Rufus Shmufus » At Rufus

It’s Been a While

rufusshmufus — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:14:51 +0000

Sorry it’s been so long since we have updated the blog folks!

We are currently working on updating the website and adding a whole host of new content. With 3 new recruits to our team (Joni, Chris and Richard) and a lot of work to show off, there will not be a shortage of new things to see.

Stay tuned and check back soon for more updates!

Some Bex Appeal – Work Experience at Rufus

rufusshmufus — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:28:09 +0000

Whilst on work experience I’ve witnessed various things, Vince having a rant about a sandwich, Vince having a rant that I don’t make enough tea and Vince having a rant because I didn’t get in until 2 one day. It’s been great! EDITORS NOTE: Vince is actually a warm and loving individual who does a lot of work for charity, though he does state ‘charity begins at home’. He also would like it on record that Bex turned up at 2.15pm one day and not 2pm.

The Work

I’ve been coming in whenever I’m not on timetable with uni, where I’m studying Illustration. I started last week, Monday 19th and I was tired. I normally love Mondays because I’m not due in uni till 1.30, awesome lie in! But I was excited none the less. My first day Graeme 2 scooted up to me with an info pack in hand, and asked me to have a go at designing a new logo which I did. We all went down stairs the next day and had a chat about it and there were a couple of designs that stood out, Gareth decided they should be the catalyst for Graeme 2 to get going on it. It went on his work board and I was given task number 2. Design desktops for Smashing Magazine. I did October, November and December over about 3 visits here (October probably being my favourite). Once I’d finished that little lot Gareth and I had a brain storm, what do you get a student to do when they ‘don’t really care what jobs I do, long as it isn’t going to be too important to you guys’.

Let’s learn flyers, bingo! Having to set up the document properly with all the guides and things was great, I’d done all this in typography but it’d all fallen out of my head so a refresher course was well appreciated.

After making a blank template flyer I had a play around with one that was already smart as a button (moved things here and there) and I made my own mock flyer for a party my friend’s having. All good stuff!

On to task numero, well, I’ve lost count, but it was time for me to design a pen! After bang-ing my head against the desk because there’s no such thing as a Photoshop / Illustrator hybrid, I created something that resembled a pen and popped our beloved Rufus on it. Jackpot. After running out of things that I was told to do I decided I’d drawn Rufus a nice picture (after all, I’m an illustrator and it’s what I do). I got the lovely badger himself and after lots of tedious colouring in and rubbing out popped him on the orange Vespa. My last day was a sad day. I had a wicked headache, apt as it was Halloween the next day ha..ha… and the thought of not having a nice Mac all to myself almost everyday was disturbing. Vince hopped over to my borrowed desk and asked me to sort a job advert sheet out for him. Job done.

The Places and Faces

The people in this place are all crazy, don’t ever make eye contact with them or Ian will start talking about his mixed nuts or Lee will invite you to his Nanna’s next party. Just kidding, kind of… We all went to see a comedian last Friday, cracking night out. He was funny so that’s always a plus. It was great fun because I didn’t feel like the work experience girl I just felt like part of the crew! The guys (and girls!) here have really made me feel at home I’ve had so much fun. I threatened I’d work here full time forever! Graeme 2’s given me lots of new wonderful websites and they’ve helped me with my work here and my Uni work. I think I might have to steal his book collection too. If I’ve ever been stuck or looked lost (my brain does tend to wander) there’s always been a helping hand nearby to make sure I never sit confused for too long.

I’ve loved it here, there’s been a lot of power walking making sure I get to and from Uni / Rufus but it’s been worth it, plus it’s good exercise so really it’s a win win.

All I can say is thank you to Ian for letting me stay for the past 2 weeks and being patient when it comes to working round my timetable. And everyone here who’s helped me (or in Vince’s case, taken the mick out of me) I would like to say… I’m sorry I didn’t make enough tea. Bex Brunell Work experience girl October ‘09

The Madden = The Pumpkinator 09

rufusshmufus — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:48:07 +0000

It was a close run thing, 7 entered, it came down to the final 2 then in what was described as a ‘eureka ka ka’ moment, someone lifted the top off The Maddens pumpkin and my God did it roar.

The Madden (G1) claimed to have put in 3 hours graft with a rusty dart and a stencil the night before but it was a work of art. G2 thought he had it in the bag with his Rufus logo, it was good but alas not good enough.

I thought I had it in the bag.

G2

It was originally a competition to find the ‘Pumpkin King or Queen ‘09′ but after much deliberation, the name was changed to ‘The Pumpkinator’.

We crown The Madden as The Pumpkinator 2009.

Congrats to you, now collect your winnings of a bag of pumpkin leftovers.

The Pumpkin King or Queen ‘09

rufusshmufus — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:20:37 +0000

It started as a joke then it became our next challenge. Ang threw down the gauntlet and offered to buy the pumpkins but Vince bought the pumpkins. They’re nothing special at the moment but what could they be turned into (apart from soup or a large door stop)?

I carried a pumpkin
Ang

At last count, 7 were willing to battle it out for the title of Pumpkin King or Queen ‘09. Could they beat the efforts of these people or even these? We don’t know, we just don’t know. Stay tuned for the results. Did you know the word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which is Greek for “large melon”.

