My win with @OlivesEtAl

After winning a Twitter competition last week with @OlivesEtAl I received a lovely Kilner jar of Sunshine Olives. I let them know via Twitter that I would be attempting one of their recipes (featuring Sunshine Olives) featured on their website and that I would send them a pic of the finished dish. Will share this with you below.

I seem to keep bumping into Olive Et Al at local Deli's, local food fairs, I love love their distinctive packaging and have been a fan of their story for some time now. There is a fab 5 minute video over at Jamie Olivers website, which interviews one of the founders: Giles Henschel, where he explains how the business began, his passion on using traditional methods in preparing the Olives (dating back 6000 yrs) , the best thing he likes about his job etc. If you are passionate about local produce & like to hear business success stories: go view the video here.

The recipe I stole & adapted slightly (no Thyme) from Olives Et Al, wasn't particularly adventurous, however I did make my own fresh tagliatelle (new Pasta Making machine for Xmas).

So for lunch we both had: Roast Veg Pasta with Sunshine Olives and it was delicious.

Rather than fresh Thyme, I stirred in Jamie Olivers Pesto to the Roasted Veg, the olives & pine nuts finished the dish off lovely. So many thanks sent to Olives Et Al, for allowing us to have a very posh lunch on a Saturday.

My short 2011 wishlist

1. To reach for the SKY rather than the MOON. Write short resolution lists. Chillax & roll with it

2. Follow the "Tooth Brush Principle"

3. Plan early (& save) for trips to see mates & relatives

4. Get a North Face Jacket (as I am mid 30's) so no excuses not to go for a walk on the beach

5. Send Thank you cards often

6. Find a niche for my blog

7. Start freelancing for money, rather than fun (Have a wedding to pay for)

8. Review my issue of keeping hold of unnecessary paperwork at home and work

9. Find a place that inspires me

10. Share my experiences via social media

The Digital Story of the Nativity

Love love this so had to share, the video from the clever http://www.excentric.pt tells the story of the Nativity through social media, the web and mobile. The integrated approach is something I have been talking about all year, so it really suits my mindset.

Happy Christmas

Blog Log: November 2010

What I blogged about in November over at the Rocktime Blog, feel free to click through on the header for more info:

Social Media Meets Commerce:

A blog introducing the Ebay Group Gift Service (launched in the US) and the fact that the UK aren't ready for it yet.

Facebook Pages Building the Real Community:

I really like this blog post. I am banging on that great content is key on Facebook Pages and along with talking about building a community, I share some lessons in engagement, sharing these below:

Lessons in Engagement

• Give your fans a reason to visit
• Get them to love your page so they can recommend you to others
• Provide interesting insights of value (to the fan)
• Share news
• Competitions
• Deliver informative information which indicates that you know your industry and don't constantly promote your products or service
• Give people a reason to talk about the page
• Introduce people to the reasons as to why they should be visiting or liking the page
• Be chatty & human to encourage conversation and ensure ongoing interaction
• When delivering Facebook Ads, keep the target audience in mind, deliver an ad that will resonate with your fan rather than shouting about how great you are
• Advertise on the Facebook page to encourage further interaction on your site
• Make a note of all your customer touch points (Newsletters, Lost password, Page 404 not found) and how you can advertise your networks of interaction there to encourage Facebook Page fan growth
• Finally, keep it real (think topical stories and conversations)

Amazon Black Friday Hits the UK:

I also introduced Amazon Black Friday. News is I didn't manage to get any of the deals, went for the Flip Cam and Xbox Offer. However I did have a giggle over at the Facebook Amazon UK page, when an Amazon Friday winner bragged about all products he managed to get, to then be shamed by the Amazon UK Facebook Page Fans, with "we will find you on Ebay comments". Pretty funny.

P P Pick up a #sHamleys Penguin Story

If only Hamleys had a social media strategy, this would never have happened.

I found out about the story last night on Twitter, it really wound me up, that Hamleys weren't responding via Twitter and I was more wound up by the morning to see they were still keeping silent.

For someone passionate about social media like me, this was a hard pill to swallow.

This morning I saw the events unfold, as the media got hold of the story and more bloggers started to blog about: what Hamleys are planning to do.

It would have been so simple to fix, @Jamesmb (from: http://www.socialholic.co.uk) tweeted last night, that one tweet could have fixed this and I agree with him.

Along with "if only they had a social media strategy", the other "ifs" include:

If only they educated earlier about the penguins welfare, provided positive information for people to share !

If only they spoke to the people who had concerns promptly.

If only they understood the point of Twitter!!

My recommendation for #shamleys was to ditch n slide the live penguins and to put up a big screen on the Ground Floor to show Penguin Webcam at Edinburgh Zoo > http://bit.ly/eIIwDN which was (incedently) an Internet Hit on Monday. Have they got back to me. No they haven't, this isn't social media !!

As the above image of the Penguin Pile Up image shows "Some will stand firm, some will wobble and some will tumble down" - the same rings true for those entering social media without a strategy.

Thought to share a collection of a few blogs, news stories, forum posts and tweets that cut n pasted over a Greggs Pastie at lunch time.

Power to the People ;) Will check the links out later - as busy at work now...

