We all made it through the C&T Christmas Do!!



Peter & Lottie the Cockapoo hard at work



Well that was an eventful few days! On Thursday morning we were dog-sitting in the office, Lottie the Cockapoo came to play for an hour or so and she was such a little cutie (even despite having a little accident on Susan’s leg, whoops!)

On Friday afternoon we all opened our Secret Santa presents and to Gaz and Ryans delight they got their new Christmas outfits...

They're sexy and they know it!

The Cuffe & Taylor Christmas Do took place on Friday and a fantastic night was had by all. We planned on going to Peters house for Canapés and Cocktails before but this soon turned into Champagne and lots of shots so as you can imagine we turned up to the Christmas party very merry! One of the highlights of the night for me was when Peter sat on a whoopee cushion and almost fell off his chair (even more funny when under the influence of alcohol).

 

Susan, Rachel and I took a moment before the party to learn the Gangnam Style dance. We later performed the dance in perfect unison, to which I later got names ‘Psy’ after the man who sings the song...

Now for the photos... ENJOY!!















 













MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Holidays Are Coming

I’ve always been a huge lover of Christmas and even though I am now 22 my excitement for the party season hasn’t shrunk.

In the office we all have advert calendars but because we don’t want to have to take any chocolate home when we break up for Christmas next Friday, we have decided to also work back from 24^th December as we go forwards – well I’m not going to complain about the extra chocolate! 

I’m also addicted to M&S Turkey feast sandwiches (followed by a nice bit of CAKE for dessert). Yesterday I also discovered Costa Coffee make a lovely gingerbread latte so of course I had to treat myself to another one of those today when I went to get my Turkey feast sandwich from M&S!! I couldn’t recommend this drink highly enough to you; you should all go try it.

With recent weekend trips to London & York and Christmas parties coming up in the next couple of weeks I haven’t yet had time to do any Christmas shopping yet which is totally unlike my usual ‘wrapped up by November’ self! Instead I have been gallivanting around the country and sticking 1440 crystals on my Cuffe & Taylor Christmas party outfit, which will be unveiled this Friday (pictures to follow next week).

Anyway it’s time to sign off, better go write some Christmas cards and my ‘list’....

Dear Santa,

For Christmas this year I would like:

*another couple of hours added to every day in 2013

*something sparkly (obvs)

*a boyfriend (yea right)

*a Cockapoo puppy (think I’ve got more chance of the above request than my mum letting me have another dog)

Thanks big man!

Love Brett

Aged 22 years

Festive Sparkle

I can only apologise for not keeping my blog up to date (again). We’ve all been very busy bee’s recently with the Lytham Christmas Light Switch-on last Saturday & going onsale with the Runrig 40^th Anniversary Concert 2013 last Friday. This has meant a lack of blogging across all Cuffe & Taylor staff. I haven’t even had time to blog outside of work because.....

 

I have finally finished crystalising my Sennheiser Radio Mic!

I wrote in a blog not so long ago about my bling-tastic obsession for anything sparkly, well it took a whopping 2917 individually stuck Swarovski crystals (not that I was counting or anything) but I finally got there! J

I was rushing to get finished in time for my trip down south this weekend so I could show it off to my brother and his girlfriend (I think his girlfriend will appreciate it ever so slightly more than my brother Mike). This weekend I plan to have a great time down in London, first of all by going to The Arts Club, Mayfair on Friday night to see my brother and the rest of the band performing then a spot of retail therapy on Saturday in Harrods (gotta love pricey Christmas decorations) – I wonder if my mum will treat me to a Cockapoo puppy from Pet Kingdom @ Harrods?!

Then maybe a show if we can fit one in somewhere, ooo I do love the lead up to Christmas! J

Happy Birthday our Rach!!

Today is not just any Monday, it’s also bonfire night AND our Rachel’s birthday!!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dearest Rachel,

Happy Birthday to youuuuuuuu!

Yes, Rachel was quite surprised when Susan and myself burst into her office this morning with gifts, singing that lovely Happy Birthday tune, I think Bryan forgot to sing though – we could have done with the extra bass vocals!

Now it’s time to get back to work – Rachel and the team are currently working hard organising the Lytham Christmas Light Switch-on which will take place on Saturday 17^th November from 2pm onwards. The very special guest switching the lights on this year will be Russell Watson. He will also be performing at Lytham Proms next year which we are all looking forward to in our office. Even though I am a 90’s boy I’m also quite excited about ‘The 80s Strikes Back’ which is the second date of Lytham Proms 2013 to be announced.

Now it’s just a nail biting wait to find out who will be the third and final headliner to perform at next year’s weekend festival. This year we saw Olly Murs take to the stage on the Sunday night and give an amazing show. Hopefully next year’s headliner will be equally as good and wow the crowds of Lytham Green once again.

Well that concludes my blog for today, all that’s left for me to say is.....

Christmas Sparkle

Now that the Halloween costume is out of the way I now have to start planning what to wear for the Cuffe & Taylor Christmas party! The Christmas party is shortly after the UK Festival Awards 2012 where Cuffe & Taylor have been nominated in the Best Small Festival category for Lytham Proms, so hopefully we will be celebrating that win. *crosses fingers*

 After my colleague Susan’s recent blog post about a black tie event that her and Peter attended last week I thought I would get ahead of the ‘outfit planning’ game by starting to look early. I can envisage my Christmas outfit already – it is a cross between a really slick tailored suit and an outfit from Strictly Come Dancing.

You may or may not know already but I do love abit of bling, actually I tell a lie, I love alot of bling! I recently bought myself a Sennheiser radio microphone system as a hobby of mine is singing. After informing my parents that I wanted to get it encrusted with Swarovski Elements my mum (aka Bevlaaaaar) responded with “Well if you’re going to do that can you not get black crystals so it’s not as in-your-face?!”

