Two weeks from a tweeter's eye view

I've been messing about with Twitter over the past fortnight.

It's primarily been driven by work. We're trying to determine which elements of social media will become compelling when reaching senior executives. Because it's all free, and we have almost no budget this year, everything is worth a punt. Thus my entry into the Twittersphere.

Ironically, I think it could end up being a better business application than a personal one. As a subscriber to all of my competitors' web sites, I'm getting what's essentially a consolidated news feed of what's going on in my industry, as prioritised by fellow marketing hacks. Most useful. As a subscriber to various favourite cultural organisations, I receive a consolidated push of what's happening, when, and some good tips for my weekends. My PR colleagues tell me it's becoming the defacto standard for pitching stories to journalists, who love the 180 character limit and the way it weeds out the dross.

As a tool for my own social networking, however, I'm less than impressed. Status updates on Facebook do me just fine when it comes to keeping up with people. I find it difficult to imagine why anyone would be interested in updates from my life at the frequent pace Twitter seems to encourage. Nor do I need that micro-level of detail about my friends' lives. "Heading out to the grocery store now." "Back and having tuna on a bagel for lunch." Ho hum.

I've stuck to blogging because I am assuming, dear reader, that I'm continuing to pick events from my life interesting enough to deserve further exploration for you. Turning these into stories and reviews requires planning, evocative proof points, a bit of crafting and a lot of thought about what you might find interesting. Of course, all that takes time, and requires an event worthy of a few hundred words. Twitter does have an appeal for covering more marginal experiences, or for when life makes crafting a full column a bit challenging.

The past two weeks have been busy, but not wildly eventful. Let's give Twitter style a try, with updates of less that 180 characters for the past fortnight.

• Recently redundant friends look great, glowing with health & relaxation. It's a paradox: Work pays for life, but drains life from us.

• Lavender in Clapham deserves a try. Cozy bistro cum gastropub. Watermelon, feta and fennel salad a revelation. Good value.

• Nirvana Spa siphons off my stress. Warm Ocean Pool with 100s of jets magnificent. Lucky with cancellations; got a facial. Perfect Sunday.

• Won bottle of champers at Economist wine tasting. Not my doing; picked team of clever boys with exceptional taste buds.
  

• Experiential marketing seminar at Soho House comforting. I may not have budget to do much now, but am proven visionary in what I once did.

• Long Thames-side walk. Banks verdant and bursting with flowers. Local wheat field is an ocean of luscious, waving green. How I love May.

You get the idea. Any of those probably could have been developed into a proper blog entry, but I didn't have time. The 180-character limit is a fine discipline, but I suspect if you're a fan of this blog in the first place, it's because you want more. Thus you'll get a proper write up on the madness and mayhem that is the London Sevens Rugby Tournament at Twickenham soon. But first...

• Off for long bike ride. Must exercise away some of the weekend's excess of food and drink. And exploit sunshine while it's making an effort.