Well it’s the ninth of January already and according to the Daily Mail, today is the day most people will give up on their New Year’s resolutions. If you’re still having trouble thinking of one (let alone giving up on them!), try this brilliant New Year’s resolution generator.

We did a straw poll in the office and most popular resolutions are:

1. Spend more time with family and friends.
2. Get fit
3. Be kinder
4. Lose weight
5. Stop smoking
6. Stop drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organised

It’s Olympic Year of course and according to the Daily Telegraph Boris Johnson’s New Year’s resolution is: “To deliver a truly epic Olympic and Paralympic Games and entrench London’s lead as the greatest city on Earth”. Former MP Ann Widdecombe has a different perspective and said: “They are tedious things and life is much better without them.” TV presenter James May has a more satisfied response: “My resolution is generally not to have a resolution, because I am already pretty happy with the way I am.”

So, whatever your resolution is, if you have one, be it learning to talk Swahili, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, to stop biting your nails or to train hard enough to become an Olympic medallist, we wish you well and hope that you all have a successful and very happy New Year.

Here’s a selection of resolutions from the team at One:

Owen Evans, copywriter:
To get all my spelling write this year.

Amy Watson, senior pr account executive:
To do something exciting like walk the Great Wall of China. Or learn sign language.

Robyn Percy, senior pr account manager:
To be less bossy and more fabulous.

Ric Turner, senior designer:
It’s boring but to booze less and get more active.

Graeme Wood, MD:
To make Pat, my PA, her lunch at least once per week.

Pat Froggatt, PA to the MD:
To try to eat the lunch which Graeme makes for me.

Chris Leigh, web manager:
To learn to cook (…but don’t tell my wife).

Sarah Knight, head of PR:
To climb a mountain in the UK.

Martin Dixon, advertising account manager:
To teach my daughter to moonwalk.

Tristan Morris, client services manager:
To get less upset when there’s so much as a piece of paper out of place in the office.

Keith Higginbotham, accounts interface:
To become an even more loveable curmudgeon.

Claudia Manns, digital project manager:
To learn Dutch, Chinese and maybe Burmese

This post was written by Jane Holgate. Tell her what you think below. Go on!

One of our favourite campaigns of 2011 from the talented teams at One Marketing Communications was the United Utilities‘ ice sculpture at Manchester Piccadilly train station.

The Get Winter Wise campaign – a drive to help North West householders beat burst pipes this winter – launched with a huge 11ft by 11ft ice lounge.

The display, which took four ice sculptors from Liverpool-based Glacial Art a whopping 60 hours to complete, included burst pipes spewing water into an everyday front room as an unsuspecting ice man sat on the sofa.

The full service campaign will also include the distribution of Winter Wise packs across the region, radio adverts, outdoor advertising and a PR campaign targeting the north west.

Wayne Silver, business development manager at One Marketing Communications, said: “The campaign will help people get ready for winter by offering lots of useful information across different channels that all lead back to the website.”

Rose Francis of United Utilities, said: “Winter weather can bring misery to people in their homes and lasts year’s extreme weather and the coldest December for 100 years resulted in our customers suffering from frozen and burst pipes across the North West.  Over Christmas and New Year we had a record 80,000 calls into our contact centre from customers reporting that they had no water due to frozen and burst pipes.

“Every year, thousands of people are caught out by the cold weather and fall victim to the misery of frozen and burst pipes which can lead to the expense and inconvenience of a flood in the home, or no water at all. Most of the time we can only give them advice, because the pipes affected belong to them, not us.

“There’s vital information on our website and we are also handing out the Get Winter Wise packs throughout the North West.”

If there is ever a time of year which reminds you of the power of emotion in advertising, it is Christmas. Whilst the vast majority of brands flood our senses with rational, information based ads, there are those few who invest in creating something a little more spectacular.

This year I think John Lewis has surpassed themselves. Don’t get me wrong, previous years’ attempts have been fantastic including their ‘Shadows’ ad back in 2007 and 2009’s ‘Sweet Child of Mine’.

However, as a proud parent this year’s ad really hit the mark. For me, it is the perfect blend of story and music, evoking emotions that feed off a surprisingly simple yet powerful insight – for gifts you can’t wait to give.

As an IPA member agency, we continue to champion the power of emotion in advertising. Research from the IPA Datamine shows that emotional campaigns are nearly twice as effective as rational campaigns across a whole host of hard and soft business measures. This is a trend that is only likely to increase, as more creative campaigns generate significantly more ‘buzz’ effects which are strongly linked to effectiveness.

The John Lewis ad is proof of this theory, with viewings on Youtube reaching 500,000 in a matter of days, considerable discussion across the social network and even reporting in the national press with regards to the music choice. It also suggests that whilst traditionally it has been the appearance of the Coke ad on our screens that herald the arrival of Christmas, John Lewis are closing fast and next year they are likely to lead the anticipation.

So, before you decide to turn the TV off in the run up to Christmas to avoid the myriad sales promotions and offers, I recommend you hold out because there are some real gems out there which bring not only your emotions to life, but Christmas as well.

Blog by Tristan Morris

If you live outside the world of rugby league, you may not have noticed this brilliant piece of PR and viral marketing from the folks at Love Rugby League.

I ask you to put down your pens for a moment and even if you’re not a sport lover, watch this video… Love Rugby League’s 2011 Season Review…. in Lego.

Uploaded only on Monday (21st) the video has already received over 40,000 hits on You Tube, as well as numerous Tweets and Facebook messages.

Even better, the video also featured on Granada Reports and in The Sun among others, further raising the profile of Love Rugby League, not to mention the sport itself.

Such a simple idea that apparently took two pain-staking months to complete – and it’s proved to be a massive hit.

Can’t wait to see what next season brings!

Blog by Robyn Percy

They’re the Ones to Watch – the hot to trot stories set to make it big in this week’s crowded media agenda, compiled by working Fleet Street writers.

Whether it’s celebrity silliness, world affairs, key trends or the latest sporting headlines, we’ve got it covered.

Careful Christmas

It might be Christmas shopping season but the effects of the recession are biting hard as families reveal they’re spending less on the festive season this year.

The average UK household has already cut their budget by £40 a week, with some so hard up they say they can’t even afford a tree.

New research from Which? Magazine reveals four in ten say they’ve already made up their minds to significantly tighten their belts this month.

A spokesman for campaign group Consumer Focus said: ‘Consumers are struggling on ever tighter budgets with rising energy bills, increases in food and fuel, higher inflation and the pressure to spend at Christmas adding to their anxiety.’

But there was a note of optimism from Which?’s executive director, Richard Lloyd, who says: “Christmas doesn’t have to be cancelled. Savvy shoppers can save with online deals, discount days and pre-Christmas sales. Don’t be afraid to haggle.”

Topshop Shutting Up

No-one is immune from money misery – and even business billionaire Philip Green has been feeling the pinch too.

His Arcadia group, which includes Topshop and BHS, has just announced plans to close 260 stores nationwide after seeing profits plummet by a staggering 38 per cent.

The shocking news has rocked the fashion industry, where Green’s empire was regarded as a safe financial bet.

He blamed the recession and unseasonal weather for falling profits and warned thousands of jobs could be lost.

Follow The Money

If you want to enjoy your work and earn a bomb then being a dentist, lawyer or pilot could be for you.

A new survey reveals Britain’s highest paid jobs – and it makes fascinating reading.

And with the average UK salary now standing at £26,244, up 1.4 per cent on last year, we all want to know how average – or otherwise – we are.

So where do you fit it? Check out www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/25/highest-paid-jobs-uk-2011to find out more