This is the look I’m going for......

......Not ‘in-your-face’ at all then!!

As Susan said in her recent outfit post – she always has something to fall back on. My fall back item would have to be my black Swarovski tie from Marks & Spencer (I can’t believe I just owned up to wearing M&S at 22 years of age). This tie however is not your usual M&S purchase; it gives me a subtle sparkle as it catches the light without overdoing it – perfect!

So until i learn to ‘self-bling’ or until Strictly Come Dancing’s wardrobe team start making high-street clothes my good old black blingy tie will have to suffice.

Too much to plan!

I cannot believe how fast this year has gone; did anyone else miss summer too? The only other social events between now and Christmas are bonfire night and Halloween – which happens to also be the day that Mr T will be interviewing Olly Murs during his book signing at Blackpool Grand Theatre – to book tickets for Ollys books signing click here.

Although I am working all next week I cannot let an opportunity like Halloween pass by without a night out. Next to plan my outfit. So I don’t want to spend a fortune on a costume that I’ll probably only ever use once so I just thought I’d chuck some fake blood at a t-shirt and put a couple of rips in it, that could work right?? I did however find some rather creepy contact lenses, cost about the same price as a whole outfit but SO worth it in my opinion! After much wrestling with my eyelids I eventually managed to get the contact lenses in. 

So that’s Halloween all sorted, now for bonfire night! I always used to remember bonfire night as the day I passed my driving test but now there is a new anniversary that occupies that date, my work chum Miss Sharples' birthday, all the more reason to eat bonfire toffee and get the sparklers out to celebrate! If you haven’t done so already, check out Rachel’s new blog.

I love a good firework display; here is a picture of the fantastic firework display after the Alfie Boe concert at Lytham Proms Festival Weekend 2012.

Now time for Christmas! We recently picked names out of a hat for this year’s secret Santa. After much trying I haven’t managed to find out who anyone else has picked yet (give me time and I will) I’ve also just found out today that one of our Directors has actually forgotten who he picked so it looks like someone is missing out on their present this year!

I have always been one of those people that have all their Christmas shopping done, all wrapped up before December has even begun and I feel this year will be no exception. I try and put lots of thought into what friend and family would want and I like to think I have quite good taste. My plan this year is to get everyone concert tickets just to make things easier, sadly I don’t think my choice of Kylie, Steps and Girls Aloud would suit all of them though!

Fylde's Got Talent

It’s almost that time again to start planning Fylde’s Got Talent 2013. The competition now in its 5^th year helps to provide a platform for local talent and also raises well deserved fund for local charities.   



Kurtis Reid meets Olly Murs - Lytham Proms 2012



This year’s Fylde’s Got Talent winner Kurtis Reid of South Shore, Blackpool won the competition back in April 2012 but it wasn’t until the 5^th August 2012 that his biggest achievement took place. This was when he performed in front of thousands prior to Olly Murs’ performance at Lytham Proms Festival Weekend.

Want to see what Kurtis is up to now? Then visit his brand new website which was kindly designed for him by Bernie Bradley Websites.

This years competition raised £1000 for Donna’s Dream House with a little help from local businesses who donated some fantastic raffle and winners prizes.





Cuffe & Taylor handover cheque for £1000

  

For your chance to win VIP tickets for each night of Lytham Proms 2013 then vote for Lytham Proms Festival Weekend in the Best Small Festival category of the UK Festival Awards.

Girls Aloud - I'll stand by you...

I have been hoping and praying for this moment for quite some time now and have not felt this excited since Kylie announced her ‘Aphrodite’ world tour. Yes, the moment has finally come that....

GIRLS ALOUD ARE GETTING BACK TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER TOUR! WOOOOOO!

 Now I know my over-excitement may come across sarcastic in the form of a blog but I genuinely am looking forward to the big comeback of Girls Aloud. I remember a similar feeling when ‘Steps’ reformed last year. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that Kylie, Girls Aloud and Steps are not everyone’s cup of tea (nor are ‘Hear’Say’ but that didn’t stop me loving them too) but for me, these artists were such a big part of my youth and yes, I am proud to be a follower second time around too.

 


Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite Tour 2012

  

When I went to see ‘Steps’ at the Manchester Arena earlier this year with 2 of my work friends I was unsure if the atmosphere would be the same as all those years ago when my mum took me to the same venue to watch their show in 2000. We were pleasantly surprised, the show was great, the atmosphere was great and this time around we were all old enough to have an adult drink - bonus! After the concert whilst I was still in the ‘Steps are amazing’ mode I would listen to their greatest hits album in my car. Although belting out some of the best songs of the 90’s was great, it just wasn’t quite the same as seeing the real thing live in concert surrounded by thousands of other fans! There is nothing quite as good as a live concert.

 

 

Lytham Proms Festival Weekend 2012





In my job at Cuffe & Taylor Event Management I got to work on some fantastic events over the summer of 2012, one of which was the Lytham Proms Festival Weekend. ‘Here & Now – The very best of the 80s’ was held on the Friday night of the Proms which had artists such as, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Toyah, Belinda Carlisle to name a few. Many of these artists haven’t been around for a good few years but this event brought together the best of the 80s for one big party. The atmosphere on this evening was just as electric as the Sunday nights Olly Murs concert and I can only imagine this is due to the audience reliving their youth all over again just like I did not so long ago with ‘Steps’.

Lytham Proms Festival Weekend has since been nominated for Best Small Festival in the UK Festival Awards. Behind the scenes my fellow employee’s are working hard confirming artists for next summer’s events. I wonder what Lytham Proms 2013 will bring....