three things that happened this week

Last week it snowed and this week it rained. A lot. However, not easily put off, we donned our waterproof jackets and set off on our early morning runs as usual.*

Running conditions aside, there were three things on our minds this week. Firstly there were Nicky's massive blisters which have become a bit of a talking point here at Fruit Towers. Then there were Eloise's sore knees. And finally the issue of how we could help WellChild find volunteers to help out on the day of the Marathon. No solutions for the first two problems, we decided that the best way sort out the third was to tell you all about it on our blog.

In a nutshell, WellChild are looking for volunteers to cheer loudly for all their runners, tell lots of people about all the great stuff WellChild does for sick children and give Wellchild goodies to other spectators. There are 2 official WellChild supporting points at Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf and they also need lots of supporters at the start and finish as well as in St James Park to guide and welcome the weary Wellchild runners home. If you would like to help out please complete this online application form.

More on Nicky's blisters next week.

*please don't tell our mums or they'll get worried we'll catch a cold.

a book to help us save the planet

Call me a latecomer, but we found this at the Design Museum the other day. Originally published in 2002 and updated last year, it's "a complete guide to beautifully conceived, ecologically sensitive and consumer-friendly furniture and objects for everyday use". In other words, it should help us kit out the office without screwing the planet.

return of the bag

Dan wrote a post about his bag a while ago and now it's my turn.

The zip on my trusted Eastpak broke before Christmas after a few year's good use. Much like Dan I was quite attached to my bag after it had accompanied me to Japan, Ghana, China, Tibet and various places in Europe. Then I remembered that Eastpak are so confident in their product that they offer a 30 year standard warranty on all their bags, so after filling out a form on their website I posted my broken bag back to them.

Sure enough this week I got a nice parcel from Eastpak. What I quite liked was that rather than send me a brand new bag they had sewn a new zip into my old bag (I recognised the fluff and tat at the bottom). Both logic and sustainability would point to fixing the original problem - if only 5% of the something is broken then fix that 5% rather than bin 95% and start again.

They left my bag better than they found it.

bjorn again

Worn Again are a great company that make shoes and bags out of other things.  Like prison blankets, car seats and reclaimed jeans.  They have kindly offered us one pair of shoes (of your choice) to give away in a competition.  Read on.

To be in with a chance to win, tell us in no more than 50 words about something that you've managed to re-use in a very different way than it was first intended.  Post your answers as comments, by Thursday 22nd February.  Most original wins, and keep it clean please.

how to make 2007 a little better

In January we did a little tour of the UK, giving away drinks and meeting people. While we were out and about we ran a competition for the people we met, to win a year's supply of smoothies. There was also space on the back of the postcard for people to let us know how they planned to make 2007 a little better.

Here are some of our favourites:

inedible

Business case for the carrot pen part 1.

As found on an anonymous desk at fruit towers.

banana bunker

Bananas are good. Bruised mushy bananas are less good.

That's why we like the Banana Bunker, a close relative of the Banana Guard.

Found in a great place called Cool Tools.

viking amnesty

We are seeking your information in helping us to track down 'cathybluecat'. You see Cathy was one of the joint winners of our kiss people and win stuff competition last month. We have been unable to get hold of Cathy to arrange the delivery of her year's supply of smoothies however.

Maybe you can help? Are you, or do you know the above viking? Do you recognise the posters in the picture below? Did you witness Cathy or any of her friends with a sprig of mistletoe around late December last year? Our own investigations have led us into thinking the pictures were taken at a Xmas fancy dress party hosted at a hotel or guest house. (Reception signs are present in the background of some pictures).

If you know Cathy can you please tell her to check her flickr account's email inbox to claim her prize. (For the entrepreneurial amongst you this is the only way the prize can be claimed, we won't be accepting any other claims to be Cathy via email or telephone just so you know).

gerald - the winner

Here's Gerald - the man who won the pink tshirt. He sent us a picture so we could see what he looks like, but he isn't wearing the pink tshirt yet. It's still in its wrapping:

"While the famous pint t-shirt has not yet been unwrapped from the red ribbon, let alone taken out of the green bag it came in, I thought I'd send you a quick email with a picture attached so you don't have to use one of a baseball player, even if he does look kinda cool and has a better signature than me, just because there are very few Geralds in this world!"

just desserts

A few of us lot went out for a slap up meal at a lively Brazilian restaurant a while ago. Pictured above is a unique acai (the Brazilian super berry) jelly that tempted Shrimp for dessert. Notice Erin looking on, spoon at the ready.

What Shrimp failed to tell Erin though was that this dessert also contains banana.

Erin hates banana.