Our Logbook » Slacking Archive

Everyone at Albion knows the importance of making tea. It’s a written law that we make a round of tea for each other when we are getting one ourself (with the exception of Nick Curnow in Creative Services who has only ever made one cup of tea for someone else which was so awful that everyone declines another offer of a cuppa).

So it was logical that as a sign of appreciation for their hospitality that Air New Zealand Auckland receive a hand made Albion tea pot and a bunch of nice tea and strainers to go with it.

Clearly the colonisation of New Zealand has not been thorough as we have had reports that the inaugural pot of tea was "a little strong" after a whole bag of tea was dispensed to make the brew! Next time we will include instructions.

You couldn’t cast them any badder than these most wanted on Waiheke Island

New Zealand is synonymous with boutique new world wine but what you may not know is that the Kiwis are slowly chipping away at the olive oil market too.

The Albion Air New Zealand team stepped off a 26 hour flight from London but there was no time for sleep, we were off to Waiheke Island, a 45 minute ferry ride from the centre of Auckland. We were shown some of the tiny wineries clinging to the hills of the island, many which only produce 200 or so bottles. We stopped at Cable Bay Vineyard for lunch and were given the tour of the winemaking facilities by managing director and winemaker Neill Cully. But what really caught our attention was the small batch of olive oil that was also being produced by a husband and wife team on site.

Apparently the climate that grows grapes with complexity of flavors also does the same for olives. There was much technical information about centifugal force and acidity ratios which went mostly over our heads. But what we did get out of it was that non virgin or light olive oil is usually made from rotting fruit picked off the ground that is then processed and nuked to make it tasteless. We can report that New Zealand olive oil is good. Oh and the man holding the pipe in the pic above (doing the dog’s body work as his missus put it) is one of New Zealand’s top surgeons.

Walking through a Waterloo underpass last night I came across a handful of people standing round and listening to a busking band. Not news right. Well something compelled me to back step, turn around and listen.

These guys whose quartet features a drummer, a cello, bass and flute player were making music so soulful and yet energetic that I was glued to the spot. They were using what looks like a rickshaw as their amp with speakers in the back.

Now you may of heard of them. All news is old news to someone. But I was a little awestruck. I listened until a rather unhappy character turned up in his pyjamas and said he’d called the police because of the noise. Why anyone would complain about such a soothing sound I have no idea.

So the guys finished the song they were playing and I managed to get their name and drop a few squids into the case before they had to peg it out of dodge.

For those of you who I am introducing them to you can read a more useful background to them here as well as listen to some of the music which is the most important thing.

Speakers Corner Quartet Myspace

Aaron Out.

There’s a stretch of road between my house and work which is possibly the filthiest patch of tarmac on the planet. But I like it because there’s always something going on: Hackney council inventing a new way to deter fly posting, a new organic, free range, hahal butcher and today – spikey potatoes. Usually I traverse the stretch on foot, but when I’m running late like today, I brave the bus. Sitting on the upper deck you get to see the tops of bus shelters. How many media men must have pondered the merits of selling this grubby canvas? They are mostly a dedicated gallery space for cigarette buts and pigeon poo, but today it’s spikey potatoes. Someone, somewhere in East London has the time and inclination to adorn potatoes with wooden spikes and coloured paint and then place them atop bus shelters for commuter’s delight. They are beautiful objects – little tubers of happiness. And on a journey down Kingsland Rd at 8am in the morning, they give you hope that the world really is OK. A big achievement for a potato. A quick Google reveals chatter about these objects that have apparently been appearing now for a couple of summers along the 55 and  242 bus routes. And the best part is that no one knows who is behind them or why. And I kind of hope I never find out. Because their real beauty is in their generosity.

Photo from Flickr

The Modern British Posters Exhibition at Saint Martin’s is a beautiful and sometimes humorous trip though poster advertising during the first half of the 20th century. Those days when you could advertise
petrol by pointing out that magicians prefer shell. The collection focuses on Shell Mex, BP, London Transport and the Post Office as well as propaganda and post war posters.

Messages are usually simple, straightforward and punchy and the graphic use of shapes adds to the impression of a strong nation with plenty to work for and be proud of.

I especially liked the posters advertising modern British buildings being built from the rubble. Perhaps our current government could do with instilling a sense of pride in today’s Britain using public announcement advertising. Advertising used for making people happy? Just a thought.

http://apps.facebook.com/glynstowork/

We’ve cranked up the Albion Cookie Factory to celebrate Christmas with our family and friends. Check out the blog:

albionlondon.typepad.com/albioncookiefactory/

Nope this wall is not part of a museum. It’s actually a rock climbing wall in a designer gym in Ebisu.