Our Great Leader, Teaboy Tim, is swimming 5,000 metres in the Swimathon on April 16 2010. 5000!  Phew.  But there’s cash involved, of course.  The money he raises goes to Marie Curie Cancer Care, so it’s a great cause.

You can click here to make a secure online donation at the Swimathon website, using a credit or debit card, and to leave a jocular message.

And he’s promised not to siphon any of your cash off to pay for new goggles, swimmies or the fitness camp in Brazil. Well, maybe just one of them….

Last year the County became home to elephants and hippos, this year it’s the crustaceans who will be taking centre stage. The seaside towns of Cromer and Sheringham have come up with an idea which they hope will draw more visitors to the North Norfolk Coast over the Easter Period: The Cromer and Sheringham Crustacea Crawl. Visitors will follow a trail in search of 6ft decorated fibreglass lobsters and crabs in and around the two towns. Claire Knight, who has worked with us on a number of design projects, has been entrusted with decorating one of the lobsters. She will be blogging her efforts regularly as she struggles first with how to decorate it, then with finding the time to decorate it and finally: how to move the thing from her garden in North Norfolk to its final resting place on the top of Beeston Bump – ideally, in one piece. Good Luck Claire.

On 4th January 2010 Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe set off to row the Atlantic in their boat No Fear, on the Woodvale Challenge. They are raising money for The British Heart Foundation and Princess Alice Hospice.

And now 38 days later they still have another 1328 miles to go to the finish. Mid race they are at the point of questioning why they are doing it, and realising just what a huge challenge they have taken on. But they are getting there – albeit sometimes very slowly as there have been days when they have actually gone backwards due to the unfavourable winds. Just how depressing must that be?

Initially I found out about them because they are take some CNP protein bars with them for the journey but after chatting to Richard I felt personally involved and not one day goes by that I don’t update the office about their progress. My name’s on their boat as well, floating out there in the Atlantic!

If you are interested in seeing how they are doing just hop along to Row Across the Pond where you can read their daily blog.

We can’t let this annual event go by without a wee post.  Yes, it’s panto time again and, as usual,  lots of the TPW office are involved.  This year it’s The Panto of The Mummy, written by

Tim (chief editrix: Fiona).  The monster’s costume was made by Toni and Alison sorted choreography.   The pic shows Fiona (left): frankly, as a PR professional,  being Cairo’s evillest sorceress wasn’t much of a stretch for her.  The other two thesps, also evil baddies, are Claire Knight and David Robinson.  When they’re not scheming to take over the world they design websites (including this one).

Our Client Greenvale AP has had some exciting news recently, Project Cascade their vegetable – cleaning ‘eco’ system has been shortlisted for the Sustainability Award at this year’s Food Processing Awards. Do us a favour and vote for them here

Is there any company in the entire world that ISN’T experiencing ‘unexpectedly high levels of calls’?  Well thank god my call is ‘important to their business’.  Except, if it really is, surely they could employ a few more staff?  It’s time companies started using a different default excuse for keeping us hanging on.  I can’t be the only one that’s getting miffed.  I’d like a more honest approach.  How about: “You’re held in a queue because it’s cheaper than hiring more staff – but bear in mind, if we DID hire more staff, it’s  mugs like you that would be paying for them.”

With only twenty days since we all welcomed in the New Year with smiles and good intentions, how are the new years resolutions going? Still dashing to the gym at 5am and drinking peculiar-coloured juices? Still chewing on carrot sticks and donning nicotine patches rather than nipping out for a cigarette or two?

Here at TPW HQ those of us who have made resolutions are struggling to stick to them. Maybe we’ll give it a miss next year as an article I read today said that making resolutions could damage your mental health!

My resolution for 2011…….. No resolutions!

Seems to be the silly season, so for any folk who DID make it into the office but who’re still trying to make up their mind about those NY resolutions, here’s something that will help you select between ‘eat less’ or ‘exercise more’.  The Pig Personality Test (thanks, David Hurst) certainly told me all I need to know about myself.  (Make sure you give the pig a big tail).

We’ve trudged through the snow and are back in the office. All systems go!

The cheapskates in accounts once again insisted that we send out an email instead of a proper card.

They say: "It’s not about saving cash, it’s about reducing our carbon footprint."

We say: "Poppycock." And anyway, what about Santa’s carbon footprint? Last year he tramped carbon all over the office. We hope it was carbon….

So here it is, Merry Christmas! Sincere thanks for your business and support during 2009. We look forward to working together in 2010, and we wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Staff Hibernation: the office will be in snooze mode from noon on Wednesday 23rd December until 9.00am on Tuesday 5th January. As usual, there will be an elf popping in to check for urgent messages and deal with emergencies.