A hero speaks…business travel essentials!

From an interview with Alan Whicker in the British Airways magazine ‘High Life’ this month:

“There’s only one phrase you need to learn in any foreign language. And that is – ‘My friend will pay.’ It should be the very first thing you get translated.”

I tend to bank on “Two Beers and a sandwich please” or “Can you speak English?”

What are your key phrases when travelling?

20 years ago…

I was 20 years old, Black Box were number one with Ride on Time and we just recently had cable TV installed at our house. I remember watching the news on the evening that the wall was breached, and realising that something really momentous was happening. The morning after, I watched the coverage in awe at the change in Europe.

Since then – I’ve travelled to Moscow and made good friends, and when I walked across Red Square with an American, we both remarked at how this would have been unthinkable before the fall of Communism and the changes in Europe.

This amazing article at the NYT has some interactive pictures that you can see before and after shots of landmarks in Berlin. The BBC also has great coverage.

What were you doing when the Berlin Wall fell?

Sunday Inspiration #6

So, I took a few days off to cope with some family stuff – and then caught some nasty man-flu, which slowed me down – but I’m back up to speed with some sunday inspiration – best taken with morning coffee…

• As always – some music first, on this cold grey November morning (it is here in the UK anyway), a 70’s YouTube classic to get you going. Fire this up in a seperate window and then come back for some more inspiration!
• The worlds number 1 packaging design site – incredible design ideas along with some pretty nifty graphics and artwork – highly recommend this if you are looking for a push with your design.
• After watching them at the EMA’s this week, I was reminded of just how long U2 have been together – then I came across this article which speaks wonders for how good a team can be – we before me anyone? (Via Chat with the Chamber)
• This isn’t happiness – oh, but it is! An amazing archive of random photos and art that contains about 14000 images – and some great inspiration. Like. Like. Love!

What’s inspiring you to greatness this week?

Sunday Inspiration #5

You know the drill by now – some inspirational links for you to click an enjoy as your Sunday spins into life. Best taken with freshly squeezed juice.

• Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell – fire this beautifully relaxed song up in another window and let it play while you catch up with my other two inspirational links. I’ll wait here for you.
• Thomas Keller cooks his fathers last meal – after being reunited with his estranged Dad, the French Laundry chef cooked a final meal for his father. This story tells how that period of his life transformed him.
• The Book Cover Archive – some of these are truly stunning, I got lost in this site for some time checking out the amazing typography and design. A couple of my favourites : Amsterdam, Auden and Hume.

So, enjoy the Lineman? Where are you finding your inspiration today?
PS – pinch, punch, first day of the month – no returns!