As I said, way back at the end of December last year, it was then my intention to tell you about - even invite you to - the launch of my new, furniture-focused website - http://www.clivenunnfurniture.com/

As it transpired, I was thwarted by Fat Cow.

Now Fat Cow sounds more like the description of my feelings towards, rather than the name of, the web host of this site. But, apparently, (the) Fat Cow failed on various counts and it took the wiles of Caitriona to unravel the problems and get me up and running again.

But, as I say, these problems struck just at the time that the furniture site went live and of its launch, so it is now a question of telling you about about it retrospectively.

Most importantly, I now have a proper furniture site and, as you can see above, there are simple, user-friendly links from here to the furniture site and from it back to here.

I am very pleased with it and, as always, it was Terry Bannon who undertook the job for me.
It was a huge amount of work for Terry, especially as much of the photographic record of my back work is anything but high resolution - but there is no one better than Terry to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
I think you will agree that he did a fantastic job and I am not only delighted with the site but also, once again, enormously grateful to him.

And so we then planned its launch.

Peter MacCann agreed that I could use the Cellar bar in the Merrion Hotel - which is of course my own work - for the event.
An invitation list was prepared with Sinead Ryan of Presence Communications providing me with the definitive list of lifestile and interiors editors while I scoured my own contacts book for past customers, clients and architects with whom I had worked over the years and, of course, family and friends were invited too.

This is the invitation that went out and you would have received, but for Fat Cow.

Sinead's help came with a condition: I was to do what I was told!
I promised I would.
So, on the night she told me what to do, when to do it and how it should be done.
I await her report card as to whether I kept my promise.

Anyway,there was an excellent turnout; the Cellar Bar delivered copious quantities of the best and most varied finger food and Alison looked after us with just that perfect blend of unobtrusive attention that one associates with the Merrion Hotel.

And Malachy Geelan took pictures.................

...............I said a few words (It's a pity that I evidently looked deranged as I did so) and that is Terry Bannon - holding the glass - behind me.................

............and Dave Crowley of Cantrell Crowley, Architects with whom I have worked on many projects over the past twenty years and more, including the Cellar Bar, said some very kind things about me.............

...................as did Peter MacCann, the General Manager of The Merrion, who has been my best customer - in every sense - since the Hotel opened more than fifteen years ago.

Daughter Alice with Dave Crowley..............It transpired that they live within a few hundred yards of each other and have frequently passed one another on walks and runs!

Son, Naoise, with Pat Moylan, chairperson of the Arts Council

Sue with Peter MacCann

Sue with Dave Prickett, long, long term friend and competitor!

.....with Maria Kiernan and Paul Kearney of Kearney & Kiernan Architects, with whom I have worked on projects in London and Dublin.

.............and minister Phil Hogan dropped by too (I note I still looked demented!)........

................and here with daughter, Alice.

It was a great evening and I am very grateful to everybody shown or mentioned here and to all those who attended or sent messages.

Tangible results?

On Friday I will be following up on an enquiry, that is a direct result of a mention in the Irish Times magazine, and I am back in discussion with two existing clients for new works.
And the contacts made, especially with the interiors editors, will be a resource for the for the future.