the first draft of Max Clifford's brand new monthly column and I have to say it is absolutely brilliant.

I should have guessed that as the master of PR he would know exactly what we needed, but it's always a little bit scary opening that first piece from a new writer, not knowing whether they will share the same vision as you.

In Max's case, though, it is absolutely spot on. For instance, not only does he reveal all the details about what he's been getting up to in the county this month (the initial remit we decided on), but he has also given us great exclusives on both Simon Cowell and Kerry Katona.

In addition, he pays a very moving tribute to an amazing young teenager from Mitcham called Susannah O’Cansey who sadly passed away a few weeks ago. Both he and Simon Cowell had befriended her at the CHASE children's hospice, near Guildford, where they visit as often as they can, and both of them were deeply upset by the news. I think you'll agree when you read the piece that it reveals a very different side to Max Clifford that you may well not have seen before. In memory of Susannah, he'll also be donating his fee for the column to CHASE.