Don't panic..

…but when you log onto this blog in a week’s time things will look rather different. I am combining Extremely Pale Rose with the new website for my magazine www.blueskylivingmag.com. I will continue to write the same weekly blog but there will also be loads of additional content.

In the meantime some thoughts on how to sell advertising because after 6 months of hard work setting up the magazine I have finally turned a profit of….drum roll…..300 euros. Somehow despite earning in a week only slightly more than the minimum hourly wage I am flushed with success.

Imagine also the delight of our one misguided friend who lives in LA who put some cash in to the venture. I am going to be sending her a whopping great dividend that will pay for the coat check (maybe only partially) at some swish Rodeo drive eatery.

I’ll also tell her its all about the future because nearly all new publications lose money for the first couple of editions, so in fact BSL has already joined the elite of the magazine world.

And so if you too want to make 300 euros in 6 months, here’s how it is done.

1. Be different. In my case that wasn’t hard. I’ve yet to meet another English travelling salesman in Provence.

2. Take a baby with you. The subtext being take an advert in the magazine or he/she will starve.

3. Tell the truth - this is a variant of (1) since honesty is not an attribute usually associated with salespeople.

In fact my pitch sounded more like a health warning… an ad in Blue Sky Living may or may not attract business, and advertisers should take proper financial advice before committing….

4. Tell the truth - but make sure that your French is so bad that people don’t understand you.

5. It’s a numbers game - someone has to say yes eventually.