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Rachel passes mountains & exams


September 21st, 2009 by Michael

If you happen to have called into Waulk Mill these past few weeks you will have noticed that our effervescent Account Executive, Rachel Westwood is back in Manchester after a two month tour of China. I’m sure you will all hear about her epic adventure in the months to come, so less of that for now and more of something else. So to follow up from a previous blog where we mentioned Rachel was studying towards a CIM qualification, we can also reveal that Wiltshire’s finest export returned to a letter confirming she had  passed her exams with flying colours.

We warmly congratulate Rach on her fantastic effort throughout the past year and look forward to seeing these new skills and knowledge being applied to our client base in the coming months.

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Anna Hen: Not your normal Thursday night out!


March 26th, 2009 by sarah

Last week the girls of Studio North* kick started Anna’s hen weekend bonanza with some strange but fun activities at the Chill Factor: Tubing! All the plans had been the best kept secret of the office for over a month with Anna not having a clue. 

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That takes some going as nothing really stays secret for very long round here, I think not letting the boys in on it helped keep the plans concealed! “Bring something warm & some sensible shoes” were the only clues to the mystery activity, although, Anna did get taunted a few times during the course of the day.

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New Year, new you??


January 12th, 2009 by Rachel

And so we’ve come to that time of year when we make (or rather should have made 12 days ago) resolutions for the rest of the year.  According to the NHS ad you’re 8x more likely to give up smoking if you do it in January, there’s a bit of positivity for you.  On the other hand I’m sure I, like thousands of others are going to be forced to suffer the indignity of failing miserably but this time last year I genuinely thought it was perfectly feasible to become a one woman acrobatic troop with a best selling novel under my belt, ahem….

Of course not being one to be discreet about such things our Operations Director made his ideas very public in the Drum last week; I sincerely hope he doesn’t think the relaxation promise will be kept a close eye on here at the office….. (more…)

Washing up wonder


October 27th, 2008 by Rachel

Most of us get excited about something, be it new shoes, a particular band or a holiday.  Few however can claim to get excited about washing up, or more specifically the paraphanalia that constitutes the washing up experience.  Step up then please our very own communications guru Allie Johns.  Often seen in trendy bars or boogeying at concerts Allie has nurtured a cool image of herself that we have accepted unquestioningly….until now.

Having ranted for what seemed like months about the fact we had a round washing up bowl for a square sink Allie graced me with the email below, demonstrating just how anally retentive the lady can be:

 ”… I picked up a spanking new SQUARE washing up bowl for Studio North on my way back from meeting this morning. Oh my god. Yes. It’s actually true. We will have a bowl that fits the sink. Sad but true. Schedule an unveiling ceremony for it, first thing Tuesday.”

Of course being anally retentive does have its positives and we do now have a matching bowl and sink which is admittedly much more convenient.

Of course it hasn’t thwarted the washing up gremlin who dirties the dishes that everyone *ahem* leaves squeaky clean, maybe the next kitchen gadget could be CCTV so we could catch the rascal in the act.

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Happy birthday babyfaced Butterworth


October 14th, 2008 by Rachel

Happy birthday Gaz from us all here at SN, our babyfaced boy has reached the grand old age of 27 but still looks the same to us as the wide-eyed starstruck kid who wandered into our old offices on Bradley St all those years ago on the off chance we were looking for someone.

A few things you didn’t know about the birthday boy:

He has a cat called Faberge, yes people Faberge.  Turned his nose up at Burberry and went straight to the top…..

He has made eating into an art form, 6 solid meals a day is no feat for this trooper, nor it seems is half a birthday cake.

He is very active in extra curricular SN activities including vice chair of Friday Fun Club (FFC), an incredibly important role as well as being a key member of Geek Club, embrace the diversity ;-)

Mr Butterworth we salute you, may you spend an additional 20% of your life at keeping us all entertained with your photoshopped pictures of various team members.  Happy birthday!

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Congratulations stormin’ Norman….


