We managed to ’surprise’ Simon Landi this afternoon with cake and cards to celebrate his 40-something birthday. Wisely Simon has decided to take a holiday this coming week and will be spending his actual birthday this Tuesday camping with his family.
We’re all now enjoying birthday cake (there was a choice of chocy or lemon drizzle). What a grand way to spend a Friday afternoon!
As an alumnus of Manchester University it’s heart warming to read that students’ fees are being spent on researching the secrets behind the perfect sandwich. This article from the M.E.N explains that professors at Manchester’s premier academic institution have discovered that the natural bubbles in white bread are crucial to the success of a sandwich.
Personally I’m fond of ham and cheese on a spongy roll but following this news I’ll be sure to never try making a butty with unleavened bread.
There were a few smiles and thumping heads in the office after Manchester United’s triumph in Moscow last night. Since we overlook the stadium we’ve been watching the roadside flag and scarf sellers make their way up the road, and the occasional beeping of horns can be heard (The Bishop’s seems to be emptying as well). We’ll let you know when the GREAT BIG MASSIVE UEFA trophy arrives at Old Trafford!
With a few weeks to go before mid-summers day, nothing can dampen the spirits of the hard core runners at Access. And the training intensified this week with several of us entering the Warrington Road Runners 10k around Woolton Park - a beautiful quiet part of North Cheshire. This is the best time of year to be running, from 5am to 10pm there’s no excuse to catch some daylight, watching the world go ’round and nature waking up or bedding down, albeit listening to a bit of Bruce Springsteen or The Fratelli’s at 100 decibels!
Anyway, we’re off and training, so watch this space for some intense talk of achilles tendons, shin splints, groin injuries (maybe?) and fastest times over the next four weeks - i bet you can’t wait
It started out as a bit of fun. A chance to get a bit fit, lose a few pounds and make a few for charity. But at £30 just to enter, is it becoming a victim of its own success? There’s no doubt that it is a great success - 31,000 people running/jogging/walking for themselves, for charities and for the sake of it - but it’s not one for the the purists. Firstly the cost - does anyone know where the £30 goes? I’m sure the cost of marshalling such an event doesn’t cost £1 million? I’d rather run around a country park for a fiver!
Secondly, with 31,000 runners, and some very tight bends early on - how can anyone get a decent time? It’s a run for the masses, not for runners.
Finally, it’s not the prettiest of routes - it should be called the Great Manchester/Trafford & Salford Run - the sight of some container yards as you ran into Trafford Park was hardly New York?
I love Manchester, it’s a great place to live, work and enjoy, but it isn’t a Great Manchester Run and nor will it ever be!
After a gruelling interview procedure, we have finally found replacements for the recently departed members of the office fish tank. We all give a hearty welcome to Seamus, Sucker Face 3, and Small Zig and wish them the best of luck in this highly competitive environment…(cough)
After months of hard work we’re all rather delighted with the launch of a new website for Hydratight - the world specialist in bolted joint integrity solutions and machining services. Ok, I’ll let the website explain what that means…
The website is just one of our recent projects built using our favourite open-source CMS, Drupal. It’s fully content managed allowing Hydratight staff to update text, images, product video demonstrations and upload documentation and literature.
It always helps to get positive feedback, and we couldn’t have asked for a bigger slap on the back…
“You all should be very proud of this site. It really conveys the message that Hydratight is a $200m + business. Great stuff!”
Brian Kobylinski, Global Industrial Lead, Actuant plc
With that praise fresh in mind, the Digital team are now working hard on rolling out the site in other languages, and extending the functionality.
Those of you on a day-off today are really missing out. Mia has once again outdone herself and brought in a Swedish culinary treat for afternoon tea. We’re all currently gobbling down plum and pear cake with Ikea vanilla sauce - yum yum!