'Heineken The Date'

One of my favourite memories of my early days in Bangkok was sipping on a cold beer on a warm day in the family room, watching Allan and Aimee (then just ankle-biters) play. Beer never tasted so good.

It is no longer my favourite drink but I still enjoy downing one in a pub, by the beach or on a hot day.

Beer ads range from corny to slick and I have to say that Heineken's new ad, The Date, is slick and stylish. Second in the Open Your World campaign from Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam, it features the 'Heineken legend' (Guillaume Dolmans)showing off to his date (Samantha Rex, lead sing of The Attic Ends.

In between his antics in the kitchen of an Asian restaurant, we're treated to clips from inside the restaurant where a band has the crowd rockin' rollin' n jivin'.

Lots of Chinese in the ad, LA-stype showgirls, a Heineken "magic trick" and (almost) something of everything but funnily enough, it is a popular 1960s Indian song, "Jaan Pehechan Ho", that has the crowd dance dance dancing away.

It's fast-paced, cleverly choreographed and definitely entertaining. And, of course, the beer is great.

'Couple reveals surprising cause of domestic disharmony '

I love it.

In typical English fashion, the double entendre (the English are the masters of it) is so well done. It kicks off thus:

Says he: she always wants to do it in the evening... at night. I'd prefer it if we did it in the mornin'.

She: But we don't have time in the mornin'...... He thinks I'm barmy coz I always like to finish up with ..... spoons.

She: So, what.....

He: Well, it just takes longer.

And on it goes ....

She: What is wrong with doing it straight after Sunday lunch.... nobody bothering us, no work to go to....

There is role playing, she finally having to finish it off herself (because he does such a bad job of it) and ending up with her bent over the sink!!!!

Laughter will be forthcoming even if you promise yourself otherwise.

And the punchline? The root causes of domestic disagreements are not always what you'd expect.

This is a great campaign.

C'mon, if you are in Britain, this is your chance to win a dishwasher every week. Just click on the link.

'St George Bank: Home Loans'

St George Bank has come up with a pretty good campaign to promote its home loans division.

Making good use of local experts, they're giving people interested in property (whether as a family home or an investment) a snapshot of various people-friendly areas, including helpful information on how things have been moving i.e. buying/selling/auction clearance rates, etc and what makes these areas tick.

In this clip, property reporter Biance Hartge explores the multicultural mecca of Hurstsville, in Sydney's south with the help Domenic Papaluca of St George Bank.

Hmmmm, have to check out whether they have done this for Perth. Aimee will be interested, I am sure.

'Whatever It Takes! Hilarious new web series'

How far have you gone - or would you go - to get what you want?

“Whatever it takes”, a hilarious new web series, shows you how far a bloke would go to get a telly in the bedroom, for example.

The series, sponsored by Haier UK(a white goods brand) is full of typical English humour and also offers viewers a chance to win some big prizes by playing the game. Simply like the Haier UK Facebook page and for the prizes, play the game!

'Blackberry Brand Engagement'

I'm sitting in a cafe in Bangkok. I'm standing in the Skytrain. I'm just one of thousands in a mall. And every other man and his dog (correction: young girls, business types, nerds and hunks, as well as chunks) has his (her) eyes glued to a BB. A BB Torch; a BB Curve; a BB Bold

Conversations have been known to centre on where they got theirs from, oohs and aahs over the latest model and all its accompanying apps, and short bursts of silence as everyone reads the latest Tweet or whatever from a mate.

I must admit that when it comes to stuff like this, I'm about three steps behind the rest. It's not that I don't like snazzy-looking gadgets but eight-ninths of the time, I don't even scroll through the apps on my very modest phone.

But that has all changed. I now have my very own BB, courtesy of my son, Allan. Watch out BB people, here I come.

'Inspired to Perform - Team GB by adidas by Stella McCartney'

I wonder whether Stella McCartney, as a little girl, ever dreamt that one day she would be known the world over not only as the daughter of her famous Beatle dad but as a leading young designer?

Or become a leading young designer who would join forces with a sportswear giant to create a "performance range that was both functional and luxurious"?

In a space of only a few years, this clever cookie's brand of style has given Adidas a range of contemporary activewear collections covering running, yoga and tennis outfits.

Well, now she has added another feather in her Adidas cap, by designing the Adidas Team GB collection.

According to Adidas, McCartney's appointment as Creative Director for Team GB "was with the vision to produce an inspirational range of products that unites the nation. The collaboration brings together the sporting technology and innovation that only adidas can bring with the unique style and creative direction of Stella McCartney".