October 13th, 2008 by Rachel

It was good news for all at SN last week when the Normster returned from what appeared to be a 52 week holiday to take control of the production side in her military dictatoresque style that you come to know and love….Of course she almost didn’t make it largely due to the fact that she was weighed down by the massive rock on….yep, you guessed it her ring finger!  Frankie Childs, the charmster himself had proposed on the second day of hols in the Atlas mountains in Morocco…..On one knee….In front of a waterfall (collective ahhhhh / puke depending on your romantic inclinations).

After Norms managed to compose herself having burst into tears (usual response I’m assured) it was all Frankie could do to keep his fingers as she dove Frodo style, finger first onto the ring to ensure that she wasn’t dreaming / hallucinating.

It goes without saying that we all wish them all the happiness in the world (although that’s always seemed a bit strange to me….what about the rest of us?  Maybe it should read, all the happiness in the world that you can realistically expect without being greedy and/or impinging on someone elses?) and we’re sure they will have a wonderful future together.

Of course we could be wrong with Norms already admitting that Frankie hadn’t thought past the proposal and the ’s**t that goes with a wedding’ but love will triumph and all that yadder, not to mention Norm’s unrivalled organisational skills which will surely make the day go without a hitch.  And of course they do make one hell of a gorgeous couple.  Congratulations guys :-)

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Study buddies


October 1st, 2008 by Rachel

No-one here likes to feel like they’re missing out so when it was determined that I as going to be doing an evening class both sarah & anna felt they simply couldn’t bear it and not only signed up themselves but decided to go on their journey of self improvement together (hmph).

The two budding fashionistas have started a BTEC in Fashion & Clothing learning the essentials in pattern construction and garment making.  Westwood watch your back, Gucci beware ‘cos these ladies are set to take the fashion world by storm (& if not I’m hoping for a nice pair of curtains…. ;-)

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Crumpets on the brain


October 1st, 2008 by Rachel

If you have had a good nosey around our spangly new site you might have chanced across our meet the team section, the first step into the wonderful world of studio north. 

Of course you can’t be expected to learn too much from a picture so for those of you that don’t know Stuart ‘Turbo’ Halliwell here is an intriguing insight as to what he was thinking when that pensive, thoughtful shot was taken.

And so if you ever need to know which brand to go for (Warburton’s) or what do if, shock horror they have run out (Taste the Difference) then Stu’s your man.  Of course, he’s not too shabby at design either….

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Baby Boom


October 1st, 2008 by Rachel

As if it wasn’t enough to have two of our director’s better halves ‘popping’ out babies (my inner feminist cringes at the turn of phrase) within 24 hours of each other last November it seems that studio north can once and for all be claimed to be the most fertile office in Manchester. 

Nick was the first to jump on the band wagon with the birth of his second kiddiwink Lewis Christopher Wright on 19 August 2008.  Yet to be put through the trauma of Meet the Team Lewis remains blissfully unaware that his dad is in fact half man and sauntered off for a bacon butty soon after his birth.  Talk about seeting your kid up for psychological trauma; he is kind of cute though….. 

Of course it’s all about equality and Mr Andy Whitwood of digital fame decided enough was enough with the executive babies club, conspired with wife Jenny and lo and behold, the birds and the bees did their usual stirling job and we have another baby on the way.

Of course pregnancy is an extremely complicated process, they don’t call it the miracle of life for nothing and the distress that Andy experienced with the realisation that one of his own was going to be Mancunian rather than Geordie was palpable throughout the office.  Not one to rest on his laurels however he decided to take matters into his own hands and, on a par with playing classical music to brainify he set about instructing his wee bern on his ‘cultutal’ heritage.

 Doctor’s have expressed shock and excitement at the results of Andy’s dedication, branding it a ‘medical miracle’ leaving no doubt that babies are in fact able to absorb information from within the womb.

We, on the other hand can only wish the child all the best for the future as a life supporting the Magpies is always going to be a hard one with many twists and turns and if current form has anything to go with depression and incredulity will be well known visitors….

 

 

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