Little Steve's 4N Diary

Tuesday 1st May 2012 - In my lair

After a quiet period following the break-up of my relationship with Jan Jack and having to have my head stitched on I am now raring to go to a 4N meeting! 

Jan and I have agreed to remain friends and she wrote me a special love poem: -  

"I'm a little Teddy Bear, my name is Little Steve. The things that I get up to....well you'd really not believe.."

Look-out Retford on Friday I'm ready for some fun! 

Bye fir now, Little Steve x

Friday 4th May 2012 - 4N Retford at The West Retford Hotel 

My 1st "outing" for 2 weeks and what a way to return to my role as 4N's Premier Networking Tart!

Retford was "swinging" in more ways than one and Richard Daniels set up the Bank Holiday weekend for us with his swing, pop and Johny Cash repertoire! With a huge crowd it was going to be noisy but GL Mel Downing did a great job and much fun was had and great contacts made.

I personally had 1-2-1' with the lovely Naomi Johnson from Naomi Johnson Social Media, Mark Addison renowned for his touching up of bodies - cars that is! - with his Revive business and a threesome with visitor Nevelle Metcalf and Jason Monagham from Aspray. No photo's were taken on the day (my driver Old Steve forgot it!) but here are some from the archive of the Retford 4N Team excluding newly appointed Operations Assistant Helen Upson - next time maybe Helen?

Top left is Group Leader Mel Downing showing the correct way to hold a small bear;  top right Regional Leader John Heslop (on the right) with 4N Director Terry Cooper; and together with Louise Gibb (holding me) is Naomi Johnson, Retford's Marketing Assistant.

Bye for now, Little Steve x 

Friday 11^th May 2012 – 4N Bawtry at Bliss Bistro

What a fabulous, fun meeting today!

The room was full of nice 4Ners and the aftermath of Jan Jack’s recent Oooop Norrf tour was evident!  With at least 5 poems being read out during the “40 seconds” slot - there is clearly a growing need for a 4N poetry competition/book launch to capture all of this burgeoning talent.

New Group Leader Avril Cody was presented with a crown controlling implement by Area Leader Vikky Clarke. This in fact had exactly the opposite effect when Avril revealed the implement to be none other than a stylish leather whip! A gaggle of middle aged men deliberately disobeyed Avril in order to deploy the aforesaid implement but Avril called their bluff by not using it!!

The 4sight was by visiting 4Ner Richard Smith, famed for his caricatures but, today reminding us we should our turn “negatives” into “positives”, using his own inspiring experience to demonstrate this. Truly an excellent 4sight and one you should try to catch.

My 1-2-1’s today where with Richard Smith (Illustrations), the ever inspiring and original character Bob Brown from Inspire2Aspire and last but not least Adrian Wilkinson from Trophy Pet Foods who shared his early “learning” with social media.

Bye for now, Little Steve x  

Tuesday 15th May 2012 - 4N Doncaster at the Cheswold

Busy morning today with a mix of old and new 4Ners' present. My first Doncaster meeting for a while and it was good to catch up with many of my long-standing followers and to build-on relationships with some of the more recent 4Ners. One of Framework's long-standing collaborators David Watkins from Pink Elelphant Training was also in Doncaster today to deliver his 4sight on "The 10 top tips of networking". David was as usual very precise and timely and delivered some sound advice on how to make the most of networking opportunities. Unfortunately - or fortunately - David didn't produce his "pink elephant" today.

I had my first 1-2-1 with Ben Latham from Susan Jubb Family Law Ltd, but as usual 10 minutes never seems long enough. Still there is always another 4N meeting just around the corner. Ben is pictured with me and was keen to bask in my celebrity status. My next meeting was actually a "menage a trois" with the lovely Kath Doyle, Top Travel Consultant and the ever smiling Mel Downing, Homeopath & Dog Listener. Mel is doing a "Walk of Fire" for charity soon. I told her I would have done it too but that my furry feet would get me in trouble! Last up, and looking very comfortable with me, is John Owens from NDS Fleet. John trains employees in safe driving techniques to NVQ standards. Turns out John is friends with colleagues of Old Steve (when Old Steve had a proper job!).

Bye for now, Little Steve x

PS Will I see you at Retford on Friday?  

Friday 18th May 2012 - 4N Retford at the Best Western, West Retford Hotel

Not as big a turnout as a couple of weeks ago but still a very busy morning.  Hardly enougth time in fact to deal with all the enquiries and fit in some quality time with the georgous 4N ladies who, as usual, were clamouring for my attention!

Area Leader Vikky Clarke gave her long overdue 4sight that recalled her career in "tractors and marketing".  She also shared some of the lessons she had leanred along the way and some simple but very useful tips on how to focus your marketing towards your audience and make it memorable. "Simples!"

