Donald runs a bespoke furniture showroom with his partner of 14 years in Battersea, South London. In this film, he talks about what it's like having his boyfriend as his boss, and how he balances work with looking after his 3 lively springer spaniels.

1000 LONDONERS

This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a five-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.
1000londoners.com
youtube.com/1000londoners
facebook.com/1000londoners
Twitter: @1000_londoners
1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit chocolatefilms.com

Transcript:

'Come back here Georgie, wait here, Georgie wait here, Georgie, Georgie, come on!'

In America I was more on the defence, I was more protective of who I was. I think I'm more comfortable in my skin being here in England. My first job ever in New York was working in cosmetics, and it was Madison Avenue, 53rd, and it was so busy. Literally I would go to work and I'd be unable to eat because I was so stressed. I don't have that here, here I'm able to relax, and work's a blessing - being with my partner and doing something I like.

That's my car, and that's his car. Go on, go on, go find Gill, where's Gill? This is where work, me and the 3 dogs and my partner Gill - that's Gill on the computer ('hello'). I was with a friend going round Soho discovering London, because I hadn't lived in London before. We went to a bar, we just started talking in the bar. It's been 14 years.

He's more the adult than I am. He's a bit more happy-go-lucky than I am, I'm sort of like irresponsible and the one who's always spending too much on clothing or something. I think he's probably the calming sense to me. (Conversation between Donald and Gill - 'you're supposed to be festive dear' / 'I'm not feeling festive' / 'You're being miserable, that's what you are')

Now they're playing tug of war - see who will get the ball from each other, there's a ball between them. Their mother is a big working dog on a farm there, and people come from France to shoot with her, whereas they just come to work, they don't do any shooting. If you separate them they become like really depressed. They're just not independent of each other.

But I wouldn't say a favourite - I like their personalities. But I like Mr Brown - Mr Brown, Mr Brown, Mr Brown, Mr Brown, Mr Brown, Mr Brown get down, ooh Mr Brown, Mr Brown you just took my mic out!

Having him has my boss? Oh, it works out better now, it never used to. We did argue a lot about design, or a way to run something. You learn just not to take it home. I have to sort of pull back and realise 'yeah he does have the final word'.

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