"This limited edition lifestyle collection is inspired by Team GB athletes and by an array of Olympic Sports including Running, Sailing and Boxing. There is also a gold story running through the collection with foil print appearing across tanks, tees, hoodies and accessories."

You can discover, and purchase, any of the Team GB outfits by clicking the hotspot areas as they appear throughout the film.

It is a pretty impressive clip, definitely worth watching.

And yes, McCartney still comes up with her own fantastic non-sporty "feminine, delicate, romantic yet chic and rocker influenced designs".

'The Jammie Dodger monkey dance-off'

Have you ever treated your tastebuds to a Jammie Dodger?

If you haven't, then you are definitely missing something.

These shortbread biscuits with jam, toffee and choc flavours are a treat.

So, how do you promote them?

Make monkeys of them, of course.

So, come on, watch the Jammie Dodger monkeys - Jammie, Toffee and Choccie - doing their thing in their down time during the launch of their new biscuit.

Jammie Dodgers aren't the only yummy edibles produced by Burton Foods (a bit of trivia - according to Wikipedia, Jammie Dodgers are produced in their factory in Cwmbran - try pronouncing that!!). They also make Cadbury chocolates, Cadbury Fingers & Digestives, Wagon Wheels, and a couple more I've not had the pleasure of sampling.

But if you want more monkey mischief, get stuck into it on the YouTube channel.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. Just jam the night away as you get stuck into those Dodgers.

'AEG Grassroots Rugby Campaign Video'

Sport is always great publicity... which is why the big guns are happy to pump big bucks into campaigns, national and international.

Take this AEG campaign for example.

England rugby legends Will Greenwood & Austin Healey lend their speaking talents to AEG's latest campaign aimed apparently at rugby buffs and mums!

The AEG Ultimate Kit & Laundry Package is there for the taking by 50 grassroots rugby teams in the UK.

Not only that, if you enter the competition (open to all clubs and schools in Britain with under-16 teams) to win one of 50 Samurai rugby kit packages and a top-of-the-range AEG washer & dryer, your mob could be in the running to claim the ultimate prize - to train with Martin Johnson's England team! Now, fancy that!

Lots of prizes to be won but the one every family would covet would have to be the all-expenses paid trip for the gang to the five-star ForteVillage in Sardinia!!!

In the meantime, you have a chance to upload a picture of your team looking scruffy and muddy on the pitch to the AEG Grassroots Facebook page!!

Have fun!

'Range Rover Evoque - Being Henry'

BEING HENRY - the latest offering from the Range Rover Evoque Pulse of the City project - is Land Rover's first ever fully interactive online film.

It is an interactive Hollywood-inspired action-love-fantasy-comedy-adventure about choices; there are nine different storylines and 32 different endings. Phew.

The story begins with our hero Henry, played by Leo Fitzpatrick from "The Wire", who is an everyman-type character forced to make various decisions during his journey that lead him into all kinds of different realities.

It is quite cleverly done with the viewer being presented with a number of life changing choices. "Will they choose to shoot rats with Granny? Or lead Henry to be kidnapped then tortured with a harpoon gun? Cleverly, the film takes the choices that the consumer makes on behalf of Henry and translates them seamlessly into their perfect Evoque. Through subtle colour, situational and emotional references the film effectively takes elements of the consumer's personality and uses them to present them with their fully personalised car."

To quote the director, "creative interactivity is the future of really engaging with and respecting consumers".

Watch the clip and see whether you agree. Also, where will you end up?

By the way, Range Rover buffs will be pleased to know that the Evoque offers more personalisation choices than any other Land Rover. Way to go.

'New 5X Mutant Gum'

Are you one of those moviegoers who just cannot get enough of the X-Men? Or perhaps (like me) just Hugh Jackman?

Well, you are going to love X-Men First Class (minus Jackman), shot in England and parts of the U.S., which charts the beginning of the mutant saga and also portrays younger versions of Marvel characters.

To view the trailer, simply visit www.x-menfirstclassmovie.com

However, you can be part of the First Class, too - in a sense.

Courtesy of Wrigley's new 5X Gum, you can discover your mutant power and create your very own mutant.

How? Just go to http://www.5xmutantgum.com/

Already, more than 6,700 mutants have been created. Are you game to join the clan?

'Watsky's G.O.A.T speed rap with special guest performance!'

If you did not know, George Watsky is this young poet and rapper from San Fransisco known for his speedy flow.

Well, Samsung decided to make the most of Watsky's pretty amazing talent by getting him to guide viewers through the features of their zippy compact SH100 digital camera.

