If you sent a package to 'Russell, Anne and Arthur' or something like that (at our home address) it seems likely that the Post Office have lost it. (Unless their search and recovery operations prove more successful than they normally are.) So, if you think we've not been appropriately grateful we're sorry, it's because we didn't get it, and we don't know who the package we didn't get is from, so this is the only way we can let you know. Sorry.
You're too late for this Christmas but you parents out there have got to check out Apple's iPhoto books as presents for next year. A cute little book full of lovely pictures of your kids - they're like crack for grandparents.
I bundled together some festive tunes for the Christmas drive North. It's not long, about 35 minutes, but here it is if you like:
One of the best things I've ever been involved with (tangentially) was the setting up We Are What We Do. WAWWD is lead by a most inspiring man, David Robinson, who also set-up a splendid organisation called Community Links, based in East London. We met because David was intrigued by the way brands can create a sense of community - for their own benefit and sometimes, perhaps incidentally, for the benefit of their customers - and wondered if that same idea of brand-based community could be extended into the creation of a brand whose 'product' was social cohesion. ie Could the skills of brand-building and brand-based creativity be used to build community and social good? I'd say that the work of We Are What We Do so far has proved that he was onto something.
Anyway, he's now asked that I write something for a book they're going to publish to celebrate their 30th anniversary. It's a follow-up to this book from their 21st anniversary (you can read it all online as pdfs). And I've just had a look and it's rather dauntingly clever and insightful. So I'm going to need help.
I'm inclined not to write anything too much about brands and community because that argument has been made better elsewhere by other people, I'm thinking I'd like to write something about the community that gets built via blogging and my instinct that it is a new and positive force for social cohesion and general goodness. That's about all I've got so far, but I was wondering if any of you lot had any thoughts on it. I'd be very grateful if you did.
If you're looking for holiday reading, want to get online and escape the bosom of your family at any time - it looks like Paul's going to be actively blogging. And I'm going to try and do the odd post too.
Bumper turn-out for coffee this morning. We had mince pies and crackers which added to the festivities. Lots of people, but I'm afraid I didn't get pictures of everyone. Sorry.
Stevie, Gareth and Simon. Gareth was kind enough to bring me a lego Darth Vader keyring which Arthur has already co-opted. Simon was telling me of his night out with Jeffre at a Gary Numan concert where he played the whole of Telekon. (Gary Numan played it, not Simon.) To the right of Simon was Dave, who I've not pictured and didn't get to chat to much, so hello Dave, hope to see you another time.
James, Arthur and Helen. To the left of Helen was Max who again, I didn't get to chat to much, so hello Max and thanks for chatting with Arthur so patiently. Very kind. (And Max has just written this very thoughtful post about Arthur, and other things.)
Paul and Arthur comparing muscles.
and trading blows.
Richard looming and looking thoughtful.
I think Arthur's in love with Rebecca from the Design Conspiracy. And that's Mr Dylan Trees in the background (I know he has a real name, but it doesn't seem real enough to me) and Alex, who again I didn't get to chat too. Sorry Alex. See you another time.
I also seem to have failed to photograph Ben, Rebecca and Johnny. I don't think I've missed anyone else but apologies if I have. And if anyone not underlined in blue wants to send me a link please do. And huge thanks to everyone for coming, and to everyone who's come any time, to any coffee morning, anywhere in the world. Everyone's willingness to come out and say hello has been one of the most exciting things of 2006 for me. It's a fantastic thing. If you've not been please come along. There's no agenda, no need to be a planner or a blogger or anything, it's just coffee and chat, beverages and banter, drinks and discussion. Next London one will probably be Friday the 5th, but I'll confirm nearer the time.
The Amateur Gourmet wins November's Post of The Month for this fantastic post. Which leaves me with the slightly embarrassing task of emailing him and telling him who we are and that we've been voting about him.
There won't be a December Post Of The Month. Instead, some time early in January we'll start voting on 2006 Post Of The Year, so start thinking about your nominations. I guess we'll need a new logo for that too, if anyone would like to do one. (Not you Paul).
Here's Richard again. 45 minutes this time. We talked about is planning killing blogging? the importance of not disappearing up our own arses with all this new marketing theory, are we painting a realistic picture of planning? is all this revolutionary planning stuff actually implementable? is new marketing worse than old marketing? what advertising killed in the 90s, the future of the advertising agency, the silliness of the distinction between above-the-line and digital, CDP, the future structure of advertising agencies - creative generalists handing on to specialists, brand ideas, brand slogans, the pointlessness of idea factories, Sky TV, the uncoupling of marketing communications and content, free newspapers, getting seriously long-tail, branded IPTV channels, go beyond TV, MomMeTV, how2kids channel, the polarising of airtime, optimising interruptive TV advertising, ad avoidance, air-conditioning noise.
