Unless we’re very unlucky, we’re all more family-focussed at this time of year. Even if we’re merely reconnecting by sending a card, our extended families are in our thoughts. To a certain extendt the tradition of following one’s parents’ footsteps into the family business has disappeared, though it still gladdens my heart to see the legend ‘family butcher’ or ‘John Smith & Sons’ above a business premises. Family business can be great - or ghastly. We’ve all watched with horrid fascination the television series’ showing family...

Am enthusiastically reading Guy Clapperton’s book “This is social media” which reminds me only too forcefully to keep this blog up to date! So far the book is impressive - so much so that I sat engrossed in it during my visit to the hairdresser today, rather than reading ‘Heat’ magazine. I’m familiar with blogging, Facebook and LinkedIn, but haven’t got round to activating my Twitter account yet. And the mysteries of uploading content onto YouTube still evade me. But Guy is going to change all that. Watch out for updated blogs from now on!

Off to the Midlands last weekend for a family party.  During the journey we realised that there must be some serious identity  problems amongst the residents of West Mercia - plainly something in the air means that they are incapable of remembering their own names or initials.  At least two cars in every three sported a number plates spelling out these important personal details!  It was, in the correct sense of the word, remarkable (and incidentally revealed how proportionately fewer people in the south east tend to indulge in this bit of harmless - though expensive - fun these days). En...

Having noticed from idly glancing at my daughter’s ‘Heat’ magazine from time to time, I couldn’t fail to be aware of something called a Power Plate which is, it seems, the exercise accessory de nos jours for celebs with toned arms, tums and bums.  So imagine my excitement when two Power Plates suddenly appeared in my gym! I signed up for an induction to this strange-looking piece of kit and today was the day.  Hear it first from me (and no, I don’t do the PR for it) it’s BRILLIANT!  You do different exercises in 30 second bursts which means I can probably...

Sometimes, it’s gratifying to note, one’s optimism is well-founded.  After my last post the client who whom I used to work some seven or so years ago has confirmed he’d like me to launch an excellent home insulation product direct to the consumer.  I got the confirmatory call today - and I’ve started already.  More about this in a later post.  More work from my client, Fuld & Company, who are about to launch yet another initiative - I’ve been closely collaborating with PR Consultant, Sherry Alpert, my opposite number in the States.  However, the biscuits are...

…that things are looking up.  I went away last Friday leaving an office with my Inbox almost empty, a silent phone and nothing more exciting than PR Week in the in tray. What a difference a week makes!  The phone has scarcely stopped since I got back in yesterday lunchtime with all sorts of opportunities presenting themselves.  A client I last worked with about seven years ago has been in touch suggesting a meeting to discuss a new project.  An exisiting client is about to launch a fascinating new product based on the Microsoft SharePoint portal and I’ve started putting together...

Whoever coined this new (to me) phrase has revolutionised my social life recently!  I’ve been to pop up drinks, and been to eat in a pop up restaurant (or two). All highly agreeable and certain to become a bad habit! There’s something extremely attractive about spontenaiety - and it’s something that,  in these gloomy days - we don’t get enough of.  From now on, if the spirit moves me, and I’m not eaving an important task undone, I shall seize the moment whether it’s to suddenly go for a swim, a manicure or coffee with a friend. I’ll be there!

 On Tuesday I had a day off and a trip to the National Gallery to see the Sisley exhibition. Small, but delightful. Then to a lovely lunch at Le Caprice – one of my very favourite ‘occasion’ restaurants in London. Food and wine both excellent. Service patchy though charming. But why doesn’t someone suggest that the three or four front of house guys would look a whole lot smarter if they polished their shoes occasionally?

  To PR Newswire’s ‘Meet the Media’ event in SW1 last night. Guest speaker was Matthew Bishop of The Economist who, in between plugging his just-published book, offered some useful insight into the workings of this excellent publication. Hospitality was generous and following the Q&A session we were all invited to cross from one side of Royal Opera Arcade to the other where the photographer John Stoddart’s work was showcased in La Galleria. On the street level of the gallery we played “if you could hang one of those at home which would you choose?” As I wasn’t...

 Got a call from Business Link yesterday doing a quick phone survey to see if the current economic situation had made an impact on my business. ‘No’ - or at least, ‘not yet’. And how did I see my business progressing this year - turnover down, stay the same or up? Definitely ‘up’ I said. And how did I plan to grow my business during the next 12 months? ‘An aggressive new business campaign’ was the answer I chose. You’ve been warned! Meet the editors - what a good idea this is! Was pleased to receive and accept an invitation from PR Newswire...