]]>http://www.solutiongroup.co.uk/sol_web/blog/index.php?entry=entry091127-1556232009-11-27T00:00:00Z2009-11-27T00:00:00ZGreat North Done
Picture the scene. 6:30pm, Saturday 19th September. Pete and Jonny are on a train, tiredly returning from a series of meetings in London, when out of the blue, Jonny gets a text message from his cousin asking if he would like an entry for The Great North Run. The only problem being that the race was in 14 hours time. And Jonny had done absolutely no training whatsoever.
Never a man to turn down a challenge, Jonny gleefully accepted. The fact that the pair of them had been downing pints earlier while watching the Arsenal v Wigan match at The Emirates Stadium (funny how lots of Solution Group meetings seem to be located near Premiership grounds) didn’t seem to bother the newly self appointed, running adonis.
The prince of swimwear turned up at the starting line looking like Steve Ovett's older, unfit, hairy brother. Setting off like legendary Newcastle United nutcase Temuri Ketsbaia on a particulary fruitless mazy effort, Jonny soon realised he better slow down the pace or he would find himself on the local news wrapped in tin-foil being paraded to the nation as a prime example of how not to train for a half marathon
But, no. The hirsute, free scoring Ben Lomond Centre Forward paced himself sensibly and that fierce regime of a game of football every day for the last 29 years paid off. Crossing the line at a very respectable 2 hours, 2 minutes and 14 seconds there were smiles all over the big man's face. Until he realised that if he had only ran each mile 10 seconds quicker he would have ‘broken the magical two’!
Apparently he’s thinking with a bit of training he might even win it next year...
Apparently, human beings and birds are the only creatures on the planet that actually eat the fruit of the chilli plant. Most other animals think it is poisonous.
So what better way to celebrate this fact, than by spitting in the face of mother nature and engineering a chilli pepper 4 times stronger than the previous 'hottest' chilli? (Scoville Heat Units (SHU) - 923,000 SHU - fact fans)
That's what a couple from Dorset decided to do (Dorset, that well-known chilli growing hotspot). And so we have the Dorset Naga. A chilli that required Tesco to add an extra 'star' to their chilli-heat-rating system.
Naturally, we tried them at Solution Group, and 2 pints of milk and 30 minutes later, we ended up with a blog post title that sounded more like a 1970's progressive rock outfit.
They're hot.
]]>http://www.solutiongroup.co.uk/sol_web/blog/index.php?entry=entry090703-1111202009-07-03T00:00:00Z2009-07-03T00:00:00ZWhat's making us laugh today?
Japanese Binocular Football? Perhaps Jonny's only chance of picking up any silverware this season.
]]>http://www.solutiongroup.co.uk/sol_web/blog/index.php?entry=entry090409-1507392009-04-09T00:00:00Z2009-04-09T00:00:00ZA Look of Dejection
Ben Lomond FC 0 - 3 The Mill Tavern
The Tony Pickett Cup – Tyne and Wear Business Houses League Cup The Shack, Boldon
The Ben Lomond, Jonny's Sunday league team, were outclassed by their higher level opposition on what proved a challenge too much for the plucky underdogs who had beaten the cup favourites in the semi-final.
The warning signs were there as early as the 5th minute when the Mill Tavern had the ball in the net following up a save from the Ben Lomond Keeper, only for the linesman to rule the scorer offside. The rest of the half saw the Ben Lomond camped deep in their own half as The Mill Tavern totally dominated the midfield and created chance after chance for their forwards.
It was only a matter of time before the break came and it happened from a badly defended corner mid-way through the first half. One of the Mill Tavern's wingers took a gamble that no one would clear a high looping ball and he came in at the back post to steer the ball home into an empty net.
The Ben Lomond managed a bit of fighting spirit after the goal and raised their game to create a few chances for themselves but mostly had to settle for sitting deep and attacking on the break. The strikers being forced to chase long balls over the top and see what they could make. Managing to be slightly on top as the whistle blew for half time.
The decision to come out in the second half and press for an equaliser was punished almost immediately as a Mill Tavern forward found himself in acres of space and only the keeper to beat. Calmly slotting the ball past him to make it 2-0 and leave the Ben Lomond with a mountain to climb.
With the second half mostly resembling the first, chances to pull a goal back were few and far between. And it was no surprise when one of the Mill Tavern's players found himself one on one with a defender in the Ben Lomond box. A bit trickery 2 seconds later found the attacker pole-axed on the floor with a penalty awarded to the Mill Tavern. The striker who had been felled stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and make it 3-0 to seal the win.
The rest of the match past without much controversy and when the final whistle blew. Everyone knew the better team on the day had won the cup.
]]>http://www.solutiongroup.co.uk/sol_web/blog/index.php?entry=entry090407-1210502009-04-07T00:00:00Z2009-04-07T00:00:00ZThink Tank
Ever wondered where the process begins?
Take numerous sheets of paper, many marker pens, numerous cups of coffee and an unhealthy amount of chocolate and there you have it.... the Solution Group engine room.
We normally tidy the place up before anyone comes in. Honest.
]]>http://www.solutiongroup.co.uk/sol_web/blog/index.php?entry=entry090320-1320012009-03-20T00:00:00Z2009-03-20T00:00:00ZThe Next Next Big Thing?
We've just completed designing the artwork and promo campaign for Detroit Social Club's new single.
The band are tipped for great things, so check them out.
;)
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