DIARY: Burness socks one to OMD's Cooper

<p>With all the fuss about live-action TV shows such as Survivor and </p><p>Eco-Challenge, it's easy to overlook the little acts of heroism taking </p><p>place around us every day. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>The latest involves OMD Asia boss Mike Cooper, marketing consultant </p><p>Charles Brian-Boys and the Economist's Edward Burness, who occasionally </p><p>flits out to Asia from London for a bit of temping (in this case to </p><p>cover for Rupert Harrow who is in Europe getting hitched). Seasoned </p><p>hikers Cooper and Brian-Boys invited Burness for one of their mild </p><p>Sunday walks in Sai Kung, one of the most picturesque parts of Hong </p><p>Kong. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Burness turned up in heavyweight denim jeans and Gucci loafers. Suitable </p><p>perhaps for a gentle stroll through the English countryside. It didn't </p><p>take long for Burness' shirt to turn black with sweat and his face to </p><p>turn a deep shade of red. Increasingly frequent spells were necessary </p><p>for him to sit down and recover. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>"Sadly, Edward's lack of fitness was revealed to all," says Cooper. </p><p>Brian-Boys, equally as concerned, thought Burness might cash his chips </p><p>in. But, while Typhoon Ed may have been hot and bothered and hanging </p><p>onto life by a thread, he still had his wits about him. And revenge was </p><p>uppermost on his mind. This was revealed days later. "The bastard left </p><p>his socks in my car," wailed Cooper. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>