Rugby World Cup Final

ROBBED!

World cup defending

Well I hate to say i told you so, but I did! We're gonna get sweet revenge on South Africa and once again be crowned world champions! Currently trying to sell children to afford the tickets - I would love to be there as I was in Sydney 4 years ago. Prediction 21-15 COME ON!!!!

Theres only one Andy Sheridan

What can I say? OK I got the score wrong but the result was as predicted - Sheridan made mince meat of the Australian front row and they were reduced to giving penalties away which Jonny duly kicked. France will faulter and we'll get South Africa in the final, what a world cup!

Oz bating

Come on down if you think yer hard enough! Wilkinson is gonna kick you out of the world cup again! Farrel will take charge in the centre Saki will be outstanding and our front row are going to muller you. Prediction: 35-20 to the lads in white.

Told yer so

44-22 I wasnt far off with my prediction against Samoa. But it was edge of the seat stuff, thank goodness for Wilko! Bring on the Tongans - prediction 32-10 to England. If you concentrate hard you can smell the fear from the Ozzies!

Samoa squashing

OK I got it wrong - The Boks turned us over in dramatic fashion. But Jonnys back and I feel a prediction of 38-20 coming on. England will show more craft than their Southern Island opponents and lead us to a showdown withthe ozzies in the quarter final. "swing low sweet chariot...."

Bok bashing!!!!

Come on england - with makeshift half backs, a kicker than hasnt kicked for years and a team with a higher than average, average age, we stand little chance of turning over the rampant Boks. But thats on paper, this is the world cup - prediction 20-18 to Martin Corries lot - with Farrel being Man of the Match

War planes and Shrek ears

There doesn't seem to have been much blogging activity recently. That's probably a combination of being busy and going out enjoying ourselves. Shrugborough Hall was the venue for our latest outing, for a picnic and classical concert. A very civilised affair and I'm impressed that we managed to make the champagne last until 8pm. I think everyone had brought with them the bottle they'd been saving for special occasions. Marks and Spencer did a roaring picnic trade too.

We were much amused by a friend of a colleague who we met in the crowd. She failed to identify one of the easily recognisable faces from TV in our party, but managed to convince herself that one of our lot was Tom Cruise! Now I'm not saying it's an hysterical mistake to make, but it really was pushing it a bit! How drunk was she?

Just like last year, the Spitfire fly past was impressive and the fireworks at the end seemed just a little bit better. Angela Rippon, bless her, I think was working from exactly the same script!

A familiy who must have had a job-lot of 'Shrek' ears caused much amusement, from Dad, who could have looked like Shrek with a bit of green make up, right down the generations to the baby, who to be honest could have passed for Baby Shrek too. Funny Family.

Italian Job Video Shoot

It's back to football again, but this time it incorporated something I like - cars! Asked by Marketing Birmingham to provide a red mini, white mini and blue mini for a re-creation of the Italian Job, around the streets of Birmingham I jumped at the chance to well, have a play!

Liveried up to promote the pre-season friendly between Inter Milan and Aston Villa the three cars - and drivers (thanks Ant from the WL studio, Andy soon to be of the WL PR team and Dave from Mini Sutton) provided some low-level stunts for the video shoot around Birmingham's Brindleyplace. The rain was torrential, I'm sure the video man ruined his camera. I thought there was a danger at one point of the Sea Life Centre bursting its banks, but luckily it held!

Then we were on to Villa Park, where it wasn't high speed pursuit, it was more very slow and tight manoeuvring, to get the cars on the narrow strip at the side of the pitch without touching the grass!

On the way back with the cars we were diverted by the flooding which lead to the headline "Flooding Fails to Foil Italian Job". We like a bit of alliteration.

I never knew football could be so much fun.

It's on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJGbzFA-il4

Band on the road

Our newley formed band (aka "Mid life crisis" or "sore accident" havent decided on the name yet) had their first practice last Friday evening once everyone had left for the evening. That is everyone except two of our PR guys, who steadfastly refused to move. So we went on regardless. Anchored by Steady Eddie on bass, we couldnt go wrong - especially when we had an axeman like Will "Shredder" Rowson. As for young Nick from the studio (young as in not as old as the rest of us) and myself - the not so talented but slightly more eccentric guitar playing members of the group - we managed to keep up and even lead from the front on vocals for a couple of tracks. We even managed to get Andy, one of the PR bods up to sing a couple of numbers.

All in all it was a great success and more importantly great fun. We have 5 months until our debut gig at xmas and we nailed two tracks from our prospective playlist (Louie Louie by Motorhead and I wanna be your dog by Iggy Pop - notice a pattern emerging concerning difficulty levels!) and I am sure we can accomodate the rest between three guitars, a bass, shared vocal duties and NO drummer!!! Drummers who would like to apply for a position within MLC please contact us care of Ward Lovett.

Uttoxeter Race Day - mixed fortunes

Although the evening itself was a great success, personally I lost the shirt off my back. Guests were treated to 4 course meal and champagne and the weather held out for our sponsored race. Most people I spoke to seemed to have won something, I won the title of "Biggest single loss"

PR Bloke in the House

I'm not particularly political - but I had the chance this week to be in the House of Commons, in the press gallery for Gordon Brown's first PMQ's (Prime Minister's Questions). I loved it - even though I got shoved on one of the un-upholstered benches right at the back. There was an exciting atmosphere and it was fascinating to see an historical event.

The piece we did with the Head of Aston Business School for ITV News following that was good too - exploring the body language and performance of the big leaders!

Thanks to Prof. Mike West for being an excellent and knowledgeable expert and to Sally Mules from ITV for getting me into the House.

If you get the chance to go, I thoroughly reccommend it. And if you have chance to have a go at Houses of Parliament white wine, give that a go too. But that's a different story.

