Archive for May, 2010

Day Five: The Final Countdown

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Our intrepid duo have done it – David Blood, MD of Posture People and Tim Clewes from BMA have walked all the way around the Isle of Wight, carrying all their kit and a few collected quite a few blisters along the way.

Tim Clewes from BMA in CowesDavid Blood from Posture People in Cowes

But along the way due to a tremendous effort they have raised over £1500 for the British Heart Foundation and Parkinsons Disease.

Congratulations to both of them!

Day four: Blisters & dodgy knees

Friday, May 21st, 2010

Another 15 miles day from Brightstone to Yarmouth and there are reports that the blisters are still growing.  We do have pictures but maybe best not to publish them on this blog.

Both Tim and David are starting to feel the pain now, and David was unfortunately hit with his right knee swelling up badly, but still managed to find time to chat to the locals

Also today was the day when the intrepid duo went past one of the Isle of Wight’s most famous sights – The Needles.

8 hours after they set off a very weary pair made it to final stop – The Jireh House.

Day three: The pain kicks in

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Posture People’s MD, David Blood is now officially tired!  Today’s walk was the longest so far, 15 miles from Shanklin to Brighstone.  But with reports of the blisters growing larger, and a very challenging cliff walk,  it was always going to be tough.

After another hearty breakfast Tim Clews (BMA) and David set off, but were soon faced with the first challenge 152 steps up the cliff face.  However there were a few highlights along the way with views like this near Ventnor.

The pace has slowed considerably during the day and both were very pleased to reach Blackgang Chine to stop for lunch and a chance to take the walking boots off.

At 4pm David and Tim reckoned they still had another 2 hours of walking to go until the reached their next stop.  The Seven Hotel in Brighstone.  But once there they were rewarded with a welcome sight – a bath in their rooms which doubled as an ice cold foot spa for the first hour after arrival.

David had this comment to make at the end of the day “This is honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve got a blister on my right heel about the size of a 20 pence piece, but we’ve only got two days to go now, so it feels like we are on the downward slope.”

Day Two: Ryde to Shanklin

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Today the walk started in ernest, with a 13.5 mile walk from Ryde to Shanklin.  But of course the day had to start off with breakfast.

Yes there is a touch of irony in eating a breakfast that’s likely to cause a heart attack whilst raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

But once the walk was under way the breakfast soon got walked off and our intrepid duo were rewarded with views like this.

However at the end of 13.5 miles there were reports of blisters and very sore shoulders from carrying the rucksacks.  But the fantastic welcome at the lovely Belmont Hotel made it all worth while.

What are the financial considerations when you move office?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

If you are just at the start of contemplating your office move, you may be wondering what you need to factor in when allocating your budget. Our expert team at Posture People have outlined all of the key areas you need to consider before relocating and obtaining relevant quotes.

First question to ask yourself is do you really need to move? This may sound palpable, but relocating offices can be a huge expense and possibly one that should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary.  If you consider your current space, are you utilising it as effectively as you could be? Often a professional space planning service can help you re-assess what you have already got, and ultimately, put it to better use.

After you’re positive that moving is the best option, it is a good idea to devise a relocation budget. Here are several important examples of what to include:

  • Dilapidations to your existing premises. When you move out of a building, depending on the type of lease you signed originally, you may well have to pay for repairs to the building or return it to the original state/layout before you depart.
  • Professional fees, such as solicitors and management fees.
  • Fitting out the new office. It is highly unlikely that everything will be in exactly the right place when you move in. So, you will need to consider the cost of electrics, phone and broadband lines, partitioning and installation of extra rooms, such as boardrooms and kitchens if they are not already there.
  • Furniture. Will you be taking your old furniture in which case there will be removal costs or are you installing new furniture?  If you are opting for new furniture allow plenty of time for ordering as it can take up to six weeks for furniture to arrive.
  • Post move there will be marketing costs, such as new stationary, updates to corporate literature and informing your clients of your new address. Don’t forget that whenever you make a major alteration to an employee’s workspace they should have a DSE assessment. This ensures that you are complying with health and safety regulations.

The final piece in the relocation puzzle is how this project will be financed. Most moves are either funded out of capital expenditure or more and more companies now look to lease their refurbishment costs.  Leasing can offer an attractive alternative as the costs can be spread over a three or five year period preserving cash flow.

You can contact us for further bespoke, friendly advice on moving office, including office space planning, reception design and consultancy.

Dave’s really long walk for Charity off to a flying (or sailing) start

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Posture People’s MD David Blood has now started his really long walk for charity, and thanks to modern technology can keep us updated on his progress.   As many of you will know David is walking round the Isle of Wight (carrying all his kit, no sherpa’s here) in 4.5 days.  It’s 67 miles from start to finish, along the way David is hoping to raise over £1000 for the British Heart Foundation.  David is walking with Tim Clews from BMA Nomique, who is also raising money for Parkinsons Disease.

