PR, marcomms, recruitment and all the bits in between

Not just another pub quiz name

“If you have a problem, if no one else can help...maybe you can hire...The A Team.”  Although not sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit and then escaping to become soldiers of fortune, Hanson Search’s very own administration team have long taken the A Team values to heart by taking things which appear unrealistic and pulling them off anyway at that crucial moment.

Although also easily recognisable as one of the most common pub quiz names, the members of this A Team live up to their names with unique resourcefulness one of their prevalent features.  ‘I love it when a plan comes together’ may be heard falling from the Business Controller Jenna’s lips before putting a KitKat finger in her mouth, not unlike Hannibal and his much loved cigar, followed by the Executive PA, Laura: ‘Cut that jibba jabba!’

Rebecca Griffith

Wedding fever….

Yes, it comes around quick,  it is that time of the year again when it seems that everyone knows someone who is getting married in the upcoming month.  I was recently involved in a wedding as a bridesmaid – which of course is a great honour and I accepted eagerly when the bride to be asked me to be one of her 4 bridesmaids! However, what I didn’t realise when I accepted it, how much work was going to be involved and how many traditions and etiquette rules and customs had to be followed. From the wording on the invitations to the seating plans things are never as straight forward as you might imagine!  As a bridesmaid I thought all I would have to do is put on a pretty dress and a smile and follow the bride down the aisle! Little did I know what I was getting myself into….

Traditionally the role of a bridesmaid includes:

Assisting the bride in recording accepted and declined invitations.
Organising the Hen Night.
Helping the bride with her choice of wedding dress.
Meeting the bride at the entrance to the wedding venue.
Confirming final checks with florist, photographer, reception etc.
Witnessing the signing of the register.
Re-arranging the bridal dress, veil and train at the wedding venue when necessary.
Being on hand to assist with the requirements of the bride as and when they arise.
Making sure the bride is ready on the day.
Accompanying the bride to the hairdresser on the wedding day.
Ensuring the brides transport is on schedule.
Checking that the bride has packed everything for the honeymoon.
Carrying the brides bouquet to the alter.
Lifting the brides veil at the alter.
Assisting the best man introduce people to each other at the reception.
Keeping the remainder of the wedding cake until the couple return from their honeymoon.
Returning any hired clothing.

Luckily for me and my fellow bridesmaid we weren’t required to do all the above, however we could be seen sporting a very attractive ‘emergency kit’  bag with us all day which included things such as the bride's make up, safety pins, stain remover, deodorant, perfume, energy tables, pain killers, sewing kits and pretty much everything you can possibly imagine needing, along with a few extras!

I, of course, wish the new couple every happiness and am so glad that I was able to participate in their special day.  I’ll make sure I look back on their wedding day when I finally get to plan my revenge—er, wedding!

Laura Roberts

Snake bursts after gobbling gater

Look at this!! Still the most unsettling animal picture I’ve seen in a long time...

 

This is what I think happened... the alligator took on the snake (a Burmese python, released into the wild in Florida after it got too big to look after). The snake seemed to have won after swallowing him whole. Then later burst open as the alligator tried to claw its way out. This is the result! I particularly liked the quote: "Clearly, if they can kill an alligator they can kill other species," Prof Mazzotti. Amazing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4313978.stm

Lizzy Murdoch

A girl’s best friend…..

Carrie Bradshaw has it all wrong. Shoes aren’t a girl’s best friend. Because nothing – no, not even your favourite pair of Manolos (sorry SJP) – can hide a multitude of sins like a great set of sunnies. No time for makeup? No problem. Want to hide those bags from last night’s work drinks? Done. And let’s not forget the protection from the sun’s damaging wrinkle-casing (gasp) rays. Now, THAT’s a true best friend. 

Handwriting

There seem to be numerous birthdays of late, which means the writing of many a card.  Now I’ve always favoured plain handwriting as it’s tidier and I’ve never mastered the art of cursive – that’s joined-up – writing!  This seems to amuse other ‘adults’ but I’m pleased to say that an analysis of my writing gave the following results:

 

 

- You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry
- You are a person who thinks before acting, intelligent and thorough
- You are diplomatic, objective, and live in the present
- You are reserved, shy, cautious, and thoughtful
- You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others

The majority of this analysis was spot on, although I must say the sample above written using my PC mouse doesn’t entirely look like my usual work!  If you’re interested in seeing what your handwriting says about you, check out www.handwriting.feedbucket.com  

Carla Picard

 

Looking good!

