Hi guys,
I just wanted to let off steam here.
I have a client who I saw once and he has never been back since although he drops me an email from time to time letting me know how he is doing and such.
I really like this guy and have that rare thing for him called respect.

In his emails he gives me the reason(s) why he has not come back again and yesterday I replied to him that it was okay to not book me again. It was ok to drop me a line every now and then as to hear he is doing well/not so well is nice as, we got on well, (I mean nothing romance like here) and it's nice to hear from him when I do.
I obviously worded it terribly badly as I offended him. I did not intend to do that.
Now, my header states it's a fine line we walk with clients, as, it's very difficult to suss out the serial time waster from the not and to take reasons for a non return as genuine over just rubbish.
I didn't think this guy was a timewaster at all, I was just trying to make it easier on him, you know, I don't need to be placated with vague suggestions of a booking, I am happy to read your mails when I get them as it's nice to hear your doing well and so on. There is absolutely no need for any suggestion of a future booking to be made.
I have replied to his email and explained myself, as, I think it's quite rare in this business to meet a guy and spend an hour talking with him and to respect his values and outlook on life. The ratio of guys like that and guys that are fools, well, you all know what it is...
I am quite mad at myself for not wording my initial email better and avoiding all this.
I would not have bothered to try and explain myself but really, this is a lovely guy and I really felt badly for causing him any offence.
I know how much it costs to see me and am aware of the implications of that cash just disappearing out of a joint bank account....
God. Anyhow, just venting here before I go make more coffee.
Sometimes this job is far, far more complicated than it appears. It is very difficult to talk to clients sometimes as offence is caused when it was not meant. He was not horrible to me at all, not rude to me, just offended that I thought he was making up excuses for not coming back again and so on. Probably for lumping him in with the afore mentioned timewasters.
I don't know, you would not think that you would actually care that you had caused offence really, but you do, at least, I do.
x

I'm wondering if you did actually hit a chord, which is why he took offence. He probably does understand that you might view him as a timewaster. As well as feeling happy that he can write to you, he also feels a little guilty that he's taking up your time (even though you insist otherwise), which would be why you've struck a nerve with him.

There's not much you can do if he chooses to take it the wrong way. Leave him be and see if he writes back to you.