No Award at the North East Digital Awards

Thursday night last week saw Judith Middleton (Judith's Divorce Blog) and Social Networking Guineapig at the North East Digital Awards 2007.

The awards were held at the Hyena Club. We wandered in after taking a sip of complimentary bubbly and sat ourselves near the exit as it was VERY warm.

The awards were billed to provide a networking opportunity but the set up in the Hyena Club did not lend itself to this. There were very long tables packed very closely together. Once you were sat down, you were basically "stuck".

Food was served - in a box, fish, chips and mushy peas - again not ideal for networking. Fish and chips were followed by...cheesecake (and I wondered why I had indegestion!)

The awards were late to start but when they did it was all over and done wit in about 20 mins.

Social Networking Guineapig did not win an award - here is the press and list of the winners. Winners were provided with a paper certificate. Woohoo! The overall winners received a small glass trophy/award which was not given to them when they were initially called on stage. The glass awards made an appearance at a photo opportunity at the close of the awards.

I did expect a slightly more glamorous ceremony where we would learn why the winners were made winners - this is what would interest me.

All the above apart, congratulations to all of the winners and a pat on the back for all those shortlisted. You never know, they may "glam" it up for 2009!

Celebrity Couples & Amicable Divorces

Divorce Drawbacks
Originally uploaded by Architectural Orphans

Half of marriages in England and Wales could end in divorce - usually a hostile divorce!

It's time to look at how "switched on" celebrity couples seek an amicable alternative to bitter divorce battles such as the Heather Mills and Paul McCartney case.

Many celebrity couples are embracing collaborative law or mediation to resolve their differences.

Robin Williams Divorce

Chantelle & Preston Divorce

Abramovich Divorce

Chris Evans & Billie Piper

Judith Middleton, Partner at Latimer Hinks provides further information here - Celebrity Couple & Amicable Divorces

More information can be found hereDivorces_ How You Can Work It Out

North East Digital Awards - Time Out of the Office

Social Networking Guineapig (shortlisted in the awards for best use of blogging) and fellow blogger Judith (of Judith's Divorce Blog) will be attending the North East Digital Awards Ceremony today at the Hyena Club in Newcastle.

Apparently there is a VJ playing. I thought the invitations had a typo error, but on clarification it seems, they haven't! According to Wikipedia as VJ is a performance artist who creates moving visual art on large displays or screens.

I'm sure it will be interesting to watch, but it certainly makes me feel old!

I remember DJ's - my attendance at discos and raves seem so far back in the past that the details are hazy... but, I can now try to impress my neices with my up to the minute knowledge of VJ's and feel like a citizen of the 21st century!

Wish the Social Networking Guineapig luck!

Latimer Hinks Launches HIPs Services

You either love them or hate them but it looks like Home Information Packs are here to stay.

Since 14 December 2007 every home put on the market, no matter what size, must have a Home Information Pack.

The pack brings together key information needed by buyers and sellers at the start of the process and ensures that details regarding energy efficiency are made available every time a property is sold.

Latimer Hinks is now one of a small number of law firms throughout England and Wales currently providing HIPs.

Prices start from £275 inc VAT

Click to check out further information on Home Information Packs

Racey Donations for the Latimer Hinks Charity Ball

The Latimer Hinks Charity Ball is nearly upon us! I'm spending my days chasing guest lists, wine lists, donations - basically running around like a headless chicken.

I could do with a speedy sports car (preferably a convertible now that the weather has warmed up) to collect donations for the ball.

Talking of cars S G Petch and Teesside Audi have been very generous the have donated weekend use of two fabulous cars!

We're using the Mazda RX8 as a first prize in the casino. The top 4 gamblers will receive a prize and the Mazda will be first.

Teesside Audi have donated an "Audi of your choice" - yes, of your choice! I think i'd have to go with the Audi TT cabriolet (and no kids would be allowed). This prize has been placed into the auction and will be "auctioned off" with a game of golf, lunch, spa treatments and dinner at Headlam Hall near Darlington.

SG Petch and Teesside Audi are going to "place" their cars in front of Wynyard Hall - i'm sure they'll look spectacular!

Latimer Hinks to Recognise Unsung Heroes - who would you nominate?

Once again Latimer Hinks Solicitors and Horwath Clark Whitehill (accountants) are jointly sponsoring the Durham and Tees Valley Charity Awards.

This is the 2nd year of the Charity Awards with the first being extremely successful.

The Awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of dedicated fundraisers throughout Durham & Tees Valley.

