Willie Harcourt Cooze

I’ve been watching the latest episodes of Willie’s Chocolate Revolution – Raising the Bar and it continues to amaze me. The guy’s so watchable, and he makes very good TV (also makes incredible chocolate – World class in fact).

I was going to go to Selfridges (because I know they do more than just that!) to get some but I searched around for stockists, and found one with fairly reasonable postage costs – Mummy’s Deli – and have ordered a few bars, and some of the 100% for cooking. Can’t wait to throw together some savoury affairs, and once I get my mitts on Willie’s Cookery book, I might even try my hand at something sweet.

After all I did follow age old recipe of Delia’s in Majorca to make marmalade from Andrea and Rob’s fantastic orange grove.

There’s something engaging about Willie and his never say die attitude that’s helped him win through. He’s also worked tirelessly, and had the support of his amazing wife Tania and great friends who’ve given him help and materials and advice. He has refused to compromise and go to the big players for help, and in the end he built his own production facility to get his first order out in time to Waitrose. He is a model of someone who sticks to his guns, won’t give up, and with sheer determination and hard work has achieved something unique and amazing.

I wish Willie, his delectable cacao, his family and his business every success.

Big up Willie!

Porsche 911 Carrera S

Spotted on 28th August so should have stuck this one in first.  And what a place to staaaaaaart (Alan Partridge voice).  Hey ho.  New Bond St, on a Tuesday, nothing in the calendar, though I expect I was out and about plying my wares.

So this motor which I believe to be a Porsche 911 Carrera S, is a decent piece of kit. Though I have no proof as it was early dfoors in my project and I didn’t bother looking at the reg plate, or the actual model name.  Happy fucking snapper. Top speed quoted of 180mph and ticket price of over £60k I don’t think that’s half bad.  I wouldn’t buy one mind, but I’d hire one and take it to the Nurb, and thrash it to death.

911 Carrera S

Honda Civic: 2nd September 2007

On my way back to the car, up near Portland Place, off Gt Titchfield St I think, this little beauty.  Honda’s first conventional ‘production’ car released in the UK in 1973.

Initially the Civic was offered with an 1169cc engine – the ‘1200′ Civic. Two model variants were available; a 2-door version with a small boot and the more popular 3-door hatchback. Both were available either with a 4-speed manual gearbox or a 2-speed Hondamatic transmission. In 1973 a Deluxe specification was introduced with an AM radio, heated rear window and radial tyres. How things change!

I also think this would be a welcome addition to the broad range of veeeehicuuuls driven/ridden/flown in the classic “Dream the Impossible Dream” Honda ad, made back in 2006 by Wieden & Kennedy:

http://tinyurl.com/297tft

Citroen CX: 2nd September 2007

Joy of joys, the very next day, a rare and mint condition Citroen CX, manufactured between 1974 and 1991 and looking at this one, I’d say the later 90s end of that date span.

This was on Wardour Street on a Sunday, outside what used to be Mezzo, now I think a South American themed place.

The day only got better as later on on a side road off Oxford Street, the hallowed Innocent delivery van, which isn’t in my list of classic motors, but nonetheless is a joy to behold, tres amusant ‘n’ all that:

BMW 320i: 1st Sept 2007

So over the last few years I’ve been snapping pics of cars out on the roads of London, that take my fancy, and now that I’ve got myself a new Berry, I’ve dropped a load onto my desktop.

Add to that, I’m giving this laptop away quite soon, taking receipt of a brand new MacBook Pro, so need to move some of my assets into the digital sphere.

So here is the start of my car section.

BMW 320i c. 1982

I believe it to be a 320i and though it looks like it’s got the M upgrade there were no badges to back that up.

I found this one on the www. (M’d up too) and it looks pretty similar, though I didn’t get the plates either.

http://tinyurl.com/dn4tls

Fire Station Waterloo

Don’t go to the Firestation – the bar manager is rude and  suggestive.  He suggested that my friend had not paid for beers so it was something I had to do.  I told him not, and he took offence.

I told him he needs to sort out his “tab” system. I paid for the drinks I ordered. He told me it was now my responsibility to pay for these drinks.  Again I said it wasn’t.

He then started going on about my obligation, and what the police would say and how he remembers a face.

How dare you Bar Manager of Fire Station bar! Do not judge me or my moral standing on the basis of your lax and inefficient tab system.  My “friend” left by mistake I’m sure.  That doesn’t default to the people he was seated with does it?

I’m most offended by Tom’s attitude – not seeing things from my point of view, and casting aspersions.

There are plenty of decent pubs around Waterloo Rd/The Cut and I won’t be going back to the Fire Station again. What an arse!

more office news

Things we can see from our 5th floor window on the world:

To my right, from my desk…

- MI6

- Millbank Tower

- Houses of Parliament

- Big Ben

Over my shoulder:

- London Eye

Behind me…

- BT Tower

- Centrepoint

From the kitchen I spotted the Gherkin while making a brew.

It’s like a celebrity spotting event, we are in good company with some of London’s greatest landmarks.

We’re in

We’re in the new office, unpacked everything.  I’m sat opposite the delectable Juliet Stephens, she’s amazing. Crazy Mike took an early bath, but has promised me he’ll stick around for a celebratory ale tomorrow.  Can’t stick around long though as I’m hooking up with Tubbsy (see previous post) for a drink tomorrow night.

Rob’s sat behind me, which is annoying as he can now see me do no work.