Tim Clews from BMA (Right) & David Blood from Posture People (Left)

The trip started off with a quick ferry crossing over to the Isle of Wight, and fingers crossed the weather looks like it’s going to be good this week.  As today was a travelling day, the planned walk is comparatively short compared to other days, at just 8 miles.  It will act as a good warm up to the rest of the week, where they will average 15 miles per day.

Progress is going well and they’ve already managed over 4 miles in less than 2 hours, with another 4 to go after lunch, although we are not sure how long lunch is going to last, and if they’ll be walking in such a straight line after lunch.

News Flash

Our intrepid walkers have reached Base Camp No 1, (the great Seahaven Hotel) with no reported blisters just a bit of a sore back from carrying the rucksack.

If you haven’t already donated and fancy doing so, here’s the link http://www.justgiving.com/DaveBloodsreallylongwalk

The Brighton Fringe 2010 – Are you sitting (and standing) comfortably?

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

For those of you who’ve been trapped in a crevasse up in the Sussex Downs for the last week or so, you’ve missed the beginning of a rather large, explosive event. No we don’t mean the stage show that is our current post-general election antics – although the majority of the country is eagerly waiting for an encore of some description – we mean the eclectic Brighton Fringe Festival is now under way.

Although Brighton is a constant source of energy and excitement, the Fringe adds something unique and special to the city every year, and has for some time now. Brighton and Hove has presented Fringe frivolities since the Brighton Festivals’ creation way back in 1967. Over the past 43 years, it’s possessed a number of aliases, such as ‘Umbrella’ and ‘The Open’, but was finally named the ‘Brighton Festival Fringe’ in 2002.

Brighton Festival Fringe is one of the largest, progressive open access arts festival in the world, and the largest in the England. Its sole aim has always been to “stimulate, educate and entertain” people, with over 700 events at more than 240 venues, which means you don’t need to be an eminent artist to fully savour the Fringe.

(Image from: www.hartshornhook.com)

However, what it does mean for you and the other 170,000 revellers watching the festival’s offerings is you’ll be either sitting down or standing for long periods of time. We know that this is all part of the occasion, of course; sitting on an old, cold bench, or leaning against the bar as you sip fine ale and consume even finer comedy; this is what epitomises the true essence of the Fringe. But, what about your poor old posture?

“Poor posture is something that develops over time, but definitely a contributing factor to everyday aches and pains can be standing or sitting for long periods watching the numerous free events around Brighton.  Have you ever found yourself standing up watching a concert and starting to shift from foot to foot, this ‘fidget’ factor is the body’s way of saying that it would like to move, which really means that it’s not very comfortable.” says Jo Blood, Director of Posture People, who specialise in ergonomic furniture and reducing the effects of bad posture and back pain.

Here are some quick and easy tips from Posture People to ensure you’re sitting and standing comfortably, as well as correctly:

Keep your feet on the ground

We fully appreciate this is a very hard thing to accomplish, especially when you’re watching a lively performance. However, do try to keep your feet flat on the floor when still, and if possible, don’t cross your legs as this can potentially cut off circulation and cause hip problems.

You ‘knee’d’ to know this

It’s highly unlikely the festival organisers will be supplying ergonomic chairs, so if you have a choice try to select a chair high enough so that your knees are slightly lower than your hips. This will keep your hip sockets open, ensuring blood circulation to your feet and legs. It will also help prevent the cramping of your leg muscles.

(Image by: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2253960352_1f597f6b9f.jpg)

It’s all about bums on seats!

But, make sure your bum has the right one. Choose one that is firm and flat, not hollow or bucket shaped. This is the best type to give you solid support for your pelvis and the rest of your body. If you suffer from persistent back or posture problems, then we certainly recommend you take a pillow with you for support.  Or better still a sitting wedge.

Making a stand

We guarantee that you’ll be involved in a standing ovation at some point over the next few weeks, but if you’re standing for long periods of time then try to keep the majority of your weight spread evenly over your foot as opposed to just on the heels or toes. Your arms should hang down naturally too. You should also watch out for leaning down onto one hip, as well as pulling your shoulders back too.

“The last thing that we want is for aches and pains to dull your enjoyment of the performance, so hopefully these tips will help everyone enjoy the Festival that little bit more.” continues Jo.

Posture People ergonomic seating solutions will also be enjoying the Fringe, and if we spot anyone not sitting or standing correctly, we may just have a little word in your ear…!

The Brighton Fringe Festival is on from now until the 23rd May. For more information visit www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk