Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel...

Born is the king of....Waltham Cross. Happy Birthday to Mr Noel Deady who celebrated his 40th birthday this weekend.

We travelled down to help him celebrate (he's looking very comfortable as the lead singer of The Village People in this photo).

This picture is of Noel and four of his TSG colleagues re-enacting YMCA for all of our pleasure.

Things to think about: -

Why do you look so "at home" in this line-up Noel?

Why do all of your mates look like they've done this before?

Have you been practicing whilst on duty?

Anyway, fab party, wonderfully organised by Noel's hyper efficient wife Jackie who also prepared a world record attempt "biggest ever buffet" for the guests.

Noel spent most of the night having a conversation on the great white telephone when he got home. Great party. Great people. Great to have as mates.

Weekly Wrap Up

It's been a busy old week and we're ramping up for Christmas. We're threatening to get the tree sorted out over the next week or so our annual Jones Xmas Wonderland will soon be in full throw....

Done some interesting stuff this week, saw David Cameron speak on Monday, went to Man City on Tuesday - to help them out with some photo's which they are using for a new web booking service - Wednesday I was in Westminster all day meeting politicans, Thursday (see below) and Friday travelling back home and catching up.

Thursday, I was in London for our annual journalists Christmas lunch. We had three live performances and one of those was a ventriloquist. If you look at my business blog, you can see the three people we hired. Anyway, I showed Alex the ventriloquist act on youtube and we also found another ventriloquist who is hilarious, see him here Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Alex has been howling laughing, so take a look.

Mines a Large Skinny Latte

I'm overdue a letter from the CEO of Starbucks. For a man that spends so much on their coffee, I should be in their "top spending customer" lists. Surprisingly, Starbucks don't know about their "big spender" because they don't have any sort of loyalty scheme, which surprises the hell out of me.

Tesco would give their right arm to know what time I buy my coffee in the morning, that I always have it "venti" and "skinny" and occassionally with sugar free vanilla syrup. When I start "Philbucks", I'm going to sort it and bring RFID to the coffee shop. That way I'll know when you're in, what you're favourite drink is and how often you're buying. Technology can even grow sales in coffee shops you know....

Saturday in the City

We saw City play yesterday. Not a bad show, however Aresenal were a bit lacklustre. I thought we were impotent up front. The partnership of Benjani and Vassell, didn't work. Neither players are prolific goalscorers. The shape looked better when Elano came on. I think Arsenal made us look better than we were.

Today, we've been busy plotting Christmas. Alex has now decided finally on the PS3 vs. XBox360 debate. The XBox360 won, so preparations can now be made by the fella in the North Pole. The traffic and shops are heaving already, it's no surprise to me why web sales continue to grow whilst the stores struggle. I for one am intending to steer well clear.

I'm at a big dinner tomorrow night, with David Cameron of The Conservative Party. I'm going to have a read of their website today. It's funny how the politicians have really embraced the web now, even Gordon Brown is "twittering". I think this might be the future battleground for the parties to win over the disenfranchised younger electorate.

Thank Friday it's Friday

Been a really busy week. Lot's of travel, loads to do, phone has been busy, e-mail has been high. Tonight we're out at a black tie do, nothing special, just a regional event with a hundred or so people there. I won a TomTom satnav in the raffle at the same do last year, so I'm hoping to win again or I'm going home early with my toys and rattle.

I'm pleased to announce that Christmas has officially started on our estate. One house has gone the whole hog and is lit up like that scene out of National Lampoons. FANTASTIC. We're feeling the cheer already. Mrs J is adamnant that strict rules be obeyed and no running out the blocks or you get disqualified.

I got described as "famous" today. That felt nice. It was because my appointment to Vice-President of the Chamber got reported in the Tameside reporter and was spotted by one of the cleaners at the company. Where it goes from there in terms of global superstardom is anybodys guess......onwards and upwards.

To London and Back

Been down to the smoke, there and back in a day. Had the usual "burnt to a crisp" sausage roll on Virgin this morning. For a £300 return ticket, I was expecting an orient express style banquet, Virgin trains always fail to impress when it comes to breakfast.

London was cold, I went to Ladbroke Grove, which was grubby and full of litter. It made me appreciate how tidy the streets are in my locality. My colleague asked me if I would live in London again if offered. My reply was a definite "no". Things have changed a lot, life seems very pressurised, people are very busy, it all seems a bit shallow. Not my cup of tea anymore, I'm now back in the North where life just seems a bit richer.

Amsterdam

I've been in Amsterdam yesterday and today. It's freezing cold and my hotel is freezing too! Saving grace is that I went into the City last night for dinner, just by the palace (above). Had a juicy big rib-eye steak in a lovely little Argentian restaurant and a wander round. It's a very cosmoplitan place, loaded with bars and things to do. Looking forward to coming back when it's warmer.....

Bicycle, Bicycle....

"I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike....." (remember the queen song). I took it to the max yesterday. Inviting Alex out for a run with his dad (on our fab new birthday bikes, see mine in the pic - WOW), I totally overcooked it and took us on a route that seemed short when I drive it in my car, but it took us nearly two and half hours!!

Alex (bless him) was knackered, his little legs were aching and he was so pleased to get home. He'll do anything for a pound and this was my incentive to get him out. When we get home, he didn't feel he had value for money. I'm inclined to agree as I was knackered too!! Alex is wary of any "let's get the bikes out" enthusiasm now, once bitten so they say!

Northern Soul in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom

We joined about 1500 other people on Saturday at a Northern Soul night in Blackpool.

It was held in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom which is one of the most beautiful rooms you can imagine (see the picture). Opened originally in1899, it was designed by a chap called Frank Thatcham, it was a beautiful setting to spend the evening.

For true Northern Soul fans, the quality of the floor is everything and Blackpool Tower ballroom is one of the best. A beautiful parquet floor, super slidy and highly complimentary to the dancing style of Northern soul. The do was what's called an "all nighter". It started at 1pm on the Saturday afternoon and finished at 7am on the Sunday. Whilst we made it through to about half two in the morning on Sunday (it's our age you know), the place was still packed and the dancefloor was full from the time we arrived to the time we left. It was a top night. If you want to find out more about Northern soul, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_soul

We stayed at a lovely B&B called Number One South Beach. You can find more about it at the link below. The owners love boutique hotels themselves and have taken all that's great about what they've experienced and reinvented it as a bed and breakfast concept instead. Think tub baths with jacuzzis and in-built bathroom TV's, 42" plasmas, contemporary decoration and with the added bonus of an interesting owner. Visit them if you get a chance. http://www.numberonesouthbeach.com/

Blackpool unfortunately looked run down. Apart from the walk along the South Beach which has been renovated, the rest of it was stereotypically run down B&B's, stag and hen parties and bars. I hope that the place can turn itself around or it will die in time.