Small but vexing mysteries of the universe: where did this person go to school? And what, if anything, did he learn? Here I am sitting in the Algarve about to relax, then I get one of those emails. You know …
Read MoreAuthor: Drayton
Bloody immigrants, stealing our jobs and living on welfare.
Have you seen this? If so, did it make your blood boil? Did you then check the facts? As someone who is working as hard as ever at 76, this e-mail from my sister in law got my attention. It …
Read MoreDid you watch “Bankers” on BBCTV?
A depressing, instructive insight into who wins and who loses nowadays: the wrong people. Twenty-odd years ago I spoke at the Institute of Directors to an audience largely composed of bankers. Mostly I gave examples of what a lousy job …
Read MoreWise advice my mother gave me – too many ignore it
She ran a fine restaurant, set up an award-winning charity – even wrote great copy Seventy years ago my parents took over a vermin-ridden, filthy derelict pub outside Manchester. They turned it into a goldmine – for three reasons. My …
Read MoreYes, folks, maybe it really is time I chucked it in
With a few thoughts about the online Mafiosi – and how to make money the old-fashioned way On Friday I whacked out an email offering a £600 discount off the last www.eadim.com I plan to run. Maybe you saw it …
Read MoreA genital tale for copywriters
Shame about the anals – courtesy of The Blessed Andy Owen We scribblers, like members of any other trade, exchange little stories, one of which I just received from Andy Owen. It reads as follows: I received an email from …
Read MoreAplomb at Downton Abbey
A little midweek giggle for all you sophisticates* His Lordship was in the study at Downton Abbey when the butler approached and coughed discreetly. “May I ask you a question my Lord?” “Go ahead Carson” said his Lordship. “I am …
Read MoreOut of touch and without a clue
They all laughed at him, but he did a better job than anyone since Do you think the toffs in charge have a clue what’s going on? Me neither At the time everyone laughed at John Major. He had an impossible …
Read MoreThe real New York
Some excellent photos from Jo Stowell Over the years I’ve known some pretty good photographers. Few, I think, come much better than Jo Stowell ( www.yourpaparazzi.co.uk ) who lives here in Bristol. I go to New York about five times a year. …
Read MoreWhat was David Ogilvy like?
Memories of an extraordinary individual – Part Two A few months back Denny Hatch of Target Marketing asked me to write about my experiences of working with David Ogilvy. An abridged version was published, but here is part two of …
Read More