I am currently sat in a car traveling to visit a sweater knit factory this afternoon (more on that later) so I very cunningly thought it would be a good opportunity to bring my laptop with me to use these couple of hours to fill you in on my adventures since I have completely lame on the whole keeping the peeps informed!

So, where to start… shall we do a bulletpoint main event type affair… headlines of my life since I got back from UK, yes you say, ok here goes:

Lisa Jayne arrived! It would seem we are quite the bad influence on one another and have been frequently getting trashed to the point of memory blanks and disco bruises! This is not good news but damn good fun! Lisa J is over here working as a knitwear designer for a HK based company that provides designs to brands in the Uk/EU.. all very exciting stuff and its great having her out here.

Pete has now arrived in Sz and I believe he is finding it quite the culture shock to the system. I have not had the chance to see him yet due to work schedules but he is only living 10 minutes away from my place so its going to be excellante to have a fellow creative friend out here!

Annual Dinner: We had our SZ office annual dinner last week and I was really quite amazed at the effort levels, fabulous costumes, great performances (every dept had to prepare something!!) The best was the Fit tech team who made a dress from a single square of fabric using only a pair of scissors and no sweing in under 10 minutes! I was one of 4 people presenting the evening, which I was so nervous about since there were around 250 people attending but once I had that mic in my hand and I was on stage you couldn’t stop me, I was loving it… think next year the Oscars beckon!
Slightly better behaved this year and hit up some karaoke afterwards… and guess what people… I SANG!! Yes that’s right, me?!! On a mic (cover your ears!) I love the non judgement factor over here so I let loose and belted out quite a few numbers, not to be repeated often however!

So, work… uber busy to the max, its theat time of year that all the development for the next season is in place so its crazy busy. I have just switched departments for the next month, I will continue in Product Development but from a slightly different angle, we will be working with some exciting brands doing ladies knitwear. Have a customer presentation next week and have been busy sketching away for that. Hence, why I am on my way to the factory, we have designed some sweaters that are being made into samples so we are going to check everything is all ok, plus Im getting the guided tour which Im looking forward to . Went to a weaving factory last week and a testing lab and was seriously overwhelmed by the ginormous size of these places… 300 looms in one huge room… so loud and so hot!

Its also the time of year for the US offices to visit so have been meeting with them to update them on the progress of that PD project I am working on, getting their feedback and finalising things… I shall not bore you with the details. One of the design girls is staying until next week and she is really lovely so I have promised to provide entertainment for her stay, starting with some weekend drinking and eating fun (although I intend to be well behaved this weekend and not get completely trashed as per usual… have been for so many work dinners this week involving plenty of vino which is turning me into an alcoholic BIG time!)

So I think these are the main events, have been kept busy to the point of having daily mini panic attacks about how to manage my time better because it always seems to slip away too quickly.. can you believe I have been here nearly 6months now??!!
Next week I have some trade shows to attend and this presentation we are working on as well as finalising the fairy website Im working on: check it out www.fairyflips.com (the finished cards look great now that they are finished and should be instore soon!)

Looking forward to hearing the chat at your end… few small final shout outs:
Vixs CONGRATS – I cant believe you are getting married! Feb wedding please so I can fly back for it (any good dress ideas yet)?!!!!

Lawz, hows the dissertation of doom going, keep ploughing at it the end is in sight and Im sure it will be brilliant.

Jamie, hope you are being kept busy cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and I hear that you FINALLY got a haircut (thank goodness!)

Dad, hope you are all settled in and unpacked with the essentials… corkscrew etc haha

Mom, happy mothers day for last week.. how is the world of Next – Lisa is designing for them at the moment so will have to let you know what to look out for so that you can promote it!
Nan, thank you Soooo much for taking custody of all my many boxes of crap! I promise to sort through it on my next visit!

PP la Pugh… sort out the goddamn skype or calling card I miss your beautiful voice!

Jimbob & fellow residents of 3A.. miss you guys and that goddamn beautiful view, hope you are all busy causing some scandal in Btown!

Ladies of London (and land of Scot) I funking miss you so much get your asses out here for hk party time… miss my Gala funtimes!

Everyone else who I cannot keep listing for fear of this turning into a 75 page entry… keep me updated with the Uk chat, miss you all… hope you are all being kept busy, looking after one another and keeping out of trouble!

Lots of love from a ‘so busy I might actually die soon’ Tanya xx

Ps: just left factory its now 7.45pm and I quite the journey ahead of me!