Ain’t I lucky!

I didn’t get much sleep Monday/Tuesday night because I had one of my work fits again so I stayed up till 04.00 in the morning to finish a website for my wedding photographer friend in Scotland. I had an appointment with the dentist at 10.45 who is situated at the High Road. Since last week I have been working on business cards for the glove company based on the design I did for their eCommerce website. I sent them a quote along with my terms and conditions translated from ‘lawyer Dutch’ into ‘lawyer English’ language thanks to the skills of MvdM. He translated my version while I was at his place for lunch to discuss business, last week. I’ll design the bi-monthly email newsletter for his stock photography company! *yay!*

Back to yesterday: while I walked down the High Road I passed a large window covered with several posters and one particular poster caught my eye although it wasn’t very clear what the place was about. The poster referred to having business cards printed so I wondered if it was a print shop. I noticed another poster which said that they were looking for a part-time graphic and web designer. I still couldn’t figure out the deal so I went in and asked the woman at the desk if she had a price list after I asked her about foil print and spot UV varnish. She couldn’t answer my questions but a guy came from behind the partitioning wall. He must have overheard my conversation using jargon that the woman didn’t understand.

He answered my questions and offered me a generous discount on the business cards. I told him I’d moved from Amsterdam just over two years ago and that I’d never noticed this place before. He asked me something in a weird language that I somehow recognised: I understood what he was saying but I thought I misheard. Then the penny dropped, it was South African so I answered him that I was good. Too funny… He asked if I’d seen the sign on the door about the web designer and if I was interested. I told him I was but I explained that I really should send him my CV so he could have a proper look at it. I did show him the website that I had been working on all night and several others.

The conversation went really well and both of us were extremely enthusiastic about the whole thing. So today I will go over there to discuss a quote for the business cards, give him my CV and show him my portfolio.

Ain’t I lucky!?

I tell you I was extremely hyper yesterday when I got home… And the cool part is that I found out that this place is part of a social plan organised by the borough I live in to develop local businesses. So, it seems I have finally found my way into the local community. Even if I wouldn’t get this freelance position I still have found a good printer who’s only an eight minutes walk from home. I know it sounds weird but I finally start to feel that I’m settling in in a way. This opportunity will open so many doors for me and not just business-wise also social-wise and I’m really excited about it! The Universe has wicked ways of showing me that patience will be rewarded *hehe*

Latest update: I’ve got the job, I’m now their official graphic and web designer, all freelance and with a steady flow of work coming in. I think that calls for a tiny celebration *hehe*