NORTHERN PLANNER

Played some five a side with people from work today, which is a bit tough with the swimming training I’m doing too.  It doesn’t matter how fit I get, I’ll never be any good, good job that fellow players are understanding and more importantly, out of shape.  I can just about escape looking too lame by using speed instead of (absolutely no) skill.

Here’s a thought though, sports like footie are intimidating for people who are not very good, come to think of it, you have to be half decent to play in most sports competitively. Is it fair that being useless stops you enjoying a competitive game? There’s always a bottom division, but what about one where you have to be absolutely useless to get in? To quote Nick Berry, "Every loser wins".

What are you rubbish at but enjoy anyway?

We went to a free classical music concert this weekend. It was open air at Kirkstall Abbey, replete with fireworks and specially lit up ancient monastery for ambience.

Mrs Hovells and her Mum.

It was nice to feel a community coming together, and surprising to see so many different people were enjoying classical music. Being able to bring your own food and drink and chat a bit probably helped.

Maybe most people’s problem with opera and classical stuff isn’t the art itself but the way you have to be so reverential, silent and respectful. This one was more like a rock concert and all the better for it. It reminded me of those Stella Screen events. Loads of people come out for films they’ve already seen, thanks to shared experience. I suppose in the end it’s like preferring to watch football in the pub when you’ve already paid for Sky Sports at home.

Ideas from last night’s Genius programme on Radio 4 (normal people get their ideas discussed live on radio). Some daft, some unworkable, but some brilliant. Shows what can happens people are allowed to speak freely. Interesting how much it got people talking too.

1. Take time off now in exchange for retiring a bit later – like taking 5 years off now to see the kids grow up, but working until you’re 70.
2. Houses that are just one cube – with a different room on every floor. Just press a button and the bathroom on the ceiling rotates around to become the floor. Great for cheaper housing, not so great if you fall out and want to go sulk in the bedroom.
3. Parking meters that are also fruit machines. Pay for your parking and have a play while your at it. Parking becomes nearly free thanks to the profits from gambling addicts.
4. Fizzy Bovril (a no no).
5. Fizzy custard (yummy).

Paul Colman’s written an interesting post on taking your time and finding ways to enjoy delays. I have a few issues with this since I’ve pledged to never be late again, but I like the way it questions  rushing and trying to do everything at once.

Here’s a visual demonstration of doing too much in go from photographer Idris Khan.

This is photographs of every page in a book condensed into a single image. The result is inomprehensible. A useful way of showing the dangers of reducing down complexity too much as well?

And this many pieces of art put together. Despite being strangely beautiful, you’ve lost the chance to appreciate every single piece of work.

We met last night in Leeds for a few drinks last night. I was a bit nervous this time since it was down to me to arrange a venue. Realising with horror that I’m too old and dull to know where to go in my own town centre, I stuck to what I know and picked the Wardrobe. Seemed to go okay, although we had to shout over some students dressed as God knows what for a few minutes.

I met Famous Rob at the train station.

Gemma was already there when we arrived. We used to work together a while back. Life must have been kinder to her since she noted that all my hair has gone and I quietly seethed that she doesn’t look a day older. She’s as nice, and wonderfully clever, as ever. There were a few little aphorisms and turns of phrase I’ll claim for my own quite soon………

James got lost but made it in the end.

Unlike last time we were more sensible with the booze and we had a good chat (and I can remember it all this time) about loads of stuff, including Rob teaching me about music, how lucky you are if you have internal researchers and Gemma loving her new job. We had a long  conversation about Rob’s project. He’s doing some work on repositioning a discount brand for some practice. When he’s happy he’ll be briefing Stu and seeing what work comes out. He’s made a great start, can’t wait to see where it ends up.

We’ll be doing it again soon, the more the merrier. Beccy from my place will be coming, any else up for it? Rob has half convinced me that we should do a blog about our monthly adventures, since I seem to be happy blogging about thinngs as mundane as not being late, why the hell not?

Great post from beeker about mutual respect and treating young creatives better while not bowing and scraping to the rest. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

What are the things that get you really riled about working with  agencies? I  need a favour if you can spare the time, can you spare five minutes to let me know five things you would change? I would greatly be in your debt. Anything from the client side doubly do.

Might make interesting reading anyway.

As a bribe, first one to comment gets a free copy of Everything Bad is Good For You by Steven Johnson, or either Paul Arden book.

The last post (or next if you read it the other way) shows not only that you should leave press relations to the experts, but that PR should be at the heart of the process.  Yet in most cases, the two disciplines never get together. They’re very different, but they could complement each other beautifully.

"Ad agencies and PR agencies still work for the most part in diconnected silos, with little understanding of each other’s business or how to harness combined value", writes Claire Beale in the Independent. As someone who’s bit cynical about the breathtaking self importance of Campaign Magazine, it’s refreshing to see it’s editor admitting that advertising is not the world.

Our ChildLine film got some coverage in the Yorkshire Post, and me into hot water. I gave them a quick interview, but the words seem to have come out all wrong and I forgot to mention the creatives. It was Stu’s idea, but the project is described as ‘the brainchild of Andrew Hovells and Jaquie Cross’ (she’s the client). I’m now facing weeks of grief, "What do you want to do Andrew, it’s your brainchild", "Write the copy, it’s your brainchold". I know what John Precott feels like now.

Glyn at Ideas department has some practical advice  on the skill of keeping it simple and taking time to write less. He wins extra points for quoting the wisdom of Mrs Northern Planner .

These bits stood out:

"You believe your own hype when people say ‘that’s clever’. (They either mean ‘that’s really good and simple’ or ‘that’s too complicated and I don’t understand it’.)"

"Trying to be too clever is bad because:

• It will make you unpopular.
• It takes too long and there’s plenty of other stuff to be getting on with.
• Real people don’t like it. I know, my lovely fiance tells me all the time."