Here are a couple shots of the view from our corner of the world – beats looking at the Jerry Sadowitz lookalike from the last place:

This is the view West over South Westminster at about 8.30 this morning – lots of building work going on.

This is the view North towards the river, that’s the IMAX and the Hungerford Bridge train route into Charing Cross, which you can see in the distance. Cool huh?

Hatmatic moving offices today!!

Well we’re off to pastures new, after being at Pope St Studios for just over 12 months.

We’ve hung out with some cool people and some strange people, as is the way with the office share phenomenon.

Tubbsy – Katherine Tubb – runs 2wayspace, and turned a grotty student bedsit into a white space loft thingy which rocks.  She is a lovely lovely girl who goes about her business always with a smile on her face.  She’s also a babe.  She heads up 2waydevelopment – placing volunteers overseas in developing & underdeveloped countries.  Check out her site and give her a bell if you fancy a change of direction, in this dark and gloomy working climate.

Dan is a designer – web, TV, print – he’s a wicked bloke, got some great music taste, always keen to share (legally of course) and he’s got loads of screens and hard drives, and speakers and gadgets, a WACOM tablet, Harmann Kardon speakers, and bassbin, the works.  He’s currently playing Super Stylin’ by Groove Armada, the vibe is chilled. Have a look at some of his work – Chippendale Design – we’d definitely like to do some work with him.

Mei and Debs look after the UK arm of a German company called PlainPicture and they are a stock imaging supply and sales company, they both top girls, and there is some totally coincidental and random link in that Debs sister’s boyfriend is Max, Duncan J’s brother, we were sat in the office blabbing on about affiliate shit, and Debs is like, I know eConversions, I know these guys.  Bonkers.  They’re off to move into another office, sharing the space with a bloke and his dog. More on that later.

Ashley Rigg runs Global Edge – an overseas property information website (I think!). They are also decent lads, there used to be three of them but one day Keith just didn’t come back.  They’ve survived without him, possibly through the recruitment of three or four dedicated overseas property specialists (student interns) who are working for a song.  Good business strategy.  Hats off.  Here’s hoping they ride out the tough times.  Sure they will. Pete is the sales dude there, and he’s a top bloke. He’s got this amazing blog which he generates shedloads of revenue because he writes such blinding content, and his traffic levels have soared.  Take a squizz at Walshey.com.

Lindsay “In Da” Hood runs BMyCharity in partnership with a tall posh dude called Ben.  He isn’t in the office here, though I did see a tall posh dude here yesterday, so figured he made an appearance.  Lindsay lives in Lee Valley, and cycles in from there, she’s got a crazy and consistent sales pitch which is unrelenting and by all accounts very effective.  BMyCharity business model is awesome, take a peek.  She’s put up with a lot of our bullshit, shouting, laughing, being loud for the last 6 months, so big shout out to her.

Rob Berrisford of course, CK Net are moving out of here with us an into our new swanky offices overlooking the South Bank – we will continue to have much laughter and revelry, and get some decent work done along the way. We’re actually working with CK Net on some Paid Search work at the mo – CPC, imagine – and it’s going pretty well, so hopefully more of the same. Also better quickly mention Chris at Broadplace (sister company to CK Net); even though he’s based in Leatherhead and doesn’t drink alcohol, he’s been a star on the Black Tomato account, and without him we wouldn’t be where we are today.

There have also been some crazies in here: Nico and his French Mastiff BuBu, who bit my arse in the Summer, proper weirdo Nico, his business is renting out property, but that didn’t stop him from leaving his workspace in a shit state when he buggered off earlier in the year. Took the legs off the desk, claiming they were his.  Odd.  Good luck girl

Brianna kinda came and went – she was good fun, then just disappeared.  Rob and I are in agreement that if we are ever to stumble across that Neil fella who came and stole information, and got on everyone’s nerves though no-one can pinpoint why, well we’re going to tear him a new asshole.

Bremley the laughing Buddha, just very excited and giggly little man who works in World Development.  Only really spoke to him once, but that was a trouble-free moment, so don’t have much to say bout him.  There were a few comings and goings, people I’d just smile at.  Rob’s sister did some work for him for a while, as did Ollie – the UK’s first deaf guy to go to the North Pole.  All I know is he ate really loud. Also there’s this cool Indian guy who works for Tubbsy who speaks fluent Spanish – amazing!

There’s a really strange tall Scottish girl just got here, and she doesn’t want us playing music, so it’s properly time to go.

We’ll hopefully see some of these guys on the social – more than we ever did when we shared this space.

Things we’ll miss:

- Tubbsy

- the cool people

- the Woolpack

Things we won’t miss

- the walk from LB

- the internet connection

- the heating / lack of

- client visiting facilities

Where we off to?

New address: Hatmatic Ltd., 5th Floor, Capital Tower, London SE1 8RT

Come see us!

Vodafone ditch OMD

I can’t fathom why it took Vodafone so long to realise what a mockery OMD Digital made out of the phrase “client service” and have finally after much protracted negotiations, and pitches, no doubt at enormous physical and financial cost to the bidding agencies involved, plumped for Carat to service their needs in the digital advertising space.

So begins a new dawn for Vodafone, and hopefully a better performing, more accountable media schedule.  Not to say I have much insight into the working of their previous incumbent, just that it always seemed such a struggle to get consensus between client and agency on the basic principles of strategy, intent, reason, implementation, day to day structure, resource, the list goes on.

We at Hatmatic have our feet up, are leaning into our Parker Knoll, and having taken the first swig of a hot cuppa, will now start to monitor from afar. Good luck Carat.