Month: June 2015

“If it doesn’t sell, it isn’t creative”

Having worked in a number advertising agencies, I have some sympathy with David Ogilvy’s quote. But who am I to comment. The greater my involvement in the advertising world, the less is my understanding of the people who work in the field.

Indeed there isn’t much in the world of advertising that I do truly understand. There are adverts I like, ones which move me and draw me in. But it’s largely an alien field. I still can’t work out why Mo Farah telling me to eat corn is going to get anyone to rush out and to such tasteless fare.

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A ‘free bar’ did you say?

It’s a common fact that in London especially, the way to really attract a crowd is to offer a free bar.

With many places in the west end and the city charging over £5 for a pint (especially those sophisticated European beers in the fancy tall glasses), the opportunity to indulge in some free booze needs to be grasped. But my real motivation for going to General Assembly’s Graduation Evening is to catch up with the tutors and fellow students I met during my recent course in Front End Web Development. Honestly.

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I’m missing you Jeff

Now, it would be difficult for me to unequivocally claim that without any football betting my life would be empty. That would sound unbelievably shallow, but the new season can’t start too soon.

I don’t suppose William Hill will issue a profits warning due to my absence from the betting shops over the summer. I’m not a big gambler in any case, but the bookies, for all the big horse race meetings and high profile summer sports such as the Ashes and Wimbledon, must be yearning for the return of the Premiership just as much as I am.

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‘I’ve fallen in love with the course’

I think Jay Townsend, ex-USPGA golfer, may be in a small minority following his verdict on Chambers Bay.

On the whole, it was a enjoyable US Open. It’s always interesting to view people leave their comfort zone in any walk of life, but it’s fascinating to see multi-millionaire golfers hacking around the fairways and missing a succession of 6ft putts. I’m sure all the controversy surrounding the course boosted global viewing figures.

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Tiger Woods horror show

Watching a once great golfer decline into the ranks of amateur duffers is both acutely uncomfortable and addictive viewing.

I needed to be up early for meetings this morning, but I was up until the early hours looking at Woods’ attempt to hit a 100 yard wide fairways with his driver. It was compelling TV for all the wrong reasons. His form going into this week was wretched and Woods must have approached such a difficult course with a great deal of trepidation.

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‘f*** off and die’

As a daily cyclist in London, I witness an increasing number of disputes on the road, so this story may have passed my by.

But this dispute between Boris Johnson and a black taxi driver has helped to highlight an issue which will have great impact on London’s roads. The issue relates to the growth of the uber app, which allows people to hail a cab and agree a fare using their phone. The app is free to download and, when accessed, shows all the Uber-accredited cars in a user’s vicinity. To hail one, users just tap on a car that is close by, jump in, and at the end of the ride their card is debited automatically. Rates are considerably lower than in a black cab and are calculated according to how far a passenger travels and how long his or her journey takes.

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Footballer in drunken shame

It’s clearly a quiet news week, as the papers have been full of disgust at a young footballer rolling around drunk on holiday.

Jack Grealish has emerged from nowhere to national prominence during the last the season. He’s played in a struggling team, so his good, consistent form has been all the more commendable. Following an FA Cup final appearance, facing another season in the PL ahead of him and with Roy Hodgson courting his services, he was more than entitled for a celebratory holiday.

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‘Get ready for a broken ** arm.’

A charming comment directed at Jimmy Anderson from the Australian cricket captain Michael Clark, during the heat of the most recent Ashes Test series.

The quote suddenly came to me during another fantastic confrontation between the marvellous New Zealanders and a rejuvenated England. The competition is intense, challenging and demanding for all the players. Yet the game is played with a great deal of mutual respect and in an excellent spirit. Top level sports at it’s finest.

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Watching the Women’s World Cup?

Women’s World Cup is full swing in Canada and already it’s getting more coverage than ever.

Credit to the BBC who have devoted a fair amount of resources to covering the event. Though this may largely be down to the cost of securing the rights and the lack of competition from the likes of Sky and BT Sport.

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Bring on the Ashes series

The two match test series and the first one day international today has certainly whetted the appetite for the Ashes.

Sky’s trailer for the coming series against Australia is brilliant. The trailer certainly gets the pulses racing. I’ve been fortunate to get hold of a block of tickets for the Saturday of the Lord’s Test. Lots of enthusiasm from the friends who I’ve invited along, but I intentionally left out the price of the seats in the exchange of emails, which are priced at £75 (which are incidentally the cheapest tickets available for that day’s play).

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