I aim to start as I mean to go on and thought I would share a couple of our resolutions with you as they tie in very neatly with some great events we have developed ready for 2010.

· Think about the environment – we think the way forward is all about cutting carbon emissions, reducing the amount of miles travelled for delegates, recycling points and recycled products. Every little helps!

· Give a little back – We are really excited with the new CSR events that we have been developing. There are so many communities out there that need our help and here at Pretty Clever we have the ability to make it all happen. It really is a fabulous opportunity to team build, can be creative and is a fun day out of the office, it doesn’t break the bank AND gives something back to the community.

· Make more time – by investing in others you will raise morale and boost productivity. The same goes for building real relationships and rekindling those that have been in the background. It’s all about the people.

· Don’t spend unnecessarily – but what about the January sales?!!! Lets keep it real, I mean there can’t be that many people out there that hate shopping…can there?! (my business partner assures me there is). Me, I just love the sales and I love a bargain so with that in mind I’ve been working out ways of how we can extend this to our clients. We’ve got some great sales of our own going on, reductions on team building events, FREE venue finding and if that’s not enough what about our Open House Dining = little money, lovely locations and lots of fun. What’s more it will guarantee you a slap up dinner at a fraction of the cost AND you get to make new friends.

And you say you never find anything good in the sales…c all us and grab yourself a bargain!

I love what I do and the pleasure I get from a successful team building event. I am passionate about people, their development and how, by working as a team, we can realize our dreams and aspirations.

Anybody can ‘facilitate’ but it’s what the group gets out of it at the end of the session that is important. As a client “What message are you trying to get across”, “What is the objective of the day?”, “What is the group demographic like?, “What type of venue is required”, all of this needs to be delivered with motivation and boundless enthusiasm.

We offer a wide variety of activities, team building events and awaydays – whether your focus is about strategic thinking, reward, team bonding or a combination of all three delivery is the key.

I know very well how dull and uninspiring a badly organized event can be – physically draining in fact. It is for that very reason that I have made it my personal mission to create and develop a range of truly exciting team building events that promise to keep delegates engaged and, one hopes, put an extremely large smile on their faces!  

We’re always looking for new ideas and an injection of ‘Je ne sais Quoi”. So for the facilitators out there, if you think you might have what it takes to become a part of our team, or you have some weird and wonderful talent we can manipulate into an extraordinary team building event then please get in touch! And if you’re a potential client reading this then call, we have oodles of fun up our sleeves that we’re ready to share with you – heck, we can even offer you our free venue finding service in the process!

Cocktail masterclass, Drumming Workshop, The Degeneration Game, The Boxer, Trash To Treasure, Comedy Workshop, CSI Crime Investigation and much much more….

Your intrepid globe-trotting event planner here, reporting from EIBTM which is a show with not an unreasonable amount of upbeat attitude this year. It’s been a weird 2009 for the global meetings and events industry but having spoken to many people here, the feeling is one of quiet optimism, and many have even said it’s been a great show for them.

I’m here looking at lots of destinations around the world. With the weak pound versus the strong euro this year, we’ve had a rise in in-bound MICE business, something our sister company DMC Brighton (www.dmcbrighton.co.uk) handles, but inevitably this will swing back at some point so I want us to be well placed for this change. I’m trying to find new destinations, with interesting activities. Montenegro is grabbing me today, with its incredible scenery and great hotel rates. But there are exhibitors from every corner of the world here

You can now also follow us on the move with twitter – follow Pretty Clever www.twitter.com/prettycleverltd

View of the lake at Ashbourne House

I have just spent the most delightful day at a spectacular private 85 acre estate in East Sussex. Situated near Battle and set amidst rolling hills the Ashbourne Estate really did take my breath away and is one of those ‘best kept secrets’ that I am simply dying to tell you all about!

This venue provides exclusive corporate and private hospitality and allows you to both experience and enjoy the popular sports of clay pigeon shooting and flyfishing for trout.  If I’m honest I have to say I was a tad sceptical, I mean it was pouring with rain for starters so all in all not the prefect day to do any site visit outdoors, let alone one in the deepest depths of the English Countryside. Surprisingly though from the second I arrived I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ashbourne is an oasis and can accommodate everything you need! So my mobile phone was out of range (not such a bad thing to happen from time to time!) but if you did need to make contact with the outside world fear not there is a landline in the log cabin. The charming Dougie Chalmers greets all guests near the shooting lodge, then once briefed it’s time to test your skill, put the theory into practise and challenge your opponents. Lunch is simply divine, a beautiful marquee, a steady flow of fine wines and bubbly, delicious cuisine and good company all compliment the scenery perfectly.

The afternoon is about flyfishing and in my experience is something many have wanted to try in their life time but few have. Tie your own fly and catch yourself some fresh water trout to take home for your supper – it really is a super prize and don’t worry – it’s gutted, and packed nicely so all you have to do is season and pop in the oven! If this floats your boat (it did mine) and you fancy a day in the countryside that is special, different and healthily competitive then please, pick up the phone and I’ll happily tell you all about it and point you in the right direction! This is easily as fun as a box at the races and will probably save you a few pennies in the process!

The volks 'Daddy long legs' railways lines the shore from Brighton to Rottingdean

This amazing structure ran for barely one week before storms put it out of action. Magnus Volks picked up the bill and had it repaired, it was soon up and running again.

Daddy long legs train

Those crazy victorians! Brighton has always enjoyed an eccentric reputation, a real holiday atmosphere. This railway by Magnus Volk is just one very good example! You can still see the remenants of concrete footings if you walk out along black rock beach at low tide. This marvelously mad peice of engineering ran on electricity, provided by a telegraph pole that was erected to run alongside the lank railway carriage. Read more about the problems encountered and the eventual downfall here. ]]> http://www.dmcbrighton.co.uk/blog/2009/07/the-daddy-long-legs-train-that-ran-from-rottingdean-to-brighton-on-the-sea-bed/feed/ 0