They just can't get her out of their heads
Thinking of Kylie Minogue is the top way for men to stay awake in business meetings, according to new research by Holiday Inn. Other popular ways to pass the time include imagining everyone in the room naked, playing wink murder, or footsie under the table. A spokeswoman for Holiday Inn said the research had given the hotel chain "invaluable insight" into what goes on in meetings. Any ideas how to use this vital information on a postcard please.
Beer love and spill the beans
Sue Harrison at the House of Commons is no lover of journalists. The director of catering gave Table Talk a right ticking off for an item we ran last summer. A brewery had doubled its beer orders to the Commons. We joked that politicians were too busy getting the next round in to run the country properly. The nationals got hold of it, and before you knew it, stories about MPs sinking too many pints were all over papers. "It caused me a lot of aggravation," she bellowed. "Who wrote it?" Um... er... came the embarrassed reply before Sue added ominously: "You know who it is, don't you, but you're protecting them."
A slip, a trip and a large helping of chips
Most of us already suspected that chips are bad for your health. We didn't know quite how bad until a recent court case. A teacher who slipped on a chip at the appropriately named King Edward VI high school in Stafford won £44,659 High Court damages. Carol Harper, 57, was going down some stairs when she slipped on the deep-fried slice of King Edward and fell eight steps. She fractured a bone in her ankle, was off work for a year, and eventually had to retire.
Two scoops for Debbie
No one expects the manager of a hotel to get the dirty jobs, but hats off to Debbie Goodall, manager of Britain's first purpose-built hotel for blind people, the Russell hotel, in Bognor Regis. Among more senior duties, she has the honour of taking care of the "spend area". For those not in the know, that is where the guide dogs spend a penny. Who says that management never get the crap jobs?
Love in a colder climate
Move over Paris, Venice, and Prague. Ramada Jarvis hotels reports that Norwich, Ramsgate and Chichester were this year's hot Valentines's Day destinations. Norwich, more famous for Alan Partridge and the Canaries than love birds, reported 90% occupancy, Ramsgate 100% and Chichester 72%. Who said romance is dead? Men made more than two-thirds of bookings.
Secure, but armless
The very day security at Heathrow was severely stepped up, it was comforting to visit the HCIMA and see a huge green military lorry parked outside. Had the association called in extra security to protect their smart new offices in Sutton? Nothing so alarming. The RAF provided a splendid lunch at the opening ceremony and the lorry contained more appetisers than armaments.