That means a lot of work in Content Management Systems, HTML, Photoshop, InDesign…uploading, formatting, copying, pasting, saving, reformatting files, transferring fonts and files via USB ports and CDs as I switch from work PC to laptop at home… etc.

This also means that this week has seen me sighing alot, swearing at my computer and asking it questions like “What do mean ‘Error!?‘”,” Why? Why can’t you read that CD?”, “What did you just do with that file?” and most often than not, “Why are you doing this to me you piece of…!?”

I’ve come to think that my computer is well aware of its effect on my stress levels, and actually takes a degree of pleasure in making my life difficult. So it would not surprise me if the next time a glitch occurs I get this message…

Have a good weeekend.

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

If I’m honest, I felt completely out of place and a little bit wary. But I soon found that I was amongst some of the friendliest, politest people I’ve ever met, and if you ignored the death-like roaring, growling and shouting, the music was pretty good too. Never having seen real-life head-banging before, that was something of an experience to watch (especially when someone kindly demonstrated ‘the windmill’ – their hair must have needed some serious brushing afterwards). In the end, I had one of the best nights out I’ve had in a while and I could definitely be persuaded to go again. In fact, The Intrepid Fox just up Tottenham Court Road is known for its metal music so I might be heading up there one day soon…

It seems the old saying is right after all.

Louise Watson, Editor

An example of a book I picked up solely because of the cover.  It lept out at me - how could anyone miss these big and bold colours?  The bright pink, offset by a softer band of blue, plus the contrasting yellow of the title - it all works brilliantly together. And then, once your eyes fall on the image, that simple yet odd juxtaposition of a rhino with the city as a backdrop is intriguing.

In fact, it is a very odd novel and it wouldn’t still be amongst ‘the chosen ones’ on my overflowing bookshelf at home. But it’s kept its place because I adore the cover (not to mention it adds a bit of flair to the shelf!)

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

Want to flag up a cover for our Wednesday Cover Story? Write to chiara@allisonandbusby.com with your thoughts

Set in a stunning nature reserve in Wyoming, Kindness Ranch is a sanctuary for abused animals or those that have been used for medical research. The scenery is just breathtaking and the animals, all looking for new homes, range from dogs, cats, horses to sheep and even pigs. I’m a sucker for chocolate-eyed labs, so one of her Emma’s story gets a highlight here.

Emma’s Story: Emma will touch your heart. She is a very gentle and shy Treeing Walker Coonhound Lab mix who spent much of the first year of her life in a laboratory. She will be ready for adoption in the future, but at the moment she needs additional time and socialization at the ranch. She loves to romp and play with her dog friends, but she is still rather nervous around people. We are working with her on a daily basis to bring more joy to her life and to help her build trust in people.

Lara Crisp, Managing Editor

Today, in amongst the usual post that arrived at 13 Charlotte Mews (and the not so usual - a Russian food delivery service also caught my eye…) was a leaflet from the NHS Blood Donation people. Now I am the not- so-proud possessor of a Donor card given that in the past 6 or so years I have given blood precisely…once. That was in Wiltshire.

Since I moved to the big smoke, I have done absolutely nothing more about it, having got the impression somehow that I wouldn’t be able to make any of the donation sessions around work hours. Enter leaflet advertising their newly refurbished flagship blood donor centre two minutes from Oxford Street and therefore a stone’s throw from the office. Opening times 8.00am – 7.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am – 3.30pm on a Friday. I’ll be making my appointment shortly…

Click here for more information on where to give blood.

Lesley-Anne Crooks, Sales & Digital Manager

This book - a collection of quirky, funny and imaginative poems inextricably tied to wonderful illustrations - was my childhood Bible. I can not tell you how many hours of life I have spent pouring through the pages, rereading favourite bits, reciting the poems off by heart, marvelling at the drawings, at the ideas. It is probably responsible for making me want to write, to draw, to be creative and for making me love the absurd. It was published the very year I was born (1978), was given to me some years after, and has held a very special place on my bookshelf ever since.

To even conceive that this gem of a book might not have ever officially crossed the Atlantic - well, it would simply never have crossed my mind.  If only it had… in fact, I feel slightly dejected at the thought that I missed an opportunity to champion it here.

On that note, I had better go check the UK publication status of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories…

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

On the film tie-in cover the face of actress Noomi Rapace, playing Lisbeth’s character, is clearly pictured front and centre. On the original paperback cover, Lisbeth’s face is hidden.

It highlights the common trait (and deliberate move) to hide people’s faces on book covers. The characters on the covers are, more often than not, pictured in the distance, or facing away from the reader, or cropped at the neck (see countless historical novels eg. see our own Young Bess) or blurred in some way. Because effectively the beauty of books is that the reader will conjure up their own unique picture in their heads as they turn the pages, and formulate their own image of a character in their mind. Films, as visual mediums, of course do not let you do that. Directors and producers have picked their one vision and present it boldly to you.

I wonder, for those of you who read the book before seeing the film, how different Noomi is from the Lisbeth you imagined in your heads?

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

Want to flag up a cover for our Wednesday Cover Story? Write to chiara@allisonandbusby.com with your thoughts

I’m a bit of a sucker for market research. A few years ago I remember being very pleased with myself when I got paid to spend an hour talking about women’s deodorant, but hey, that’s just me. I also spent hours in a MRA scanner doing brain experiments at university, an easy way to make money flat on your back…but I digress.

So, as well as the likes of YouGov and OnePoll that I’ve signed up for with the distant promise of a cheque in the post for having given my considered (ahem) opinion on brands or the state of our prisons, I’ve added a much more fun candidate to the list. Do I Like It is an online community that is primarily geared towards vineyards… getting the opinions on a range of wine-related subjects in return for some free wine to sample. As well as tasting questions, they are interested in hearing views on subjects from the screw-cap versus traditional cork debate to reflections on the colour of a certain variety of grape.

Sign me up for that! And so can you by visiting their website here!

Lesley-Anne Crooks, Sales & Digital Manager

Afterwards, I found him alone at the bar
and asked him what went wrong. It’s the shirt,
he said. When I pull it on it hangs on my back
like a shroud, or a poisoned jerkin from Grimm
seeping its curse onto my skin, the worst tattoo.
I shower and shave before I shrug on the shirt,
smell like a dream; but the shirt sours my scent
with the sweat and stink of fear. It’s got my number.
I poured him another shot. Speak on, my son. He did.
I’ve wanted to sport the shirt since I was a kid,
but now when I do it makes me sick, weak, paranoid.
All night above the team hotel, the moon is the ball
in a penalty kick. Tens of thousands of fierce stars
are booing me. A screech owl is the referee.
The wind’s a crowd, forty years long, bawling a filthy song
about my Wag. It’s the bloody shirt! He started to blub
like a big girl’s blouse and I felt a fleeting pity.
Don’t cry, I said, at the end of the day you’ll be back
on 100K a week and playing for City.

Carol Ann Duffy

Louise Watson, Editor

But when a friend of mine sent me her wedding photos recently, I was snapped out of white dress ennui. Up and coming photographer, Paul de Vries, is making a name for himself in the industry, and even an untrained eye like mine can see why. The photos are a really wonderful mix of happy, spur of the moment shots as well as the more conventional portraits.

Have a browse of his website and you’ll understand my enthusiasm: www.pdvphotography.co.uk
And for those feeling broody, there are some gorgeous bump and baby pics too.

Lara Crisp. Managing Editor