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Jones And Co. Life Vol. 11 Issue 7

Jobs For Conor

Let me share my latest productivity hack with you. It was inspired by my wife. It’s a little scrap of paper that lives on the noticeboard in our kitchen. It’s titled ‘Jobs for Conor’. And it has revolutionised our lives.

For years Catherine and I were out-of-sync in the to-do list department. And being an optometrist, I can explain why. A scotoma is a blind spot in your visual field where you cannot perceive anything within that area of your vision. We all have blind spots.  However, the cruel twist is we also have mental or psychological scotomas too. This is where your eyes can see the thing, but your brain refuses to perceive that it is there.

We all have different mental blind spots which explains a lot of things. Like why a thirteen-year-old boy will walk through the maze of dirty underwater, used glasses and cups, and damp towels on his bedroom floor and not see a thing. Mental scotoma. 13-years-olds have more important things on their mind so they simply are blind to these things.

 

Unfortunately, this condition continues into adulthood. Take the garden for instance. Catherine will regularly comment on the latest flowers in bloom and how lovely they are and ask me if I have noticed them and do I agree? I’ll make an ‘umm’ noise and ask ‘which ones?’. She’ll say something like hanging basket, border, planter or some other horticultural lingo I don’t understand.

My problem is I have horticultural blind spots. I only see grass. I see our garden as a football pitch and myself as a groundskeeper. I’ll cut the grass and ask, “Doesn’t the grass look great?” To which Catherine will reply umm, ‘Did you cut it?’ She has a grass scotoma.

Enter the latest productivity hack – ‘Jobs for Conor’. Catherine gets stressed out about weeds and all the weeding that needs to be done. Me? I don’t see them. I am blind to both weeds and flowers. Now, thanks to ‘jobs for Conor’, all Catherine needs to do is add “weed perennial border” to the list.

I just check ‘jobs for Conor’ every weekend, Google what a perennial border is and go weed it. I’m happy to help. I can also dig holes, go up into the attic, hang up pictures, fix a dripping tap (actually, I couldn’t do that one), and many other things I have mental scotomas for. I can do them and am happy to help. I just need them to be pointed out. All the stresses of mental blind spots is behind us now. Our relationship is flourishing like a heavenly hydrangea (whatever that is). It will work for you and your loved ones too.

Calling Anne Et Valentin Fans!

Drumroll please for the Anne Et Valentin Showcase! On Thursday October 17th we’re hosting a special Anne Et Valentin event where you can see all of their brand new releases, new shapes, new styles, new colours and we’ll have the entire collection exclusively at Jones And Co. for you!

This is the first Anne et Valentin event like this in a LONG time. It’s been several years and lots of you have been asking when we can do one, so Jess has used her powers of persuasion and her GSCE French language skills to make it happen. The full collection will be making its way from Toulouse to Manchester just for you!

It’s an all-day affair. We have limited appointments available so act fast if you’re an Anne et Valentin fan.

If you want to see every style in every colour from Anne et Valentin email he***@******nd.co or call the team to book your appointment for Thursday 17th October.

Brand Ambassadors - Reporting From The Field

Meet Bim and Bode, two lovely clients who put their new eyewear to the test at Wimbledon over the summer. The team and I love it when you send us snaps of you wearing your glasses out and about. It makes us feel like we have all these brand ambassadors out there in the field, putting Jones And Co. eyewear through its paces. You know, like Patagonia have brand ambassadors testing out their new climbing trousers half a mile up the granite face of El Capitan. That’s how I think of it anyway. Thanks for the great photo Bim and Bode. You and your eyewear both look great and it looks like you’re having a ball! I was at Wimbledon once a few years ago with Catherine. She still says it was the best day of her life. The fact I was there with her was just coincidental. She loved it.

Before & After (Take #2)

New client Rosalind decided to come and see us for the first time after being recommended by her friend (Thank you Naomi!) Rosalind said she liked the before and after photos we shared last month on social media and in the newsletter. So much so she volunteered to have her own ‘before and after’ snaps. What do you think? Nothing changes how you look and feel like the right new pair of glasses. Welcome to the Jones And Co. club Rosalind! (Eyewear styled by Jess! To book your own eyewear transformation email he***@******nd.co to book in.)

Ian’s In Love

Talking of great photos from clients, here is another one. It requires some explanation… Ian won one of our recommend-a-friend contests two years ago when we gave away an overnight stay at Another Place Hotel on the shores of Ullswater in the Lake District. They do open water swimming there so we also included a swim cap, goggles, dry bag and this snazzy yellow suitcase. So a few weeks ago, Ian finally (2 years later) got around to going BUT he put the voucher to VERY good use. Ian got married and went to the Lakes for their honeymoon. Big congratulations to you both Ian and bravo on exceptional use of your prize! Thanks for the brilliant photo. (Ian failed to mention how many lengths of Ullswater he swam but I’m sure it was a lot.)

