Victoria Beckham Wears 'High Vis'.
Now I have to admit I've been watching trashy TV (again)... but did you see the 'Full Length and Fabulous' programme about the Beckham's pre-World Cup party?
Victoria Beckham's dress was a really bright, maybe even fluorescent, yellow. She herself mentioned that she could be helping out in the car park as the car park attendents wear 'those luminous jackets'.
Now didn't I tell you it would catch on? I reckon next year fluorecent colours will be stars of the catwalks. Just remember I thought of it first!!!!!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Walk to School Week
Monday 22 May will see the start of UK spring Walk to School week 2006 organised by Living Streets and Travelwise.
This year the theme is 'Join the Adventure' to highlight the fun and adventures children can have by walking to school.
What adventures? I hear you say. As an adult you may think that walking to school is just a trot along the road. It's only when you hear a child's comments such as 'there's a crocodile in that puddle' that you realise what a child's imagination can make of an everyday activity.
Look out in the press for the schools taking part in a giant jigsaw activity to celebrate the week. Also your school may have received the official stickers and charts via your local authority which you can use to encourage more kids to walk (or should I say encourage more parents to let their children walk). Even if you haven't received any special resources your school can take part.... why not use the week as an excuse to launch a Walking Bus or Park & Stride scheme?
Monday 22 May will see the start of UK spring Walk to School week 2006 organised by Living Streets and Travelwise.
This year the theme is 'Join the Adventure' to highlight the fun and adventures children can have by walking to school.
What adventures? I hear you say. As an adult you may think that walking to school is just a trot along the road. It's only when you hear a child's comments such as 'there's a crocodile in that puddle' that you realise what a child's imagination can make of an everyday activity.
Look out in the press for the schools taking part in a giant jigsaw activity to celebrate the week. Also your school may have received the official stickers and charts via your local authority which you can use to encourage more kids to walk (or should I say encourage more parents to let their children walk). Even if you haven't received any special resources your school can take part.... why not use the week as an excuse to launch a Walking Bus or Park & Stride scheme?
Monday, May 01, 2006
'Doctor Who' Promotes Sustainable Travel
Doctor Who is back. Saturday nights weren't the same without him. The programme provides TV with a match for the greatest debate in film, ('Who was your favourite Bond?') - 'Who is your favourite Doctor?'. The doctor you like best is often an indication of your age... so I think I'll go for David Tennant.
He does a lot of running and walking. You rarely see him in a car. (Use of cars on set is usually for smashing things, for example to get into alien-infested locked buildings, which I'm not recommending. Although on that occasion I can appreciate it was the only option available).
We saw a good bit on sustainable transport use on the Victorian one when he jumped on Queen Victoria's horse-drawn carriage (not that he had much choice).
I'm not sure how the tardis is fuelled (and I'm sure Dr Who nerds, I mean experts, will be able to advise me), but it certainly doesn't require a fill up from the local petrol pump. The tardis doesn't appear to have an exhaust and so there are no obvious emissions (that's not to say there aren't any though).
Bearing in mind the distance he travels, I'd say he leaves a pretty clean environmental footprint of his travels.
Doctor Who is back. Saturday nights weren't the same without him. The programme provides TV with a match for the greatest debate in film, ('Who was your favourite Bond?') - 'Who is your favourite Doctor?'. The doctor you like best is often an indication of your age... so I think I'll go for David Tennant.
He does a lot of running and walking. You rarely see him in a car. (Use of cars on set is usually for smashing things, for example to get into alien-infested locked buildings, which I'm not recommending. Although on that occasion I can appreciate it was the only option available).
We saw a good bit on sustainable transport use on the Victorian one when he jumped on Queen Victoria's horse-drawn carriage (not that he had much choice).
I'm not sure how the tardis is fuelled (and I'm sure Dr Who nerds, I mean experts, will be able to advise me), but it certainly doesn't require a fill up from the local petrol pump. The tardis doesn't appear to have an exhaust and so there are no obvious emissions (that's not to say there aren't any though).
Bearing in mind the distance he travels, I'd say he leaves a pretty clean environmental footprint of his travels.
HSBC Start Up Stars Award
Last year we were shortlisted in the annual HSBC Start Up Stars awards for new businesses in the UK. Lots of businesses enter this prestigious award so we were really pleased to get to that stage. It gave us lots of free publicity, helping to raise awareness of our high vis products, walk-to-school campaign work and Be Bright message.
