It's all about teamwork!

So, it was that time of year again - G-day (aka Glastonbury tickets are on sale day)! Determined that I was not going to be beaten by the "your request has been placed in a queue" torment again I got in early. I was on the laptop hubby on phones.

8.50am and I was ready to go! Up came the "click here to place your deposit" page (10 minutes ahead of schedule). I couldn't believe my luck, "this is going to be a breeze" I thought. Turns out I wasn't the only one getting a head start.

1 hour later and I was STILL on the "oops! we cannot display this site" page from hell. I knew (although I wouldn't admit it out loud) that things were not looking good! About another hour in a call from my bro gave me a little ray of hope. They had a whole booking syndicate going so we got on board!

Nearly 4 hours after I first "clicked here", now armed with 5 strangers' registration details, I was back in a queue and going nowhere. But even with the remaining count dropping by the second I felt a million times better than I did that first hour. I knew I wasn't in it alone now. Then I got the call, a friend of a friend of my brother had confirmed our deposits!


So long story short, I'll be back at Worthy Farm in June but not without a good reminder of the power of teamwork! So it will be all hands on deck come the re-sale in June!

Your airline's either got it or it hasn't!!!

Has anyone seen the new Virgin Airline advert? I saw it last night and knew straight away it was for Virgin and I love it!!!! - The music used - Muse's version of "Feeling Good" fits the advert really well. It is said to be inspired by James Bond title themes and it sure does, men in tuxes, cocktails, cheeky dancing going through the body scanner and the winking golden eye was cleverly used. There is so much I could talk about and either what I was watching last night was either quite mundane or the Agency have done their job as I can recall so much information from the advert and would love to try out the experience with Virgin!!!! Was it worth the reported £6 million check it out and see what you think. I know who I'm going to fly with next time......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbib-A6NpW8

Laura Ashley on acid

Am I the only female in the south-east of England who cannot stand Cath Kidston? Truly?

I just don't get it.

It's twee, indulgent, soppy, wet, slushy, nauseatingly smug and just too simperingly girly for words. It's formulaic, unimaginative, derivative and girls you're being played for fools. Get some edge about you and have some individuality.

It's Laura Ashley on acid. And I hated that too, but I didn't have an outlet to rant on.

Do me a favour all you fans, dress yourselves from head to toe in CK, including the obligatory apron and wellies of course, take hold of the hands of your over-indulged, spoilt little fashion appendages (that's the offspring by the way) step into your CK wallpapered and accessorised kitchen and, bingo, with a bit of luck disappear from my view forever.

The old man and the sea

To cut a long story short I had a restless weekend and found myself bored by everything around me. I desperately needed stimulating.

I took a stroll into town and went into Waterstones. By accident my eyes fixed on the author, ‘Ernest Hemingway’. I’ve never read his work, but I understand that he is one of the most respected writers. I selected one of his books, ‘The old man and the sea’ and decided that I was going to buy it without reading the synopsis on the back. I didn’t want to be discouraged in anyway from his writing.

I took the book home and spent the next two hours reading it.

The book captured my imagination, which to be honest surprised me because although the book is described rather poetically as, “an epic battle of wills between an old, experienced fisherman and a giant marlin said to be the largest catch of his life”, cut short, by little old me, it’s about fishing.

I have no interest in fishing whatsoever; I’m clueless about the entire subject. However, the book was so descriptive and engaging that I found myself excited and openly deliberating in front of my bewildered boyfriend, whether this old man would triumph over the fish!

Isn’t it incredible the power that words have on us, even when we find the subject a little dull? Words can manipulate your mind, take you into another world and often in my case, reduce you to tears!

It's good to talk...

Another day and another few million emails are exchanged through the Woodies' inboxes. Emails are great: a speedy and effective way to instantly communicate with other people who could even be on the other side of the world. It always baffles me the degree to which we rely on emails and the internet for business nowadays and this reliancy is only ever going to grow with time. I cannot imagine how business in fact worked before the days of the web or even computers. I can only assume that the important messages to clients must have been sent by flocks of carrier pigion to get delivered on time. It really does baffle me.

Emails are becoming so much a part of our lives that they are even affecting our lives outside of work too. Is this a good thing or has it affected us too much; emailing rather than speaking to a friend or relative for a good old catch up. Is this making our attitudes to relationships and friendship lazy? I for one am amongst those to blame for not speaking to my friends as often as hoped and think a little mid-week text will make do for the moment. But the tone of an email or text message can so easily be misread or unappreciated. There are only really so many 'emoticoms' you can use at one time to emphasise levels of emotion. Does it really harm to make the time and pick up the phone and actually have a chat? Why don't we do this more? I know I don't do this often enough but I really think it is important otherwise could speaking be at risk of extintion...?

I love it when a plan comes together...

There can rarely be anything more satisfying than when the whole pitch process works, and works properly. There are always last minute hitches, disagreements, changes of mind - but that's because we want and need to get it right.

There is nothing better than discovering a fantastic solution to the Client puzzle - and a proper live one at that, with people to impress and budgets to plan - and one where all concerned treat it with the respect and value it deserves. I'm glad I don't have to pander to selling ideas that are only developed to adorn portfolios and massage egos.....

I lie, actually there is something better - when you bare the result of your work and not only does the Client listen, they nod with approval, and join in the discussion, actively being enthused with what you've lain in front of them.

It's the satisfaction you get when you've made a cracking meal, and the plates are left clean.....you want to do it all over again!

Madmen – probably the best television show in the world

The 4th series of madmen has started and, as usual I am already hooked.

This blog is a blatant plug for what is, in my opinion, one of the best television series ever made. How lucky am I? Not only is it the best show ever (have I said that enough yet?) but it is also about the industry I love so much.

For the uninitiated (and not to watch it means you are either mad, man, without a TV or have a social life to rival Paris Hilton thus are not in on a Wednesday night.), Madmen follows the lives and loves of the men and women of Madison Avenue ad land in the 1960’s. The characterisation is beyond perfect, the script from heaven and the attention to detail unparalleled. For example, if they are shooting a scene on a particular day, thanksgiving for example, they look back at historical weather data and dress the characters accordingly. They even make sure they have the right sort of ice cubes for the whiskey that is seemingly drunk from morning to night along with the cigarettes that punctuate every waking moment of their lives (aah for the return of guilt free smoking). It deals with all the major issues of its day – politics, racism, homophobia, sexism at work, unwanted pregnancy, all with such aplomb it makes me go quite giddy just reflecting on it now. It's even had the power to reignite the 'size 0' debate.

It has the ability to make you laugh (for fans – remember when the account exec ran over the client’s foot with a John Deer tractor at the office party?) and cry (See Don’s beautiful ‘carousel’ pitch?). I implore you to see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRDUFpsHus

Despite having moved on somewhat in agency lala land since then (although I have definitely indulged in some all night parting which included passing out in the agency at some point in my sometimes not so distinguished career, although stopping short of severing the limbs’ of clients!), the day to day highs and lows, the tensions between suits and creatives, the clients you adore, and those you don’t, the agency personnel’s love of a drink remain constant.

Finally, I love it because it reminds me of why I love my industry so much and how lucky I was to have stumbled upon it in the first place. I am inspired nearly every day by what we do. How lucky I am to have a job that I actually love to do.

oooh, PS, I have just found joy of joys a Mad Men blog. Check out http://www.lippsisters.com/