Olympics Bucket List

Here I am sporting the latest in designer fashion in front of the Eiffel Tower during the Olympics. 

The Jones And Co. x Olympics collaboration logo got lots of comments as I wandered around Paris. 

We got to see some basketball, swimming and athletics and I thought Paris put on an amazing show. I’d never been to the Olympics before and all my expectations were exceeded. It was probably the friendliest, most welcoming, fun atmosphere I’ve experienced anywhere. I’d thoroughly recommend putting the Olympics on your bucket list if you haven’t done it yet. Get yourself booked for Los Angeles 2028!

Olympics Bucket List

I had a traumatic experience last weekend. It was a horrible, awful thing that no human should have to go through. I was forced into being linesman for my son’s under 11 football match. I’m terror stricken just thinking about it again.

I’m all for supporting the kids, I even sponsor the kits, but this was a step too far. As other dads claimed to have bad backs, and mums claimed to not know the rules, the little green flag was thrust into my hand by the referee.

My heart rate doubled instantly. I immediately felt judged by everyone watching. I tried to tell myself I can get up on stage and talk to 100 opticians, so surely I can manage this, but to no avail. I knew everyone would see me for the plonker that I really am.

The worst part was I was so focused on watching the line for offsides that I forgot they wanted me to call throw ins too. The ball was kicked out after a tackle. One player shouted (really convincingly) ‘OUR BALL!’. The other player also put his hand up, looked me dead in the eye and screamed ‘OUR BALL’ at me too. I thought, ‘why are they looking at me?’

Then I looked at the referee, who was miles away, and he was looking at me too with his eyebrows raised, shoulders raised, and palms up. He clearly was expecting me to make the call. I just shrugged. I didn’t know whose ball it was, and I certainly didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. So I looked at my feet in shame until the referee made his own decision. Thankfully the supporters didn’t know I was an optician so they didn’t chant ‘You should’ve gone to Specsavers’  at me. I have never been so glad to hear the final whistle and get to go home. Let’s all be nicer to referees and linesmen from here on out people. Because I have walked a mile in their shoes. And it shook me to my core.

🎸 Bruce Springsteen Chooses Jones And Co.

If you’re reading this update, you are officially a very important person in our eyes. And we intend to treat you like a VIP every time you come in. That said, sometimes a bona fide VIP (in the classic sense of the word, you understand) does wander into Jones And Co. and it definitely makes everyone’s heart go a-flutter.

We had a real corker of a celebrity encounter a couple of weeks ago. It was a Thursday afternoon, much like any other Thursday afternoon, when a man walked in with an American accent and spoke to Deepal. He said he and his friend is in town ‘on business’ and ‘his friend’ has broken his reading glasses, and he asked if we could repair them for his friend. And he needed the fix to be snappy because he was off to Paris early next week ‘on business’.

Deepal checked the glasses over and it was a bad break that would need to be sent away to a specialist lab that we use. But we could have them back on Monday. The American gent said Monday would be perfect. He left his address in Manchester as The Stock Exchange Hotel, around the corner from Jones And Co., and he was on his way.

On Saturday morning, the reading glasses arrived back from the lab, fully repaired and good to go. Taylor checked them over and thought she’d surprise our American friend by calling his hotel to let him know they were ready, ahead of schedule. But there was no answer at the hotel, which was strange. Not to be deterred from making a customer’s day, Taylor decided to just walk around to the hotel and leave a message for him.

The problem was she couldn’t get close enough to the hotel to deliver the message. There were throngs of people crowded outside the entrance. They were obviously camped out trying to catch a glimpse of some VIP. Not to worry – with some frantic waving through the window, and repeatedly calling the hotel on her phone, Taylor finally managed to speak to the concierge and pass on the message for their guest.

After the kerfuffle at the hotel, the gears started turning in the minds of the team. Shortly after that, the American ‘businessman’ returned to collect the glasses for his friend. He was pleased. At that point, Gareth sidled up to him and with all his Yorkshire charm said, “So, if you don’t mind me asking, who is your friend?” The man said “Come on, Gareth, you’re a smart guy. Can you not figure it out?” Gareth said, in a high-pitched, squeaky voice, “Bruce Springsteen?!” And the man said, “Yes, sir. That’s him.”

So, there you go. You now officially have the same optician as Bruce Springsteen. Tell your friends. You can dine out on a good story like that. In fact, I did, I took my wife Catherine out for dinner that very night, and the money Bruce Springsteen spent on his glasses repair covered the cost of one starter and a small glass of wine. But the money’s not important here. No, no. What matters is that, in his hour of need, we repaired The Boss’ reading glasses. Without his vision, poor Bruce would have been dancing in the dark. He didn’t come in for an eye test, though. Presumably, he didn’t want to be blinded by the light.