Entering business competitions is a really good discipline for new businesses as you have to put together so much information. So many of the ideas in your head have to go down on paper and you have to find ways to measure the impact your business has which helps with your own planning, even if you don't win. Many business awards nowadays don't only look at financial success but also at social and environmental impact (luckily for us as we're quite strong on that!).
Anyway we've just sent in our entry for this year. This time it includes our freshly written Environment Policy and Work Travel Plan as well as figures showing more than 600% increase in turnover since last year (yes, we've broken the £100,000 turnover mark) so hopefully we're in with a good chance.... Wish us luck!
Last year we were shortlisted in the annual HSBC Start Up Stars awards for new businesses in the UK. Lots of businesses enter this prestigious award so we were really pleased to get to that stage. It gave us lots of free publicity, helping to raise awareness of our high vis products, walk-to-school campaign work and Be Bright message.
Entering business competitions is a really good discipline for new businesses as you have to put together so much information. So many of the ideas in your head have to go down on paper and you have to find ways to measure the impact your business has which helps with your own planning, even if you don't win. Many business awards nowadays don't only look at financial success but also at social and environmental impact (luckily for us as we're quite strong on that!).
Anyway we've just sent in our entry for this year. This time it includes our freshly written Environment Policy and Work Travel Plan as well as figures showing more than 600% increase in turnover since last year (yes, we've broken the £100,000 turnover mark) so hopefully we're in with a good chance.... Wish us luck!
Mongolian Feast
Yesterday we went to a Mongolian Feast for the first time. Our host proudly and loudly introduced us to everyone as (Mongolian Feast) virgins. We quickly amended the situation by grabbing a metal bowl, filling it with noodles and matchstick vegestables, slithers of meat and choosing from around 20 spices to sprinkle over. You chuck the whole lot on a vast metal plate which is heated from below and shared by everyone to cook their own feast.
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with walking to school or high vis. The only very tenuous link I can make is that the furnace is made out of an old washing machine drum so is a good bit of recycling....which, like walking to school, is good for the environment. (Told you it was tenuous!).
Yesterday we went to a Mongolian Feast for the first time. Our host proudly and loudly introduced us to everyone as (Mongolian Feast) virgins. We quickly amended the situation by grabbing a metal bowl, filling it with noodles and matchstick vegestables, slithers of meat and choosing from around 20 spices to sprinkle over. You chuck the whole lot on a vast metal plate which is heated from below and shared by everyone to cook their own feast.
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with walking to school or high vis. The only very tenuous link I can make is that the furnace is made out of an old washing machine drum so is a good bit of recycling....which, like walking to school, is good for the environment. (Told you it was tenuous!).
Oh No: It's 'Safety'!
When we first started out a couple of years ago I used to go around local school fetes and have a stall selling our products. The concept of children wearing fluorescent waistcoats was a bit of a culture shock to many parents (although many dads were used to wearing them for work).
The automatic reaction of some parents was 'Oh no: it's safety, my child wouldn't wear safety' (as if 'safety' was a kind of disease). Meanwhile their child is standing next to them and longingly looking at an orange BrightKidz waistcoat (seeing 'bright funky colours' not 'safety').
So often I need to say to parents (and teachers) 'Have you asked the children what they think?'.
When we first started out a couple of years ago I used to go around local school fetes and have a stall selling our products. The concept of children wearing fluorescent waistcoats was a bit of a culture shock to many parents (although many dads were used to wearing them for work).
The automatic reaction of some parents was 'Oh no: it's safety, my child wouldn't wear safety' (as if 'safety' was a kind of disease). Meanwhile their child is standing next to them and longingly looking at an orange BrightKidz waistcoat (seeing 'bright funky colours' not 'safety').
So often I need to say to parents (and teachers) 'Have you asked the children what they think?'.
These Shoes Weren't Made for Walking
Have you ever noticed how rubbish girl's school shoes are for walking to school? Boys shoes - great - tough, cover the foot, keep the stones and rain out (unless it's a real downpour when wellies are called for).
Girls shoes, even the quality brands, tend to be low cut on the front of the foot - slightest hint of a puddle and tights get soaked. Slightest bit of grit on the path and it gets kicked in through the front of the shoe.... so we have to stop and get it out (hopping may be a good way to keep fit but it's not something I'd force a child to do to get to school!).
I'm talking about shoes for five year olds - not exactly Top Shop addicted 13 year olds (we'll save that for another Blog).