Tweets

@Wildlifephotog - We'll update the blog on #sHamleys as and when thing happen today http://bit.ly/d5BqaI

Via @achrisevans Final call for should real penguins go to hamleys for a spot of Xmas fun. First fruitcake poll. #fruitcake YES #fruitcake NO. about 7 hours ago via ÜberTwitter Retweeted by WildlifePhotog and 4 others

Blogs

Please keep telling Hamleys this is wrong – Wildlife & travel ...
30 Nov 2010 ... Please keep telling Hamleys this is wrong. by Darren. Well, it's been a busy 24 hours since last night I tweeted about Hamleys outrageous ...
www.wildlifephotography.tv/please-keep-telling-hamleys-this-is-wrong/

Born Free Blog
Please e-mail Hamleys at customerservices@hamleys.co.uk or contact the store via their Facebook page ...
www.bornfree.org.uk/blog/

Hamleys' penguin and reindeer show angers animal welfare supporters
ParentDish UK - Kelly Rose Bradford - ‎3 hours ago‎
Hamleys on London's Regent Street had advertised an in-store event featuring live penguin and reindeer as a Christmas treat for youngsters. ...

Hamleys – the world's most appalling toy store #sHamleys at ...
1 day ago by Socialholic
Take a look at this website – yes, it's Hamleys and, yes, you too can go to a central London store, possibly one of the busiest London stores that exists (especially at this time of year), full of excited and loud ...
http://www.socialholic.co.uk/

Naughty Hamleys, Penguins and Reindeer Are Not Toys
1 day ago by Mat
Not only are Hamleys having a week long “Reindeer Park”, where for two hours per day you can “pat and feed our beautiful mummy and baby reindeer!“, but for four hours on Monday 6th December, you can “see the penguins swim, interact with ...
http://matstace.me.uk/blog/

Hamleys Toy Store Of London, A PR Disaster For Christmas?
1 day ago by admin
Hamleys are having live Reindeer and Penguins in store at what must be one of the busiest times of the year and the Animal Welfare groups are not happy. People are creating enough negative noise via social media about Hamleys Christmas ...
http://blog.pauldaviddrabble.co.uk/

News

Outrage Over Hamleys' Live Penguin Display
Sky News - Pete Norman - ‎1 hour ago‎
Hamleys toy store in London has sparked outrage for its plans to bring real penguins and reindeer into the shop as part of a Christmas promotion. ...

Hamleys defies animal rights outrage at live penguin show
This is London - ‎2 hours ago‎
Hamleys today declared it was pressing ahead with plans to have live penguins in the Regent Street toy store despite protests from animal welfare groups. ...
(NB: Image taken from this site)

Fury over Hamleys' live penguin show
The Sun - Virginia Wheeler - ‎12 hours ago‎
HAMLEYS sparked fury from wildlife groups and animal lovers yesterday - over plans to have LIVE penguins and reindeer in the toy store ...

Forums

Live penguins in Hamleys Central London toy store? - Pet Forums ...
14 hours ago by shibby
Has anyone heard this story yet? Live Penguin Show at Hamleys Criticised by Bloggers, Tweeters Londonist Hamleys – the world's most.
http://www.petforums.co.uk/general-chat/134932-live-penguins-hamleys-central-london-toy-store.html

Live Penguins + Reindeer in Hamleys - Wild About Britain
1 day ago by Ukwildlifeo
Sorry not sure where to put this, but Hamleys toy store London are currently advertising a display of real reindeer and penguins in their shop.
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/general-wildlife/79003-live-penguins-reindeer-hamleys.html

Is it a table is it a frame - Amazing!

A new addition to my blog, is going to be about 'Storage Solutions'. I am constantly on the look out, on how to create more space in the house/flat. Going to share any storage solutions findings here to help inspire me (and others) on my 'Place for everything' mission (and an end to the Monica cupboard).

My friend at work sent me a link to this table / picture frame piece of furniture. The designer can be found here. How cool is it !! Thinking of challenging @the_burb to make one for the kitchen. Can't be too difficult, just 4 pieces of wood, pane of glass and some clippy things..;) Simple !!

Actually ditch the glass, could be health and safety issue, and just paint with Magic Chalk Board paint instead. Ikea if you are listening, I would pay £35 for this & with the addition of chalk board paint £45. I thank you.

BAFTA Kids Vote 2010 - Big Kids Vote for Stardoll

As a big ambassador and self confessed fan of Stardoll, I've just been checking out the BAFTA Kids Vote 2010 tonight (whilst trying to watch 'The Event'!, totally lost now) to check out this year's web nominations. Stardoll are nominated and I've done something really naughty and voted, and should be aged 7 - 14yrs, sshhh, don't tell anyone!!

Voting for the BAFTA Kids Vote 2010 opened end of October 2010 and closes 26th November 2010, so if you know any teenagers and nearly teenagers let them know about it.

Along with Stardoll the other nominations for the Best Web Site this year include:

• Cartoon Network
• CBBC
• Club Penguin
• Disney.co.uk
• GirlGoGames
• Lego
• Miniclip
• Moshi Monsters
• Nick.co.uk

I didn't just visit my blog tonight to tell you about my voting confession, thought to pop by to say how much I love the BAFTA Kids Vote interactive site / Barney's Bafta Boulevard. I have been playing on it for half the night!!

It was designed by 'Complete Control' a web design agency & online game developers, that I can't believe I haven't heard about before.

It's always nice to find an agency that have developed on a niche area & won big time, they have only been around for just over 10 years and boast a really impressive client list including: CBBC, Nickelodeon, Charlie and Lola, Dr Who, Topsy and Tim, Mr Bean, Penguin and a number of high profile charities such as Comic Relief, NSPCC, Oxfam, Unicef.

Well done guys!! Lots of jobs very well done.

Check them out here and prepare to be amazed by their quirky style & talent.