Mrs M writes: much excitement, it's Neil's birthday. He claims to be 35 again but we're not sure we believe him. There was the usual tuneless rendering of Happy Birthday and then cutting of the cakes. Note plural. Also duly noted were the standard of the cakes. Very very smart which is only fitting obviously for a man of our Neil's stature. I'm talking professionally here of course. Anyway here is a very bad picture of the man himself cutting the posh cakes.

Get your cash ready! Wieden + Kennedy London is launching a range of three new products this month, in collaboration with Worldwide Co. and Suck UK.   The products will be sold in boutique gift shops and chain stores (including Paperchase and Urban Outfitters) and include:

•    HAPPY SACKS (Inc CHRISTMAS PUDDING BAGS* and PET GOLDFISH BIN BAGS
•    PASS THE SALT
•    DAN WIEDEN’S MUSICAL RULER

(*The CHRISTMAS PUDDING BAGS will launch nearer Christmas time. For obvious reasons.)

We worked with Worldwide Co. and Suck UK to turn the original concepts into viable commercial products.  We then licensed the ideas to manufacturers and distributors in return for a percentage royalty. So, we're trying to put a new business model into practice. Don't know whether it'll turn out to be a big earner, but it's a new venture into creating products and brands for ourselves rather than for clients.

The brainchild of Wieden + Kennedy’s co-founder Dan Wieden, the musical rulers are sold with a ‘play in a day’ guide book: a complete beginner’s guide to ruler-playing by Dan himself. We made a limited number of these before but now they're going to be made available to the general public.

 
This very traditional-looking salt pot has a secret.  Cunningly concealed in the base is a powerful pull-back-and-go motor.  Created in collaboration with Worldwide Co. the pots are perfectly geared to deliver salt across any dining table, and can be aimed precisely to trundle over to fellow diners.  Copy on the packs is as follows:

Fully functioning seasoning dispenser
Twist top to open
No batteries required
B.Y.O.S. (Bring your own salt)
Pull back in direction of dimple on base
Goes quite fast

The Christmas Pudding and Pet Goldfish bin bags have been created to make the boring chore of taking out the rubbish more artistic and fun – to bring a little happiness to the streets on collection day.  The copy printed on the bin bags is as follows:

Pet Goldfish Bags
Caution: Ginger, the fat tabby from number 23 may become mesmerised by the giant goldfish and spend days trying to fish them from the bag.  In the event of this happening shout, ‘SHOO!’

 
Christmas Pudding Bags:

Suggested uses (in order of ridiculousness):
1    Festive bin bags
2    Father Christmas sack for presents
3    Festive hot air balloon
4    Fake entry into giant Christmas Pudding competition

 
You can buy the bin bags online here.