I’m not a fan of the cold. I like Autumn when it’s fresh and still a bit warm, but once the clocks chance it goes dark, miserable and cold. On the bright side, it’s a perfect excuse to cook some hearty winter warmer food. Cassoulet is my favourite food ever,it takes an afternoon to make…

I was sorting through some cuttings and found this story about the Ig Nobel Awards. Organised by Harvard, they’re for the quirkier side of science.  The thinking and rigour is just the same, but these achievements are supposed to "make people laugh and then make them think". I like the way they use a mass…

I started this blog with a vague idea of talking about life as planner outside of the London bubble, but it’s something I’ve not talked about for a while. Maybe I should do it more since it’s a different perspective to life in a big communications hub like London. Out here, we’re watching the prolonged…

Just back from a two day course in London on brainstorming. I’m still worn out, which reminds me how much of the normal working day you’re not really using your brain. I really like these APG courses, of course you get to learn new stuff, of course you get to meet some heavy weight tutors…

Off to London Monday/Tuesday. Until then.

I found this in my desk this week: Almost two years to the day since we flew to the Maldives for our honeymoon I find one of the hotel tea bags – brought back just because they seemed to taste so nice. Couldn’t resist brewing it up – still very, very good. This connection of…

To find out how much blogging I can do before I forget I have a real job, I’ve quietly been writing a ton of stuff on my agency blog, which is work- kind of. I’m finding it a really useful way to go deep into a brand and find out what its voice feels like.…

When I started blogging I wasn’t sure what I was doing it for,apart from some vague idea that someone should speak up for planning ‘Up North’.  One thing I never expected was to meet new people in the flesh. I never imagined it may lead to working relationships. Nevertheless, James Boardwell, a veteran from Northern…

I’m off to London Town for a course next Monday and Tuesday (6th and 7th). Unfortunately it’s not a Friday so no Russell Davies coffee morning, but if anyone wants to meet up after work on Monday, or breakfast -ish on Tuesday give me a shout (Carol? Scamp?).