Personally I think trainers would be best all round but it would be tough to convince the schools to make that change as they like the 'smart dark' look. My son has school shoes which are trainer style but black and from Clarks - absolutely ideal. So come on Mr Clarks (and Mr StartRite and Ms Padders and Doctor Marten) bring it on for the girls...
Have you ever noticed how rubbish girl's school shoes are for walking to school? Boys shoes - great - tough, cover the foot, keep the stones and rain out (unless it's a real downpour when wellies are called for).
Girls shoes, even the quality brands, tend to be low cut on the front of the foot - slightest hint of a puddle and tights get soaked. Slightest bit of grit on the path and it gets kicked in through the front of the shoe.... so we have to stop and get it out (hopping may be a good way to keep fit but it's not something I'd force a child to do to get to school!).
I'm talking about shoes for five year olds - not exactly Top Shop addicted 13 year olds (we'll save that for another Blog).
Personally I think trainers would be best all round but it would be tough to convince the schools to make that change as they like the 'smart dark' look. My son has school shoes which are trainer style but black and from Clarks - absolutely ideal. So come on Mr Clarks (and Mr StartRite and Ms Padders and Doctor Marten) bring it on for the girls...
Saturday, March 18, 2006
We've been so busy lately that we've had to recruit some help. Instead of taking on one full-timer we've taken on four part time staff.... all with a brilliantly wide range of skills and backgrounds.
There are so many people out there who want jobs to fit in with their family or lifestyle and don't want to work fulltime or during school holidays. There are so few good job opportunities for people like that. I can't understand why so many employers are so inflexible - they're really missing out on some good staff. At least I know I don't want us to be like that so we have our 'family friendly' employment policy with lots of part time flexible working.
It should also free me up so I can spend more time blogging!
There are so many people out there who want jobs to fit in with their family or lifestyle and don't want to work fulltime or during school holidays. There are so few good job opportunities for people like that. I can't understand why so many employers are so inflexible - they're really missing out on some good staff. At least I know I don't want us to be like that so we have our 'family friendly' employment policy with lots of part time flexible working.
It should also free me up so I can spend more time blogging!
The video broke down!!! Aaaarghhh!!! Typical... our first bit of stardom on Channel Four was on Monday evening with the Three Minute Wonder programme showing our Walking Bus. All the family round the tele, 'jarmees' on first for kids, with half a minute to go video starts recording.... the wrong channel!!!! Started to faff about and attempt to reprogram with no luck....so just sat and watched it (once only but really enjoyed it).
Luckily my brother ended up with the technical genes in my family and he had recorded the programme....... and Channel Four also very kindly offered me a copy.... so I'll be able to watch it again and scrutinise to see how much of a mess our house was in the opening shots.
PS Have just been criticised for my spelling of jarmees/jarmis... should be pyjamas... but hey isn't a blog meant to be the language of the people??
Luckily my brother ended up with the technical genes in my family and he had recorded the programme....... and Channel Four also very kindly offered me a copy.... so I'll be able to watch it again and scrutinise to see how much of a mess our house was in the opening shots.
PS Have just been criticised for my spelling of jarmees/jarmis... should be pyjamas... but hey isn't a blog meant to be the language of the people??
Monday, March 13, 2006
Big night tonight - we're on the tele!
Channel Four's 'Three Minute Wonder' progammes this week are about journeys to school. These are short programmes at 7.55pm after the news. The first one features our local Walking Bus here in Geddington, Northants, UK.
I've never actually seen our Walking Bus from a distance as I've usually been on it but I'm told it looks quite spectacular with all the multi-colour fluorescent, reflective jackets so will make for good TV.
The production team wanted to film from a child's perspective so they even used a wheelchair to get to their level. When people see the programme I don't know if they will realise that our Walking Bus is an everyday occurance..... and not just for the cameras!
Channel Four's 'Three Minute Wonder' progammes this week are about journeys to school. These are short programmes at 7.55pm after the news. The first one features our local Walking Bus here in Geddington, Northants, UK.
I've never actually seen our Walking Bus from a distance as I've usually been on it but I'm told it looks quite spectacular with all the multi-colour fluorescent, reflective jackets so will make for good TV.
The production team wanted to film from a child's perspective so they even used a wheelchair to get to their level. When people see the programme I don't know if they will realise that our Walking Bus is an everyday occurance..... and not just for the cameras!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
High Vis Fever.
At one of the schools in our area, high visibility waistcoats have become the latest 'must haves'. Okay yes I know I'm biased and 'I would say that' but I honestly haven't come across a school before where so many budget waistcoats have sold so quickly with every batch they receive. As a teacher said to me 'it's the sort of thing that either just a couple of parents want or everybody has got to have it'.