Ciggie Ban Hypnotises City

It's nice having a variety of clients, it keeps things interesting. One of our more unusual is Matt Caulfield, he's a Neuro Lingustic Programmer (NLP), a bit like Derren Brown, only not as showy!

Matt was interviewed by the award winning Tom Ross on Capital Gold the other morning, talking about how NLP can help people to get over cravings and phobias, particularly smoking - or perhaps the fear of spiders or flying. (I know spiders is arachnophobia, I must look up the flying one...) Anyway, such is the power of radio, that before he'd come off air, Matt had a list of people enquiring about his services. But was it the power of radio? Or was it the power of suggestion? I must ask him.

By the way, this is the same person that told me to achieve weight loss, I should eat less and move about more.

Now, put that fag out!

We've been institutionalised!

In our business, getting accreditation from the IPA - the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising - is quite an accolade. It's not like just filling in a form and sending a cheque, our whole business is examined for financial stability, procedures and professionalism. And then we're inspected! This morning we've had confirmation from the IPA that we've been 'elected' to membership.

In real terms, it means we'll have access to some more sophisticated planning tools, and someone gets to go to the 'new members' reception in London, along the other 5 ad agencies who've been admitted this quarter!

We've done well for quality this year; we got ISO 9001 and now this!

You soon won't be able to talk to us without an appointment!

Getting on TV

When we get clients on radio or TV, we're usually right beside them, metaphorically at least - just out of shot or mike range. Yesterday was different; I was asked by the BBC if I would like to join them, with a couple of friends for a 'party' in a 8ft housing pod, where their presenter Rajesh Mirchandani was going to be staying over night.

It was a fun evening, with people cramped into a small space, getting to know each other and talking to Rajesh about the accommodation.

I took the precaution of wearing my loudest stripey shirt, so that I'd stand out on screen and minimise the risk of ending up on the cutting room floor (something my friend experienced, in his tasteful but calm shirt - he doesn't want to talk about it...).

At 6.30 this morning I was sitting eagerly in front of the TV, waiting for my BBC debut. And I was on! Handing my glass to Rajesh on my way out of the pod. Will I be up for a BAFTA do you think? or a London Press Club Achievement Award?

I've even worn the same shirt today, just on the off-chance that I'll be recognised in town!

My mother called at 8am, obviously she'd been told that her little lad would be on TV. I was expecting congratulations. What she actually said was "I think it's a disgrace that you're on TV at this time in the morning with a wine glass in your hand."

G word not to be used

Unfortunately we have had to sack a member of staff today for calling a company director a "Ginger". He pleaded that the use of the G word was in context and it was a "Street" term, used as a show of camaraderie, but the board took a very different approach. A spokesman said "In no way should this term be used, in whatever context. The recipient of this particularly nasty case of Gingerism is said to be deeply upset. Naivety is no excuse, and although the defendant claimed "being blond" as a mitigating circumstance, we had to show him the door."

Smoking ban July 1st

Well we've just won a new account from a market place which has been decimated by the no smoking ban in Ireland and Scotland - BINGO! 25% of Bingo enthusiasts no longer attend because of not being able to light up. What our new client has done is take it on line, but incorporate a LIVE interactive streaming bingo caller on the site. Check it out at www.bingohour.com

This is a response to the very fact that most people go to bingo for social interation, and the winning money is secondary.

The new campaign proposed TV, radio and press as well as online marketing.

Going Dutch

Just back from Eindoven where I competed in a Judo competition. At my age I really should know better, but didnt do too badly - just missed out on a medal and beat a couple of the youngsters on the way. However the reason for the posting was just how bad European music still is, was and will ever be so. How can one DJ, at one moment play ACDC and the next, some "Birdy Song" inspired techno eurotrash number. I thought it was just a tongue in cheek sarcastic inclusion that every one would take the micky at, but no, they actually enjoy this absolute rubbish and enthsiastically croon along to it whilst bouncing off the walls. Its obvious that musical taste stops at Dover!

Fabulous Popstar

I've just received the following 'out of office' message from a press release I sent out...

"Hello,
I am out of the office interviewing a fabulous pop star - back Thur May 17. "

How fab is that?

NLP for Weight Loss

Our new PR client, Matt Caulfield is an NLP practitioner - he specialises in making people perform at their absolute best. It's good for sports people, business people and apparently ideal for phobias such as flying and spiders. NLP has a reputation for helping people to stop smoking and lose a bit of weight. I stopped smoking years ago now, but I thought that shedding a few pounds would do me the world of good.

During a meeting between me and Matt, incidentally in nice restaurant, I thought I'd throw my desire to be slimmer into the conversation. Sort of casually. A couple of times in fact, before he picked up on it. Perhaps he sussed me trying for a freebie, or maybe it was subliminal, but what he suggested I do was "Eat less, and move about more."

What a gem!

I even felt slimmer, leaving the restaurant. The subliminal message was working!

Until the following morning, when I didn't hesitate to re-visit the kitchen for a second doughnut.

Thanks lads, for putting me in the way of temptation.

It's all about football

Despite my reluctance to do anything sporty, even spectating - I'm getting a tiny bit excited about meeting TommyDocherty on Saturday to watch the FA Cup at Bar Sport. I don't suppose I can sit down to lunch and tell him "I don't do football" can I?

Losing my Blog Virginity

Well after listening to a breakfast seminar about emarketing (one specific section on Blogs) we have decided to give it a go in an attempt to establish just how usefull a blog is, and if in fact it is more than just vanity publishing. Although I must say that I'm not feeling that inspired to write, as my head is a little fuzzy from watching Derby county beat Southapton in the play offs last night - a fantastic result but as it went to penalties, I spent far longer in the bar than anticipated.