🎂 Birthday Bash Extravaganza!
(You Are Cordially Invited!)

It gives me great pleasure to invite you to our birthday bash and client get-together on 10th July. We’d love for you to join us. In order to top-trump any other possible plans for your Thursday evening, here’s how we will be whooping it up…

  • Cocktails from Manchester Legends Crazy Pedros – Manchester Margaritas and more!

  • Live performance Jazz singer Domonique – back by popular demand!

  • Local Tapas and Luxury Grazing Tables from Morgan at Cre-ate Events – indulge responsibly!

  • Birthday Cake from Manchester Master Bakers at The Buzzy Bee Bakery

  • Theo Eyewear Trunkshow – the eyewear guest of honour! See the newest collection of styles from Antwerp for the evening! Every style in every colour.

  • Giveaways and amazing prizes including a chance to WIN a Brompton Bike and an Oasis piece of art!

  • Get together with the Jones And Co. team and like-minded Jones And Co. clients.

  • Dress code! – Eyewear Chic / You Do You

 

Are you excited yet? I mean, come on, a Thursday evening at the opticians is the hottest ticket in town. Your friends will be clamouring all over themselves to convince you to bring them as your plus one. These will sell out faster than those Oasis gigs so don’t delay. RSVP below s’il vous plait.


RSVP and Bring A Friend!

We have 50 tickets available. RVSP to reserve your FREE place(s).

When – Thursday 10th July 5pm – 8pm 

Where – Jones And Co. Styling Opticians, 82 King Street

Hope you can join us! Email he***@******nd.co to request your tickets.

P.S. For Theo Fans! Styling sessions are also available with Monica from Theo (& The Jones And Co. Team) from 10am to 8pm. She will be bringing the full Theo collection from Antwerp. Just get in touch to book one of the Theo styling sessions if you want to explore the collection.

 🖼️ What's On In Manchester:
Tony Wilson Archive – First Ever Public Exhibition

📍 Smolensky Gallery, ABC Building, Quay Street
🗓️ 20 June – 31 July
🎟️ Free entry

 

Tony Wilson helped shape Manchester’s music and culture: co-founder of Factory Records, champion of Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, and the man behind the Haçienda.

For the last 20 years, his personal archive has been packed away in museum storage. But this summer, for the first time, it’s being put on public display.

The Tony Wilson Archive Exhibition showcases letters, photos, artwork, and memorabilia, including new limited-edition prints made in collaboration with local artists.

That includes design studio DR.ME, two Salford lads known for their bold, playful work with everyone from New Order to Nike. They’ve helped bring the archive to life with a new series of risograph prints, made right here in Manchester.

The exhibition opened with a packed-out panel talk and some rare Factory Records tracks from Tony’s personal collection, a fitting tribute to a man who helped shape the sound and soul of this city.

If you’ve ever loved the music, the stories, or the spirit of Manchester, it’s well worth a visit. Get the details at www.smolenskygallery.com

 

 

🐶 It’s Not A Dog’s Life Anymore

Being a dog isn’t what it used to be. When I was growing up in Derry we had a springer spaniel called DJ and he was an outside dog. In so far as he lived outside. He could roam the nearby fields till his heart was content. And he slept in a kennel outside the back door. If it snowed, he’d be allowed into the utility room, but no further. If DJ ever made a break for it, into the inner sanctum of the house, my father would rally the children to chase him down and “put that bloody dog outside”. So I grew up thinking all dogs were outside dogs.

Today our family dog is treated like royalty by many people. My youngest son Ben is best buddies with Freddie the cockapoo, and he has recently bought a book titled “How To Make Your Dog #Famous”. Last year on holiday in France, in the middle of nowhere, we were minding our own business when Ben pointed to a family walking past with a ‘famous’ dog that he recognised from Tik Tok. It even had a little sign on its harness with all its social media accounts. It’s a brave new world.

And another thing. When my mother-in-law and father-in-law call my wife every Sunday evening for a weekly catch-up, I can hear them. They ask for any news. Then they ask how Catherine is. Then how the children are. Then, they ask how Freddie the cockapoo is doing. And only then, after enquiring after the dog with great eagerness, and just before hanging up, they throw in a token ‘Is Conor alright?’ So the dog has usurped me in terms of how interesting or important I am to other people.

Despite all that, Jones And Co. remains a dog-friendly business. We support and donate money to Guide Dogs for the Blind every year. But beyond that we welcome with open arms, any dog who comes along with their owner to Jones And Co. I certainly don’t rally the staff to ‘put that bloody dog outside!’ Times have changed. Instead the Jones And Co. team will fuss over, talk to, belly-rub, and in five minutes show more affection and emotional warmth to any dog, than I receive from them in a whole year. I’m not bitter though. See below for some Very Important Poochs.

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