The continental Europeans seem to have it all: public holidays at will, early retirement ages, and, in some cases, all-round warmer climates with favourable daylight savings. But a recent story on the website Slate.com had our office contingent of hardcore clubbers green with envy.

Turns out more and more Swedes are going to daytime office raves. It was pioneered by 14 people who decided to dance away their lunch break in the autumn of 2010. Dubbed a ‘Lunch Beat’, these gatherings have picked up pace since and now attract 600 people at a time - they are non-profit events with a set of rules, including a takeaway meal with every ticket (Tune-a-melt…?).

The idea is to give people the opportunity to let loose and interact with like-minded workers in what is essentially a networking exercise – although NOT talking about work is one of their key rules. In this way, those involved can return to their desks relaxed and focused. Plus, as anyone who’s been to a club before will know, an intense dance session is great exercise, so there’s the potential bonus of combating obesity.

Sound too good to be true? Check it out for yourself! We’re looking forward to seeing a copycat version in London to add some interesting pictures to our Flickr account.

In 1972 in the Baker House dormitory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), several students chose to throw an unwanted piano off the roof as a somewhat lazy but entertaining method of disposing of it. The article and video on The Daily Telegraph Online goes on to mention that this bizarre college event has since been observed as an annual tradition, and this year marked its 40th anniversary.

Two hundred excited spectators had gathered to witness the sight of an upright piano launch off of a makeshift ramp and then smash into another piano placed strategically on the ground below.

After the mayhem, a scramble ensued for broken parts as souvenirs, such as piano keys and strings.

Fortunately, nobody has been injured during these shenanigans and no working pianos have been hurt either - they are usually broken and donated by people who simply want to get rid of them for free.

So Beethoven can stop turning in his grave.