BJK&E

A new BBC commissioned report has suggested that since the 60’s Britain has slowly been segregating geographically in terms of wealth, politics and demographics with an ever more defined North/South divide. One particluar area the report highlighted is ‘Social Fragmentation,’ suggesting that the traditional neigbourhood barely exists anymore as we become more and more polarised. 

Apparently people in Edinburgh and London feel the least ‘belonging,’ whereas those in Stoke are feeling the love of their neighbours more.  So what do you think, do you have any sense of community in your area? Do you wave to your neighbours or hide when you see them? Or do you think perhaps think communities are being redefined in other less geographic ways?

Today the press has been full of talk about the new Honda ad airing tonight on C4 during Come Dine with Me. Following on from their headline grabbing ads, Cog and Grrr, Honda have gone one step further and are now throwing people out of planes in the name of promoting the brand!

Based on the widsom of Honda’s founder who is purported to have stated ‘difficult is worth doing’ (now the tagline used in the ads), the new ad features 19 skydivers attempting to form the word Honda in the air. The stunt will be shown ‘live’ and in ‘real time.’ Unless it rains. In which case a rehearsal jump filmed yesterday will be shown.

Of course this is all very innovative, publicity grabbing - and no doubt award winning- but do the car buying public really care that much? Do they appreciate the fact that the stunt is live? And is the reported £500k cost really worth it? I suppose the question should be - is difficult really worth doing?

So after finishing a punishing 4 year evening psychology course last summer I have been feeling at a bit of a loose end - what else is free time for but to study!? Bearing this in mind my thoughts have lately turned to learning a language. I hate the fact that I can’t get much futher than ordering a glass of wine in European countries and to expand my horizons I decided to learn Espanol.

I was toying with expensive courses and online learning programmes when I happened to come across the perfect tool from one of our very own lovely clients Ubisoft!  My Spanish coach is a game for the Nintendo DS which allows you to learn at your own pace and on the move. Its bite size lessons are perfect as instead of having 20 mins dead  time on the tube each way time I can brush up  my language skills. And next time I head off to Spain I may be able to venture out of the bar (maybe)!

Tobermory calling 911, Womble Tomsk asking ‘what’s going down in the hood?’ If this seems almost like treason to you then PACT are doing the job with their new clip intended to highlight how British Kids TV is under threat.

British cult classic, The Wombles has been given an American makeover to highlight the need to invest in British children’s TV as just 1% of all new programmes are made in the UK.  Check out the clip at http://www.britishkidstv.com/ and then register your views on the petition!

I have recently been on honeymoon. 3 weeks in Costa Rica without mobile or even Blackberry reception….I was nervous at the prospect but it turned out to be bliss having no contact with the outside world - apart from the occasional sneaky look at BBC News to check we weren’t at war or anything. However on my return and after a 26 hour door to door journey ( I swear Miami airport is run by the devil)  I was more than ready to catch up with the world, especially the world of trash TV! So what did I record on my TV Plus whilst away. Whilst my husband (still feels weird saying that) had plugged in mostly highbrow music and cultural shows I relished the prospect of watching my hours upon hours of America’s Next Top Model, Supersize versus Superskinny and Crazy in Love. Sofa, pizza and Tyra being a bitch - what could be better when jetlagged?

 We also managed to record some things we could watch together, current favourites include the new series of Skins, Torchwood and the new series Reaper which is good stupid fun about a guy whose parents sold his soul to the devil and must now pay the consequences - one of my favourite directors Kevin Smith, of Mallrats, Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob fame, is also involved.

I didn’t manage to catch much TV in Costa Rica but what I saw in the background of bars seemed to consist of dodgily dubbed soap operas that looked like they had been filmed in the 80’s. The UK may not have sun soaked beaches, abundant wildlife or baby monkeys to hold but at least we have Kerry Katona to entertain us eh………

Last night, with heavy hearts, we bidded a fond farewell to the legend that is Gareth Rees in the traditional BJK&E way - drinking lots down our local pub! We began the evening in the boardroom with a drink and a short slide show demonstrating the many faces of Gareth (ask Claire nicely and she might let you have a laugh at it) and then progressed down to the pub where we plied him with hoegaarden and shots all night until he left drunken messages on my mobile (about lychees or something!).  Gareth has been a much loved character around BJK&E for the last couple of years and we will miss him and his drunken ranting immensely! Good luck in Manchester and come back to see us soon.

A few of us at BJK&E had the privilege of going to see Tim J perform at the quirky little Bourne & Hollingsworth bar on Rathbone Place. For those that don’t know this place it feels very much like you have been transported to someone’s living room, in the 1960’s - complete with floral wallpaper and china tea cups!

Tim Jones has been singing since ‘he came out of the womb,’ according to his mother and not many people know this but he has actually released a single (Gotta Get Thru 2 U – find it here!) which was apparently ‘big in Swansea.’ Tonight however, he has laid off of the cheesy R&B to play the piano and sing some of his own compositions. And he can certainly both play and sing brilliantly belting out songs such as ‘Be there for you’ and ‘I know’ and getting the crowd whooping their approval. It was a really enjoyable evening and it’s always nice to see colleague’s hidden talents away from media world!