Losing one's marbles, particularly in the cramped confines of an office environment, can be a very public humiliation. Which is why I always keep a sleek metal tin under my lab bench here at gadgetshop HQ. Not in the event of terminal boredom setting in as Geoff begins another of his fishing anecdotes. Or even Simon attempting to find a use for all the gizmos on his new Giant Swiss Army Knife. I keep it simply to remind myself that there is a purpose in life.

Is this 'run' something to do with Chicken Run, you ask. No. Cannonball Run? No. Logan's Run? No. For this is an executive class distraction for executive moments of executive stress, and is not for use with the lower orders. Inside the sleek tin is a set of building blocks, mini guttering and sturdy ball bearings that one can easily assemble into a giant contraption for the conveyance of marbles from High Up to Down Low.

Now's your chance to push human ingenuity to new heights. To boldly go, take coffee break, and prove Newton was right. Now, in short, is your chance to make some little metal balls descend down a pathway and straight onto your desk. Impressive.