It is without a doubt the world’s fastest HOW-TO GUIDE! So, you really have to listen carefully as this pale kid with a trigger-happy rap delivers all the features the pretty cool SH100 has to offer!

Wow, looks like those appearances on the Ellen Degeneres show are paying off.

'Woodland Bluebells'

This is blooming marvellous ....

Do you remember the days when you used to play in a nearby wood, or scrubland, creating your own make-believe world of fairies and elves and other magical beings?

I do. More than two score years ago, with a cousin several times removed, I used to climb nearby "hills" looking in nooks and crannies for "little folk" because I truly believed in them.

Peter was my knight in shining armour, battling dragons and other monsters. Those days are long gone, and Peter and I lost touch in later years but some memories, although faded, linger.

I used to love Enid Blyton's books and many years later plunged myself into the fantasy worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, Raymond Feist, David Eddings, Eric Lustbader et al.

Growing up in Singapore, I never had the pleasure of wading knee deep in a field of bluebells or lying on a woodland carpet to gaze through mighty oaks and elms at sunbeams or a star-strewn sky.

Those of you in cooler climes and countries like England, well, if you have never done so, you should be ashamed of yourselves, especially with the abundance of nature's gifts at springtime.

So, whatever you may have planned this spring, make a date in your nearest bluebell woodland - with your family, your children, your friends or maybe just a cousin to relive figments of your childhood imagination.

In a bluebell wood, beauty is actually knee deep ...

You can download your bluebell guide simply by clicking on the video or to find your nearest bluebell wood simply enter your postcode on the link.

Go on ... you may even find an elf or two....


** This is a sponsored post.

For a magical encounter, watch the clip and click on the link woods.org.uk

'Thank You from Winalot'

Certainly would not consider meself a dog person but you would not think so, if you've had the misfortune to see me out and about for the past nearly three months.

Like clockwork at about eightish every morning, together with the most adorable toy poodle that answers to the name Peanut, I'm pounding the pavements along the Palm Jumeirah (in Dubai, of course).

Peanut never fails to amuse - like the ever-ready bunny, he's champing at the leash to prove his doghood the minute he spies another canine, big or really tiny. It lasts all of a minute at most because he does a runner as soon as he throws down the gauntlett. Even the rustle of a plastic bag can make him jump!

Well, so much for Peanut.

Here, we have all manner of dogs doing quite a lot to a delightful ditty (well, it almost could be sung) or dotty rhyme .... I especially adore the bassett at sea, ears flapping and all.

Courtesy of Purina, it's a special thank you from Winalot for dogs we love a lot!

If you're in the UK, make sure you enter the draw for the 250 pounds weekly prize by clicking on the link.

'Continental Safety'

An ad about tyres ...

Most men can spend ages just checking out any and every thing cars or have their eyes glued to the box if a motor show, rally or race is on.

OK, we women do the same but for girlier things of course and, anyway, what's hot and what's not, celebrity buzz and Gossip Girl (not MY cup of tea) ARE much more fun than, say, tyre talk. Right?

Well, this Continental ad has you, the woman, the wife, the mother, in mind. So, check it out....

'The Red Bull ads you won't see on TV'

I had Red Bull once, albeit not knowingly.

It was at a party in Dubai a year or so ago and some young man was kind enough to make me a drink.

It had me reeling and I don't reel easily from a mere two or three shots of vodka. The happy-go-lucky lad - himself quite juiced - had made me a half and half. Half a glass of vodka and half a glass of Red Bull. I could have flown all night!

Remember the weird and (some say) wonderful TV ads created by the crew over at Red Bull over the years?

The one where a man flies up and let's a bird have it from above definitely comes to mind.

To quote Unruly Media, "not surprisingly some of those ads have drawn a lot of complaints and had to be pulled down! For a very limited time we got the opportunity to snatch these off, which people have referred to as: 'disgusting', 'repulsive', 'should be banned' ads... so enjoy! And pass the word around..."

Of course we will ..... when pigs fly.

Twitter - @redbullAUS
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/redbull
URL - http://redbull.com.au

'No to AV'

On May 5, Britons vote in the AV referendum. According to news reports, tensions have been boiling over on both sides of the controversial issue.

Many say that Alternative Voting "is a divergence from the British electoral system that has served" the nation and claim that it is unfair because the person who comes in third can actually win.

So, if you are British and not sure about how to vote in the AV referendum, you really should watch this clip, sponsored by the Conservative Party, to see how AV works and why you should vote ‘No’.