WARNING: client sat opposite Carol

It’s quite common for clients to come and work in our office for a day. Fine. Not sure what’s wrong with their office, but fine.
What’s weird is, whenever they do, someone in account handling will send an email round warning everyone to be on their best behaviour.
I don’t get this. What exactly do we do when clients aren’t around that is likely to so appal them?
I’d understand it if every lunchtime I paraded around the office with only a marker pen to cover my modesty (okay, fineliner.) Or chased the girls around the office a la Benny Hill. Then, perhaps, their email would be justified.
But even then, probably not. I reckon most clients would be delighted if we did something a bit mental. They could return to their office and tell everyone what ‘those kooky agency guys’ were up to. They must watch movies portraying the zany things that go on in agencies and be so disappointed when they see the reality.
What we should be saying is ‘There’s a client sat next to me. Please someone do something interesting before they realise we’re just as dull as they are’.

How do you do it?

What the hell am I going to blog about today?

Dear fans
I’m back. Best not to ask too many questions about where I’ve been. But if you are wondering, ‘espionage’ and ‘subterfuge’ are certainly words that should be in the back of your mind.

This little break has got me thinking about all my fellow blog writerers. I have enormous respect for those of you who churn out the posts week-in week-out. Especially as you’re a lot more busy and important than me (with notable exceptions). What I want to know is, how do you do it? Have you set your face like flint to post each day come-what-may? Or do you effortlessly plop out ideas while sitting on the toilet and type them up in a five-minute window? Or are you just not that busy? Seriously, how do you manage it?

Not that I’m struggling, you understand. But for the benefit of my readers.

Dare or BBH?

Which one of you did this?
I really like the unexpected turn it takes halfway through.

The Ferodo Bridge

Not many ads can run every day for decades without getting boring but this one’s pulled it off. Every time I pass it I get a special warm feeling, a bit like weeing in a wetsuit.
At first I thought this one at Camden Road Station was the only one. Then I noticed another one on Caledonian Road.


A few weeks later, I saw another Ferodo bridge on a trip to Devon (don’t remember where, I was trying to focus every remaining working part of my brain on staying awake).
First of all, how in the world did they buy that bit of media? Because it seems like they’ve got it for life.
Secondly, I think it really works as an ad. The medium says everything you’d want – these brake pads ain’t going anywhere my friend, we’ll run and run.
And the brand has a special place in lots of hearts, not just mine. Its name has become part of the local lexicon. “Go down the hill til you see the Ferodo bridge and the station’s on your right my good man.”
Whatever those canny Ferodo marketing fellows paid for it, it was worth it.
Anyone know of any more Ferodo bridges? Come on, all you bridge enthusiasts.

Belly Button Fluff Chronicles 03.03.09

I’d been saving up a handsome plug. But the bellybutton fluff fairy stole it and replaced it with this.
Disappointing.

Studio Scott wins freedom

Before

After

A while ago I posted about Scott, serving a life sentence in a darkened room for the crime of being good at retouching shots of the new Rolls Royce.
Well, today Scott was promoted to the level of ‘Human being deemed worthy of basic needs like light and air’ and allowed back into studio.
“I feel like a man reborn” said Scott. “From now on I’m going to live every day like it’s my last. Bask in every ray of sunshine. Smell every flower. Enjoy every last inane conversation I overhear from my studio colleagues.”
Welcome back Scott.