Moleskine – Page 3 – whatleydude.com

Minty

Moleskine entry: January 5th, 2011

I have a new Moleskine.
This makes me happy.

It was a gift from those lovely folk @ Mint Digital (more than likely, orchestrated by my dear friend Utku), to mark the start of 2011*
Thanks Utterz. I like it.

So. Plans for the year then? I have two. Travel and dance. Doing more of both. The former I’m working on, the latter also.

I guess if I’m completely honest with myself, one underlying goal for the year ahead would be not to share as much. For the last two years (more so than before at least) I’ve lived my life openly, on the internet – and decorated it accordingly. In the same way that one would in his own house, I shared my happiness, my joy and my deepest loves on the walls around me.

If it made me smile, or if I thought it would do the same for someone, else then I shared it. But now…?

Now the largest piece of that puzzle has disappeared and, whenever I visit this place I once called home, it is not long before I wander into a memory of times gone past. It’s not like I can even show people around; an image here, a link there, an oblique reference off to the right – it happens.

This year, whatever comes my way, I’ll be keeping a fair amount of it back (more than I did before at least anyway).

For now, that’s how things have to be.

James Whatley
5/1/11

Life at 30

Moleskine entry: July 15th, 2010

It’s not too bad. Today’s date is July 15th 2010. In 20mins I’ll be in Canada which… is interesting. I was upgraded today. Seat 3G. That was nice.

Saying that, I am tired. But to be fair, that’s down to lack of sleep over and above anything else.

Son, Daughter – one day I hope you’ll read this. Read about ‘Dad’s Travels’. I bought my first map last week. Stickers a plenty all over it, yours too one day.

Where was I?

Yes, that’s it; Son, Daughter – take one piece of advice from your old man; Be Happy. There aren’t many things in life that are really, truly worth worrying about. Life & Death, certainly. But that’s it. Your life can be as happy as you want it to be. Good things happen to good people. It’s true! Now don’t mock the clichÃ©, please. I mean it. My endless optimism has seen me all right so far. I hope and hope that, if anything, you get that from me.

Yours,

James
— who one day, will be your Dad, X

Sardines

Moleskine entry: June 22nd, 2010

Three months must be a new record and, although admittedly I’ve been less protective over this Molekskine this time ’round, it’s still quite impressive.

Perhaps there’s something in scouring back through and seeing what (if anything) has resulted in real world change. Perhaps. Words are real after all.

Incidentally. This tube is packed. My handwriting is suffering. It’s too early…

Switzerland

Moleskine entry: April 1st, 2010

There’s a bunny in bag and he’s made of chocolate.

I’ve been to Switzerland today well, at the time of writing I’m technically still in Zurich; sat in the plane, awaiting departure. We’ll be on our way back to London shortly. It’s been a long day.

Why Zurich? Work, surprise surprise. But still LOTS of fun nonetheless. If I can talk about them by the time I write this up then you’ll know that it was… SKINS

If all you can see is an image of my moleskine, then sorry – can’t talk about it just yet. But if it’s not, then you can tell that the meeting was successful. Win.

It’s Easter this weekend (hence the bunny) and I’m looking forward to some proper R’n’R.

Chill Winston.

That is if this flight ever gets a move on. I was up at 5am this morning to be at London City Airport for 7am, leaving at 8.

It has been a long day (and it’s nowhere near over yet).

We were originally scheduled to land at 1945, that’s now looking like 2115. Damn. Quick drink with the office lot then off to meet the girlfriend who’s out somewhere near Westminster…

The date at the top of this page is April 1st. Fools’ day. I didn’t play any tricks (although I heard about some crackers). My mum and I used to try and get each other every year. She emailed me today and said it was a quiet one.

I miss my mum. She kind of rocks.

Paddington 2225

Moleskine entry: March 30th, 2010

Two stops from home.

Six months in. Am I allowed to click again? I don’t know. I think I have though – clicked, that is.

A combination of a rather intimate chat with my peers and maybe also a mixture of the achievements of late. A PR Week nod and my recent Marketing Academy nomination… It kind of makes you think.

Reassures maybe?

I think so.

Step up James. Step up.

What now?

