It’s the details that count

Before this weekend already started, a lot of planning had been done. There would be big celebrations on a big boat, on a big river, in a big city, but had we got the finer details right…?

I got up early on Saturday for a weekend of work, but you could hardly call it so. Rarely out of jeans these days, I put on a dress and even some matching lipstick (an even rarer event!). The pop of colour reminded me that the final touches, and the considerate details would really count today.

I was heading to London to join 50 other women, and a few men too, to celebrate their amazing Avon achievements. We had hired The Silver Sturgeon, a luxury yacht for an afternoon on The Thames. There were cocktails and canapes on arrival, and a truly delicious three course meal to enjoy over a slow cruise down the river. The boat traveled all the way from the London Eye down to the Millenium Dome, and what a treat to see London in all its glory from a different perspective. If you get the chance, I highly recommend it!

Aside from the grandeur, it was the detail that did it for me. We’d hired a band, The Broadsmen, who offered to do a ‘wandering’ (apt) 30 mins acoustic addition to their set. One with a cello, one with a guitar, they played an eclectic repertoire of folk, indie, 80s and 90s anthems as well as contemporary chart hits (and by that, I mean some Harry Styles). They mingled and wove between the guests, responding and reacting to requests, giving them exactly the afternoon that they wanted. Nothing was a problem. No divas here.

Inside the boat, we were under a cover of pink balloons. The colours, the different sizes, the branding had all been considered. They looked amazing. None of the guests would ever know what it would have looked like without them, but the detail made all the difference. A special focal point designed to be a wow!

I could go on. The flowers, the table gift, the surprise well done and bouquet of flowers for one lady in particular. It was a special afternoon because of the thought that had been put into it. When it was over, as I wandered away from the boat, I made a note to write my own thank yous to the super team of people who had helped to make it happen. They would be handwritten of course, because, it’s always the details that count.