Is the credit crunch making you tighten your designer belt and cut back on luxuries?  If you’re worried about maintaining your looks and dressing to kill in this current economic climate, check out the Internet (naturally), for these fab sites:

www.catwalktocloset.com         - a 24/7 designer sample

www.the-beauty-pages.com     - an online magazine dedicated to beauty

www.workoutwithgunnar.com   - free workouts and tips to download from Gunnar Peterson, personal trainer to the stars

www.asos.com                        - As Seen On Screen is THE website for those with their eye on what celebrities are wearing at affordable prices

Carla Picard

Trivia

Trivia - 89% of people enjoy it (although I have no idea where I got that statistic from). I particularly enjoy animal trivia.

So, in no particular order, here are my Top 5:

1) Giraffes can't speak. They have no voice boxes and can only make an 'air through throat' sound.

2) Pandas are vegetarian by choice - their digestive systems identify them as carnivores, but they choose not to kill for food. This is, of course, potentially stupid as they are dying out on bamboo.

3) Hippopotami can open their jaws up to four feet wide.

4) When turtles have sex, it takes approximately three days.

5) Penguins do have knees. They can't actually bend them because they are surrounded by a thick layer of cartilage to protect the joint from arthritis in Arctic conditions.

The above 'facts' are for the most part rumour, hearsay and unfounded presumptions, but I did hear them all from fairly reputable sources. Just for luck, here's one more - monkeys in the wild do actually love bananas - they peel and eat them very politely like a human.

Nikki Blemings

Keep summer Ice-cream disasters at bay

Finally a solution to a problem we all lie awake at night pondering on. You know the feeling when whilst eating an ice-cream you can’t quite get your wrist to turn the whole way round allowing you to catch those irritating drops of sticky dairy? Well fear not. At long last a US firm have only gone and invented the motorised ice-cream cone.

 

It’s a scenario we’ve all pictured – you’re at an important meeting with a potential client at the height of summer, both standing there with your 99’s and before you know it the cuff of your sleeve is soiled - could your sloppiness jeopardise the whole deal? Well don’t let it be an issue. The motorised cone will turn 360 degrees as you hold you tongue against it, thus allowing all drips to be skillfully caught! In fact filling it with ice-cream is about as difficult as its gets.

 

Most of us out there will probably find the invention pointless as, let’s face it, the cone is often the best bit.

Bigger head, bigger brain, but not more intelligent

New research has made a discovery that will have women the world over feeling slightly smug, and rightly so. According to a study carried out by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, bigger heads do not equal bigger brains.

 

For decades men have gloated over their evolutionarily larger bodies and believed that they are more intelligent than the female species as a result.  Sadly fellas it’s not the case. In fact it has ironically been referred to as a ‘simplistic belief’.

 

Professor Seth Grant of the institute suggests that it is not size alone that matters when it comes to intelligence, but a sophisticated molecular processing of nerve impulses which have allowed us to evolve with more complex behaviours.

 

Aside from the smart and no doubt complicated science of the argument, the point remains: guys, size isn’t everything!

Too much ‘Junk Sleep’?

Its no longer just ‘Junk Food’ affecting our work- enter ‘Junk Sleep’. For a long time now those of us in work have been advised to be healthy and eat well. It is recommended we do regular exercise and avoid junk food, some of which we do and some we’re just too busy for!

 

However, there is now another form of ‘junk’ to add to the ever growing list; Junk Sleep. According to the manufacturers of nocturnal cramp treatment, Crampex, those of us not getting enough sleep are costing the economy millions of pounds a year.

 

One fifth of us regularly get less then five hours sleep a night resulting in time off work due to exhaustion. With only five hours sleep considered bad sleep, or ‘junk sleep’ it is obviously important for us all to concentrate on getting more healthy sleep. Does that mean we get to go home early tonight?