Long time no see...

I have not much felt like blogging for some time - but now I feel ready to start again.

I am now very very much better and not longer on medication, but....

I have hernia repair on the 11th - but after that all should be ok.

House and home blooming as are the dogs and Yvonne [this is not the order of preference!]

Chocolate - sometimes it's the only answer when you need a lift!

I have always been a choco-holic - ever since I can remember - which might explain why there is almost 14lbs more of me than is healthy - so it comes as no surprise that I have Cadbury shares in my portfolio ( along with Whitbread) - always invest in what you understand.

So I was pleasantly surprised when doing some last minute Christmas shopping and I came across some chocolate bars from Bloomsbury and Co. branded BOCHOX, EMERGENCY CHOCOLATE; GIRTH CONTROL and several other unlikely brand names and humorous packaging.  Ideal stocking fillers for a partner who shares your weakness for chocolate (or probably better if they do not!)

Since Christmas the now empty packaging has been here on my desk - but it was only this morning, avoiding doing something more like work, that I went to the companies site - and was delighted by the innovation and 'Flash' user interface.

Humour as part of the Brand.

I often use the Cadbury site as an example of using humour and fun as part of a brand and the potential of using a web site to really develop this. Cadbury have also extended this into their recent advertising campaigns - effectively using humour to develop the recent 'eyebrows' viral campaign. (See Post) However Bloomsbury have used humour not just as an add on but embedded as part of the brand 'property'.

So how effective has using humour been? - Using humour in advertising is always very tricky there are several potential pit falls - while you might really hit the spot with part of your target audience - it is very easy to irritate if not offend others. I am sure that there were plenty of people out there that did not get the Cadbury 'Eyebrows' - but you will still here the ring tone on a crowded train or in a bar.

Web Site Design

So what about using humour in the website interface?  We all know the importance of web site design creating logical structures for the content, with simple navigation and easily accessible  content - but if you check out these  two chocolate makers sites these rules have been thrown out of the window.

Successful Strategy

I suppose the bottom line has to be - never mind the theory - has Bloomsbury's strategy worked?  Well in the current UK market to get confectionary product on the shelves of one of the big three supermarkets during the Christmas period - clearly the branding and marketing strategy has worked. Even more so when you consider that the major players such as Cadbury and Nestle will have paid for premium shelf positioning - for what is presented as a 'Ma & Pa'* business from New Zealand to have got a look in has got to be a success. 

Bloomsbury and Co.

Cadbury

More About Branding

* I love this term from America to describe the small family run business.

Tags: Chocolate, Retailing

First big fishing comp of the year

I set off to Bewl Water in Kent this year for my first competition of the year.  Having not sat in a boat so far this season I had practice on Friday - I know how can you practice? Well it was as much about getting to know the water as much as catching. I was on my own and had a lovely day finding some of the more remote areas which were sheltered and might hold some bigger fish, others found some real hot spots where there were plenty of stock fish including some very striking Blue Trout.  I finished the day with four fish and quite tired.

On the day of the match as always the off is a mad melee, heading for the hot spots in front of the dam, I had a novice with me and we agreed to head off to some quieter spots that I had found the day before. It was brighter day and the wind was light and variable - already tired from the day before - I found it a struggle handling the boat and fishing. But out team came second despite my meager two fish for the weight in.

It was an important day for me - I coped with the day - but might not try two days in a row again for a while.  Tags: Fly Fishing, Cancer

Oh to be in England now that summer time is here!

There is something about these first warm days of late spring that are glorious - the garden is full of blossom - I have as many fruit trees as I can in a small garden.




We are currently on the final countdown at university - final assignments and exam preparation are well under way. It is hard to explain the atmosphere with so many stressed final year students fretting about these last stages of the course. I am always amazed as to how tough students are on themselves and no matter what you might think of 'Yoofff' today in my experience they are prepared to put the work in when necassary.

However I feel greaaaat!! Finally ditched the pain killers; I have lost half a stone and feeling very positive about the future. [Last blood test hunky dory].

Post Easter - Blues or Boogy?

Back at work after Easter - with a funny positive feeling - the sky is Blue; the garden is growing well (apart from tomatoes which have died after pricking out!) - we have swallows in flying and the fish are jumping - well almost.

I feel 100% for the first time in a long while and I am enjoying my work and fell confident enough with my health not to worry about the future. I am as they say at an awkward age too old to care and too young to retire.

I went to Flame off last week and got really 'lit up' about making some beads and silver work  - so have signed up for a course in Silver Smithing.  Although I enjoy my academic work I also get  a great deal of pleasure from using my hands and creating stuff - even if it is just some woodwork around the house (put new cupboards in Looserbago*)

Last few weeks of teaching on Bedford - really pleased with final years students and at last feel that the programme in Singapore is working. Have had some positive communications with tutors - which gives me confidence in them.

So all's well - I just hope that life's dirty tricks department is closed for the summer!

*Christened sad old motor-home as opposed the Winner-bago!

Easter Break Blues

Isn't it funny - but without having to go into work - miss it and find myself checking emails and looking through materials - but I suppose this is OK. Have planned a lot of work in the garden and some odd jobs in the house - so will be busy.

Took the camper van to Brancaster last week end - which was a success. As you can see at least one dog was keen to get going.

Had a lovely evening in the Jolly Sailor and walked back to the van through the harbour.

In the morning on the beach before it got too busy, saw the seals in the creek at the northern end of the beach, then back to the van for a leisurely coffee as the tourists arrived.

Another walk through the reed beds and village then lunch. Mimmsed home via Sandringham - all in all very good.

Just need to fettle the van if we are to take it for a week - but it worked well.

Fished Rutland on Tuesday and had some good sport in East Creek - went home with 6 fish.

Nothing planned for this weekend - but will get to Grafham no doubt.

I was told once about the "The discipline of idleness" - making yourself do nothing can be quite a struggle some times. Oh well better get started!

Brancaster Sunset

Monks Wood

Y and I and of course the three dogs took a walk around Monks wood this morning to get out of the wind and the occasional wintry shower. In the wood there are areas that clearly show the ridge and furrow of the Medieval landscape - which is interesting as it is referred to as the the largest plot of ancient woodlands in Cambridgeshire.

The photo shows ridges across the access road



Here in the woods the ridges are 45 degrees to those above, indicating that this was part of a field system.



As with many woods there are also ditches that run along the edge of the rides or larger pathways - these are linked to woodland management - and can be as old as the wood itself.



Much of the wooded areas in in Huntingdonshire have been maintained and managed for hundreds of years as the are was a royal hunting ground from at least Norman times. The names of farms in the area relate to the hunting lodges - Blacklodge Farm, Holly Lodge Farm, Brook Lodge farm, Whiteleather Lodge, Woolley. But the place names also indicate an older history - Buckworth is derived from a Saxon's cheiftans name and literaly means Bucge's Wood - the same man is remembered in the name Buckden a few miles south on the A1 - Bucge's Valley. So while some of the woodland has ridge and furrow within it - this still could have been woodland for over 1,000 years. Although we are most familiar with the remaining 'Medeival' ridge and furrow in pastureland or 'sheep walks' of east anglia - ridge and furrow can be much older.