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Marisa Parker
a book bubble about
Ciao! We’re In Africa
Biographies & Memoirs
Author Insight
Blowing the Budget
I wasn’t one to be part of a team; follow rules; or easily understand set curricula. I am a visual person. I need to write down what is in my brain to ‘see’ the story. Teachers just telling me what to do or read, rarely worked. They had to show me too … and that was not what happened at high school in the eighties. School wasn’t my thing. Maths and I, especially, had a love-hate relationship. It’s extraordinary that the latter half of my career has seen me project manage millions of government funds for educational purposes—successfully, I might add—acquitted to the last cent. It was more about the planning and reaching a goal that intrigued me. And so, it was for my mum; the strong woman behind her husband, the visionary. She did the planning; drew up the budget; and, ran things to order. So, when my father identified a new and brilliant idea to build an underlit catwalk for the models to show off the Italian clothes … he had some sweet talking to do.
Book Excerpt
Ciao! We’re In Africa
The glass will be flush with the floor, so you almost won’t see it until you are on top of it. And underneath the see-through length of flooring we place tube lights, all the way along on both sides. When switched on there will be a streaming pathway of light. It will be out of this world—an astonishing and magnificent effect!” Eugenio’s voice has risen dramatically and he’s now looking at me eagerly.
“Well, it’ll certainly be unique.”
His eyes narrow slightly at my tone. I know that regardless, this will go ahead. To be fair, he’s had crazier ideas that have turned out well. He’s the optimist, whereas I’m the realist – almost too pedantic. That’s why we make a good team, although sometimes I get completely frustrated with his big ideas.
After a meeting with Carlo, we’ve estimated the cost for the thick, metre-wide glass that will be ten metres long. It will have to be on special order.
“The cost implications for this will be exorbitant, Eugenio.” I can’t keep an annoyed tone out of my voice. My original budget will be well and truly blown.
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