The same school are also planning to start up a Walking Bus..... no worries for them about 'where to find the funding to buy the high vis waistcoats'..... as most of the parents have already voluntarily bought them for their children.
At one of the schools in our area, high visibility waistcoats have become the latest 'must haves'. Okay yes I know I'm biased and 'I would say that' but I honestly haven't come across a school before where so many budget waistcoats have sold so quickly with every batch they receive. As a teacher said to me 'it's the sort of thing that either just a couple of parents want or everybody has got to have it'.
The same school are also planning to start up a Walking Bus..... no worries for them about 'where to find the funding to buy the high vis waistcoats'..... as most of the parents have already voluntarily bought them for their children.
Who writes the Highway Code? In case you didn't know, it's the Driving Standards Agency - but now here's the interesting bit....... anyone can make suggestions and recommendations and all ideas will be considered. (You just visit www.dsa.gov.uk/highwaycode to see a copy of the consultation document and how to suggest changes).
It's currently being updated so of course yours truly had to stick her nose in! As so many children are out towards dusk or in fading daylight when visibility is poor, I had to have my say about emphasising the importance of fluorescent colours for daytime and near dusk (not just 'reflective for night').
Use of mobility scooters is going to be covered by the Highway Code for the first time. Now I don't know about you but have you ever been driving back from town at teatime (okay yes I admit I'm not totally sustainable, I DO own a car and I do sometimes drive it!). Back to the point girl.... anyway driving along in town at dusk and suddenly one of those scooters appears out of nowhere. It's usually grey or black and has an elderly gent on it inevitably wearing a grey coat......HOW AM I MEANT TO SEE THAT?????? Let me know you're there mate and I promise I will be able to slow down sooner and give you more room. It's great that you've got your freedom to travel like this but quite frankly I would like you to see a few more birthdays. Wear something bright or put a fluorescent sticker on the back of your scooter PLEASE!
Oh yes, that was my other advice suggestion for updates to the Highway Code.
It's currently being updated so of course yours truly had to stick her nose in! As so many children are out towards dusk or in fading daylight when visibility is poor, I had to have my say about emphasising the importance of fluorescent colours for daytime and near dusk (not just 'reflective for night').
Use of mobility scooters is going to be covered by the Highway Code for the first time. Now I don't know about you but have you ever been driving back from town at teatime (okay yes I admit I'm not totally sustainable, I DO own a car and I do sometimes drive it!). Back to the point girl.... anyway driving along in town at dusk and suddenly one of those scooters appears out of nowhere. It's usually grey or black and has an elderly gent on it inevitably wearing a grey coat......HOW AM I MEANT TO SEE THAT?????? Let me know you're there mate and I promise I will be able to slow down sooner and give you more room. It's great that you've got your freedom to travel like this but quite frankly I would like you to see a few more birthdays. Wear something bright or put a fluorescent sticker on the back of your scooter PLEASE!
Oh yes, that was my other advice suggestion for updates to the Highway Code.
Monday, January 30, 2006
We've just had our first delivery of fluorescent, reflective lanyards which we will be launching on the website to sell shortly. The latest craze at school is for kids to have a tamagotchi on a lanyard - so we thought 'why not design a high vis version'. So it's fluorescent orange (for daytime visibility) and then for night turn it round the other way and it is reflective.
In case you don't know what a lanyard is, it's a ribbon you put round your neck. It has a clip on the end which you can attach things too, eg for work ID cards, conference name badges. Also popular for holding iPods, keys, mobile phones, etc. For sport or leisure use for whistle, stopwatch, drinks bottle, compass etc.
Ours have got safety breaks in the back so they come apart if pulled hard or caught (important for kids and cyclists).
At night the grey/silver bits are reflective and so look bright white.
There...sales plug of the day over with!!!!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
The Reception class children at our local school went home with a free reflector each yesterday.
This was part of the big UK-wide scheme by the Nationwide building society to make them more visible to traffic after dark. It's a great idea (they won a big road safety award for it) and has helped get across the 'be safe be seen' message for night time.
In Scandinavian countries the children attach reflectors to a string. The other end of the string is fastened to the inside of a pocket. When they go out after dark they pull the reflector out and let it swing so it catches the light from car headlights.
These reflectors come in different colours and some of them are fluorescent yellow - this is the best colour as it shows up really well in daylight as well as after dark. If you didn't get one from your school or you lost yours you can buy the same type from us as well!!!
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