My 1-2-1's today were with the ever-lovely Sally Harrison newly appointed Account Executive from Cooke & Mason, commercial insurance brokers. Sally and me go back in 4N history and it was to good to catch up with her again! Fed up with my refusal to commit to just one 4N lady, Sally told me next year she is marrying a someone else. Shame but an opportunity for Framework perhaps! My second 1-2-1 was with 4N's resident Artist (of the painting & drawing sort!) Jackie Whall. Jackie is very talented at using photographs of loved ones (humans and animals - possibly small bears?) and creating something very special in paints and pencil! Last but not least today was the ever-smiling Helen Upson from The Byrne Practice, solicitors. Today was our first formal 1-2-1 and although we talked a lot about business there was still time for a friendly cuddle and pose for the paparazzi!  

I think I'm looking good in the safe hands of Sally, Jackie and Helen! 

Bye for now, Little Steve x

Pleasure's all mine Little Steve - it's folks like you that make 4N such good fun.

Aww, it's so very nice of you to say so! 

If you've ever seen a little blush you will know what I look like now.

It's also lovely ladies like you Jackie that make my day!

Bye for now Little Steve x

Wednesday 23rd May 2012 - The Dome, Doncaster

Little Steve sneaked into the Dome (no live animals or small bears were allowed) for the "Success Doncaster Showcase" exhibition. 

Pictured here with 4N members Mel Downing - GL at the fabulous Retford Group and Adrian Wilkinson from Trophy Per Foods and a stuffed dog! 

Once again Litlle Steve was Top Dog! 

Ooops missed the picture off earlier post! 

PS As usual this is one of my amateur pictures - not one of David's professional ones! Hence the poor quality!

Friday 1st June 2012 - 4N Retford at the West Retford Hotel: A ROYAL Visit!

My first networking for 2 weeks since Old Steve locked me in the boot of his car!! His jealousy of my success with the ladies is reaching to an unBEARable level. 

Fun meeting today that got somewhat "twitchy" at times with Tony's 4sight featuring heavily on "Tits". My face was even more orange than usual at times.

I had three interesting i-2-1's this morning and first up was Katie Gabbitas from Future Prospects who explained how she is exploiting the interent to great effect to provide a recruitment service helping both individuals and businesses. Next up was the delightful Naomi Johnson of Social Media Services fame who, amongst other things,talked about her life with breeding and judging cats - quite extraordinary the diverse interests of 4Ners! Last, but not least, it was the turn of the lovely Helen Upson from the Byrne Practice who balances a busy life as a solicitor and mum of 2 young children but is always smiling! .      

The real event of the day was, however, the Queen's earlier than planned visit to Nottinghamshire! She came to Retford especially to see me. A tactical move aimed to boost her popularity during the Jubilee Celebrations as the photo below shows! The second photograph features 2 regal ladies: One of the ladies is the Queen of England and the other is the Queen of Travel in South Yorkshire Kath Doyle from Bawtry Travel. (Clue: Elizabeth the II is wearing a hat) The third photograph features Vikky Clarke, 4N Area Leader and all-round good egg seen here helping the Queen with a clothing malfunction (that cannot be described in detail on 4N Forum).

Bye for now, Little Steve x

Little Steve has NOT been seen for 3 weeks! 

We haven't had a "ransome" note at Framework HQ for him or a coded message from him so concerns are excalating!!!

Maybe he's been stolen by a jealous middle-aged male 4Ner because of the all the attention he gets from the gorgeous 4N ladies? Or he is trapped in a cupboard or car boot somewhere?

Please keep a lookout for him - Little Steve needs our help!

LITTLE STEVE IS STILL MISSING!!!!

The 4N Police and Interpol have issued the following images of possible suspects who they would like to interview in connection with Little Steve's disappearance. If anyone can identify these shady characters please post on here. THANKYOU

Have you asked Brad

Sadly no one has come forward with new information on Little Steve's disappearance. 

Any information regarding the images above are welcomed! 

LATEST NEWS!

Little Steve is still missing.         Two stories are circulating but have not been substantiated.

1.      Little Steve’s disappearance happened just after he met the Queen on her secret visit to 4N Retford. She was clearly taken with him. (See photo’s earlier in his Diary). Unidentified eye witnesses claim that he has been seen in the woods in Norfolk, close to the Queen’s Sandringham residence.

2.      There is history between Little Steve and Brad BEARton (See entry in Little Steve’s Diary) and the rumour is Brad has done a “Freddie Starr” on him!  The press are holding back on a story with the headlines: “Brad BEARton Ate My Teddy!”

If anyone can shed some light on the Little Steve’s disappearance please post on this thread but in the meantime – as Shaw Taylor would say – “Keep your eyes peeled”