Moleskine entry: March 16th, 2010

A strange sense of calm is over me… and I can’t quite work out if I like it. Last year I had my fair share of luck and it’s still keeping me smiling.

I’ve hit 30 and I’m happy about it. What happens next however? I’m not so sure. Marriage and children should be on the cards and, to a very large extent, they are. I’ve been looking forward to fatherhood for some years now. One might argue since my little brother was born. But I think in reality, it’s more since meeting someone who really could be the future mother of my children that the feeling, the broody feeling, really came over me. I can’t wait to be a Dad.

But.

Something is holding me back. Right now, for the first time in such a long time, I am truly happy. I have stability. A great job, a warm home and a beautiful girlfriend whom I adore… and right now? I just want to enjoy them.

I’ve never been here before and I quite like it. I’ve been through pain, I’ve been through sadness and, today in my life, I have happiness. Good friends, good life, just goodness.

I just want to enjoy it for a bit, is that so bad?

___________________

I’m in Washington D.C. and this is the final entry in my first Moleskine.
Onwards.

Notes on a Notebook

Moleskine entry: January 12th, 2010

I’m a bit miffed; I keep using this Moleskine for work. We’re not far from the end of this first book now and well, soon it will be time to buy another one… or two. I’m thinking maybe one for work purposes and another for personal, i.e.: sketches, notes, journal entries etc.

Admittedly, this in itself opens me up to a whole new world of potential pitfalls. It will not take long to tire of carrying two book instead of one, and I can imagine quite clearly just about to present somewhere and finding that I have the wrong notebook with me. The more I think about it however, the more I realise that this is really the only true path forward.

Hellboy 2 flashes before my eyes. I don’t know why.

Two Moleskines it is then, for 2010. Let’s see how we get on with that one then, this time next year…

A Square Peg in a Round Hole

Moleskine Entry: Oct 22nd, 2009

Three weeks I’ve been doing this job and I think I might have worked out what I’m doing here. There’s obviously work to be done and I’m getting stuck in, however I still feel like an outsider.

New to the pack, some of the larger animals don’t know how to take me. Yet others are still trying to be open. We’re getting there. Slowly. At least I’m getting there.

The hardest part to deal with is the clients, I guess. They don’t trust me and, while my name maybe associated with The Really Mobile Project, I don’t think they ever will. It’s gutting because I’m not just some blogger off the street; I’ve spent the last 5yrs carving out a career as an expert in my field. Call it comms, word of mouth, community, dare I say it ‘Social Media’ and, in all honesty, I’m not an idiot (no laughing at the back please). I’m really not. I’ve never broken an NDA and I’ve always conducted myself in a professional manner. Yes, there is some bleeding across the lines with the new role, but really?

“We’re not going to show him anything he might blog.” — Really? Give me a break.

24hrs later – Validation. Defence. A small amount of insight and trust – as tenuous as it is – is restored. Although I fear this won’t be the last time it happens.

Perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to Really Mobile?

[Private post – made public on Dec 23rd, 2011]

A date in October

Moleskine entry: October 19th, 2009 (maybe)

You have a lot of work to do.

Not least the epic workload of the pages that have gone before.Â A job, not small, but not important either – at least, it would seem right now.

I want to be able to do my job my NEW job to the best of my ability but currently, I don’t feel I can. There is… the learning process. The transaction process that which, over time, defines how your tenure will be judged… information… there is much. Relationship building, plenty.

You have a lot of work to do.

Another begins

Moleskine entry: October 6th 2009

Only just mind.

Unfortunately, in my infinite wisdom I managed to hit the ‘off’ button on my alarm this morning. OFF instead of SNOOZE. The latter would’ve made sure I was up before 7am. The former ensured that I found myself stirring a little after 9am. Bugger.

Up, like a shot. It’s 9:11. Shower. Teeth. Shave. It’s 9:20. Pack. Spray. Earphones. Leave the house, it’s 9:25. Walking, fast, I trip and stumble. My ankle cries out and I follow suit. Limping, I make it to the station. It’s 9:35. Coffee, rain and the 9:41 arrives on time.

Today is my first day at 1000heads and so far it’s going swimmingly!