We’ve had your cake and eaten it
The end of another year. Time to take stock, regroup and look back on the past 12 months. Here at EG Towers it has been a year of breaking news, exclusive interviews, international travel, investigative journalism and cake. So. Much. Cake. And plenty of other treats thanks to the rather marvellous property industry. To say thank you for every mini-muffin basket (you know who you are, Savills), metre-long chocolate bar and Halloween fudge brownie hamper – here is our very own calorific review of the year. Enjoy.
- Press day cookies: 260,000 calories
- Doughnuts (calculations on the basis that one doughnut accounts for 1.2m calories): 60m calories
- The never-ending 1.5 litre tub of lemon bonbons (thanks BCSC): 5,000 calories
- Cakes (including the cup and fairy varieties): 5,000 calories
- Muffins (mini or otherwise): 16,000 calories
- Colin the Caterpillar birthday cakes: 13,000 calories
- Company-branded sugar icing: 7,000 calories
- Miscellaneous hampers, baskets, tubs, jars, packets, parcels and boxes of treats (none of which we took as bribes, naturally): 673,000 calories
Thank you to each and every one of you for your contribution to EG’s bumper 60,999,000-calorie year.
Enough to warm a Frozen heart
Santa’s popularity has snowballed this year after a video of him using sign language to help a girl communicate her present choices went viral. The video shows toddler Mali Williams-Cody on the knee of the big guy in the red suit having a little chat. Two and half million YouTube hits later and the pair are on Facebook feeds the world over. If nothing else, this event proves the marketing team at New Frontier Properties’ Cleveland Centre in Middlesbrough, where the cute encounter took place, were very much on Santa’s nice list. The shopping centre has received attention the world over, with centre management said to be inundated with e-mails commenting on the video and queues for Santa stretching out of the door. And just when you think this story could not capture the spirit of Christmas any more, Mali was invited back to see Santa the following week, and was presented with a Frozen Elsa doll and a scooter, just as she’d wished. There is story to make a snowman melt.
Sir Lenny pops up again
Evidence is growing that Sir Lenny Henry harbours a secret passion for government policy affecting the property industry after the actor-comedian was once again found in the same vicinity as the British Property Federation. Last month Diary reported his unexpected visit to the BPF’s Community Infrastructure Levy seminar in Leeds. So BPF chief executive Melanie Leech was surprised to see him a short time later when she received her CBE from the Queen at Windsor Castle. He claimed to also be there to receive recognition for his services to drama and charity. A likely story.
Gritty glitz
Once again, this year’s EG Awards held at the Park Lane Hilton last week were awash with glitz and glamour. So what better way to add a touch of grit to the proceedings than with a graffiti wall? The London skyline – street art style – created the perfect backdrop for a photo opp. Nothing offsets a black tie outfit quite like a giant graffiti cheeseburger…
Craning for a festive view
Ever wondered what Birmingham city centre looks like from the top of the city’s tallest crane? Well, wonder no more. Sterling Property Ventures and Rockspring unveiled new images from the 330ft tower at 103 Colmore Row this week, where a 19-storey office block is under construction. Even the crane’s gib has been given a festive makeover with more than 9,000 flashing lights. James Howarth, managing director of Sterling, said: “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the start of our construction programme and the holiday season. Season’s greetings Birmingham!”
