And who would have thought the SN crew had lives outside / prior to Studio North?  I know I found it difficult to believe but occasionally you hear titbits that you hope to the very core of your bitchy little being that it’s true and my friends, I have one such piece of informatic gold.  Our very own Mr Sean Booth, otherwise known as Smoothy Boothy used to attend circus club….Oh yes, the avid performer can juggle not only balls (blatantly for the wimps) but knives and fire (big ooooooh please).  He even appeared onstage in a production of ‘Barnham’ (so long ago that not even trusty Google can resurrect it) wearing bright pink tights.  Unfortunately we were unable to get tight photographic evidence but, being unable to get the image out of our heads we have created our own ’artist’s’ impression.  Ok ok so the tutu takes it a bit far and the general ensemble rather than the tights themselves are pink, but you have to admit it looks good

Manchester, 18th June 2008. Paparazzi scrapping for vantage points. OK & Hello magazine six figure sums laughed at by our image consultants. Make-up artists and hair stylists everywhere you look. There’s a real fashion buzz. It can only mean one thing, it’s staff photo day at Studio North. Cue laughter, little work, people disappearing to the toilets for half an hour at a time and coming back different colours, shapes and sizes….”Look natural” screams the Creative Director applying some anti-wrinkle cream and admiring his newly acquired tan. “Can’t be bothered, will rely on Photoshop”.

Anyway, everyone had their photo taken as well as pretty much anyone passing. And seeing as he was good enough to drop in and rustle up a bit of lunch we may as well plug his website…

http://www.ainsley-harriott.com

Come on, vogue.

Or the FFC as it is better known is the small but perfectly formed group of Studio Northians that (almost) without fail, when the Friday afternoon whistle blows and they have massaged their aching fingers back to life saunter down to the pub where they have a gossip, pint and congratulate themselves on another successful week….

Of course there are always those that don’t make it and a few weeks ago, fed up with boring excuses I decided to set them a challenge.  For those that were not attending, their response had to be in the form of a poem.  Not expecting much I was astounded by the hidden talent that was demonstrated by our ordinarily word shy office.  So sit back, relax and prepare to be entertained.

There once was a fella named Chris,                                                             
Who wanted to go on the p**s,
His wallet was bare,
There was just nothing there,
So a top night out he would miss

There once was a man called Dave
Who wanted to go out and misbehave                        
He’s just moved in to his flat
So he’s got to fix up that
But think of the money he’ll save.

Of the Steve’s one’s a miserable old fella,
with identity crisis thinks he’s Weller.
Appointment to tart-up his hair
means he can’t meet you there,
So it’s no Ball for this Cinderella.

Amazed and astounded?…..Thought so, what talented creatures we have frequenting the halls of Studio North

Studio North’s head developer, Dave “Dangerous” Barnes yesterday made a special guest appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Upon hearing that the topic of the programme, “Who’s the daddy” would be a no holds barred debate on the merits of open source PHP web development over Microsoft’s proprietary ASP.Net technology, he was soon disappointed to become embroiled in a heated discussion over which chav had managed to impregnate his brother’s girlfriend in a drunken fumble behind the bike sheds last Tuesday week.

Reports that Mr Barnes was the only audience member that day currently holding down a full time job have so far been unproven, as a Granada spokesperson was last night unavailable for comment.