We can’t be Ferrero than that

rufusshmufus — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:03:29 +0000

Well we went for it and for some it was a personal victory, for others it just looked painful. Our World Record attempt to eat at least 7 (and hopefully 8 ) Ferrero Rocher in one minute ultimately ended in failure but was tinged with laughter and gut wrenching stomach turning mayhem. Special praise goes to Graeme1 (The Madden) who scoffed 6 but was closely followed by Lee (The Hustler) who had eaten 5 but claimed 6 though TV replays showed there was residue of the 6th one still in his mouth (plus a bacon sarnie) which was against the rules and humanity. Deek, Gareth (The original G) and Graeme2 all got onto their 4th without too much controversy but none the less provided excitement of epic proportions. Sadly, Vince came in a sad last by stuffing the 3rd Rocher into his mouth on 56 seconds even though Rocher’s number 1 and 2 were still being eaten. Officially he didn’t finish any and is still eating them now. The Guinness World Records have been contacted to see if there is a record for the longest time to eat 1 Rocher. View the videos:

I don’t wanna rock… Lee-J

rufusshmufus — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:04:50 +0000

We all know we have some talented people within our building but one stands out like a sore thumb… it’s our Mr Lee Simpson. Not only can he whip up a website within hours but he can whip us into a frenzy with his hot tunes he plays us all day long. Hence him being renamed, Lee-J. He truly is the Fatboy Slim of the Rufus gang and is hot on the heels of the legendary DJ, Jimmy Savile. On occasions he drives us mad with his obsession with Rod Stewart, but hey ho, no-one is perfect! Keep rockin Lee-J… Wooooo haaaaaaa! [/caption]

Toys R-uf-Us

rufusshmufus — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:44:30 +0000

We were all chatting the other day about our favourite toys when we were ankle biters, so here is a list: Graeme 1 (the mad one) – an Acorn A3010 computer. (What?) Peter’s – a ‘Bogie’. (Not the green variety). Ian’s – a ‘Tree house’. (Always aimed high). Elaine’s – ‘Tiny Tears’. (Ahhh!). Marie’s – ‘A cuddly doll’. (Squeeze, squeeze). Angela’s – ‘My Pet Monster’ doll or a ‘Boglin’. (Ugly little critters). Graeme 2 (the 8ft Ninja) – a Lego Airport. (Designing useful means of transportation for the future.) Gareth’s – a Lego Laser Gun. (Building harmful weapons of mass destruction!) Vince’s – Lego. (Built a complete replica of Old Trafford). Derek’s – The ‘A-Team’ van and figures. (I pity the fool…). Gary’s – ‘Subbuteo’. (Nice one Cyril). Alan’s – ‘Big Track’. (A big toy for Big Al). and mine… A ‘Six Million Dollar Man’ action figure, complete with rubber arm, zoom eye (not) and a car engine. I remember playing hours with this piece of plastic and waiting excitedly for the TV series which accompanied it. One episode I remember was when the Six Million Dollar Man, took on ‘Big Foot’. At the time, I remember Big Foot as being a very, very scary creature which had me distressed for months! So I decided, with the technology of the interweb, to go on the hunt for this elusive Big Foot and what do you know… I found a picture of him with the “SMDM’ (hugging would you believe it)! Take a look at this fella below… Now, looking at the overall picture, I have decided that he was not that scary after all and in fact, just down right stupid! Ho hum.

We’ve had cake wars, now it’s coffee wars and this time it’s personal!

rufusshmufus — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:41:02 +0000

We have recently told you, we were in the middle of some serious cake wars. Now, there is SERIOUS hell on with another touchy subject! We have, over the last few days, had a re-shuffle of our work stations and are at present, all sitting together in one part of the building having some serious bonding sessions. Previously we had two teams at either end of our lovely building and the coffee round was quite simple, consisting of about 5 or 6 cups, at any one time. Now, the round consists of about 12! No way José I hear you say. If anyone slightly shifts in their seat, the cups go up in the air like an excited school child who knows the answer. So at this point, nobody dares move. The hell started when our very own 8ft Ginger Ninja Graeme, came sauntering back into our work space with his own made coffee! What’s all that about? Shocking! We have decided as a group, excluding the Ninja, that an egg HAS to be placed into his coffee for his sins! Juvenile? Eggs-actly!

The Nags Head

rufusshmufus — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:57:52 +0000

As you may or may not know, this weekend a national institution takes place… it’s The Grand National. The excitement has reached fever pitch in our office, as we have all pulled three horses each out of a hat and are all standing with our tickets clenched in fist, waiting for the tape to rise! We will all be glued to the box on Saturday, willing our horse to cross the line first, so we can gloat and watch the cash come tumbling into our sky rockets. From past experience though, all my dreams are usually dashed within seconds, as my horse never makes it over the third or fourth fence! But this year I have a dream… this year, my horse is going to rise above the challenge, this year my horse is going to puff out its chest, flare out its nostrils and give a whinney that will shake the other horses right down to their hooves! This year my horse will probably fall at the first fence, but hey ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Papa Bouba Di Knee Op…

rufusshmufus — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:38:26 +0000

Big news! Ian, our MD, has had a knee operation! He came back to work the very next day, proudly grasping the photo’s and bandaged up like a scene out of the Mummy. The photo’s have had us all squirming, grimacing and writhing around like we were playing a major game of twister. The end results have been a success and he is now jumping around like a young gazelle after eating a full bag of skittles. The only problem is, he may have had the wrong knee done, as he persists in dressing up as Rolf Harris’s alter ego, ‘Jake the Peg’, with his extra carry on! Let’s hope not!