We’re looking for nominations for the following awards:
· Local Branch of National Charity
· Local Charity
· Volunteer of the Year
· Fundraiser of the Year
· Business Supporter of the Year
· Animal Charity
· Elderly Charity
· Children & Young People’s Charity
· Disability Charity

So, f you have a charity in mind that you would like to nominate take a look at the website Durham & Tees Valley Charity Awards for guidlelines and further information. Also see our press release Local Charities to be Recognised

The charities have of course, got to be in it to win it - so thinking caps on - who would you nominate?

Johnny Wilkinson, Matthew Tait - the whole Newcastle Falcons Squad in one room - a great day out of the office!

A while back I contacted Newcastle Falcons in the hope that they could help in providing an auction prize for the Latimer Hinks Charity Ball.

I was, to say the least very excited to receive an invitation to attend a Charity Signing Day at the Falcons Stadium. The invitation extended to one other person attending so I "dragged" along Rosie (one of our solicitors with a keen interest in rugby).

The whole squad were there to sign (including the guys who played for England - Johnny Wilkinson, Matthew Tait...etc). They were all sat at tables and we had to work our way around following the t-shirt on it's way - it was such hard work - not!

It was quite hectic and I would imagine that there were around 100 people in the room waiting for signed memorabilia.

Rosie and I decided to purchase the black home shirt and proceeded to walk around the tables. The rugby shirt moved quicker than us and when we arrived for the last player's autograph our rugby shirt was nowhere to be found!

We were shocked! This was after all a Charity Signing Day to benefit charities and someone had taken not one shirt but at least 4 others. Disgraceful!

We all tracked down the staff and explained the situation. After much searching we were all provided with a different rugby shirt that had already been signed.

This rugby shirt will provide a great auction prize which of course we hope will sell for "lots of money" (i haven't a clue how much) and... it was a great day out of the office!

However, this not the only sports donation that Latimer Hinks have received.

We also have 2 signed footballs, one for Middlesbrough FC and the other Newcastle UFC and we are very grateful for all.

Women & Blogging - what would you give up?

Recently BlogHer and Compass Partners co-sponsored a US study that provides insights into women who blog and women who read blogs.

Apparently:
36.2 million women write and read blogs every week and of these approximately half
consider blogs reliable source of information.

I find this fact a little unsettling. Blogging is more about exchanging thoughts and opinions than about facts. You're free to say what you want to say in the way that you want to say it.

It is great to take on board others opinions, they can show a subject from a different angle - but unless you are reading a blogger with authority on a subject (see Judith's Divorce Blog) then what you are reading should not be assumed to be correct.

Here are some light hearted results from the survey - women would give something up to keep the blogs they read and/or write:
- 55% would give up alcohol
- 50% would give up their PDAs
- 42% would give up their i-Pod
- 43% would give up reading the newspaper or magazines
BUT, some things are sacred … only 20% would give up chocolate!

You'll find the full survey here and a link to the actual presentation

Social Networking Guineapig Made the Shortlist!

Frank in a hat
Originally uploaded by mushyp

Just thought i'd let you know.... Social Networking Guineapig has been shortlisted for the North East Digital Awards. We're in the Digital Users/Marketing/Best Use of Blogging category.

Entrants were responsible for "getting votes" and social networking sites provided the opportunity to reach a wide audience in a limited period of time.

So thank you to all who "took the time" and voted! I'll let you know how we get on after the Awards Ceremony 15th May 2008.

That week will be hectic - the Latimer Hinks Charity Ball takes place the following evening, so lot's of preparing to do before hand!

The Power of Social Networking - $700,000 in 4 days

money
Originally uploaded by Dmitry Kolchev

Social Networking can be an extremely powerful tool for businesses. It's becoming an important part of everyday life, and this is set to continue. Facebook, LinkedIn, Bebo etc will have to work hard to retain their position in this fast paced industry as new Social Networking sites evolve.

I have recently used Social Networking sites to promote Judith's Divorce Blog and Social Networking Guineapig's entries into the North East Digital Awards - we should see in a months time how effective this has been.

The Latimer Hinks Charity Ball has also been promoted via this method - and it's working. Businesses have contacted Latimer Hinks to offer prizes, free services etc - and of course social media promotion will be of great benefit to the charities.

Although the above efforts have been relatively successful they pale into insignificance when you read about 19 year old Michael Treinen who is fighting for his life. He needs a $500,000 bone marrow transplant. With only a few days to raise money to cover the costs, the Treinan family turned to email, asking friends and family to donate $20 within three days and forward the email to 20 friends.

Four Days; $700,000 Social Networking Works.

This is such a powerful "spirit lifting" story that i just had to share it -you can count on friends, and friends arethe basis for the majority of Social Networking sites - this is why they are so successful!