Try as they might, my colleagues were simply unable to keep looks jointly of amazement and sympathy off their faces when I told them yesterday afternoon that I was off to a dinner, generously provided by a friend to celebrate his 25 years in the City – all of which were spent at the same firm. I am afraid I have to admit I share the same anniversary in a couple of weeks. But since I have been through just a few more companies than he has and have spent the last quarter of a century much less profitably I will mark the occasion in slightly more subdued fashion.
It is fair to say I was not feeling my best this morning which, funnily enough, is often the case when I spend any time with this particular person. These same colleagues of mine were perfectly sympathetic this morning, but not amazed. They have seen it before. I can’t recall if I told you about our offsite to Meribel shortly after I joined this ship. It was not pretty. The good news is that, having spent a chunk of this morning lying comatose on a bench besides the Thames, I managed a wander up to Leadenhall Market as I had to get a present for a friend whose 50th birthday party we are going to tomorrow (aaaaaaagh!) . That done I found myself sufficiently restored and unable to resist buying a brace of grouse for supper tonight which means only one thing. Cos D’Estournel ’96. I’m back.
On the subject of dinner the situation in Leeds has reached a point where I have had to intervene. Here is how Hen described preparing supper which she “enjoyed” this week. “Using my steaming pan I placed some beans in the top compartment. Underneath I boiled rice which steams the beans and also cooks the egg, which I have placed (still in its shell) on the bed of rice.” Where did that one come from? I have now undertaken to send her one recipe per week and if any of you have any bright ideas kindly let me know.
We were told to be slightly wary today of an animal rights demonstration outside our office. Why they bother poor old Nomura I do not know. If they had any sense they would be picketing outside our house. Not this weekend though. Bob is away at a rugby training camp in Lymington ( of all places?) so the local wildlife has a couple of days respite, although if I was a New Forest pony I would watch out..
Oh by the way, as you know I am quite fixated about Leeds and the challenge it is posing to Cambridge as a centre of academic excellence. And apparently there are cultural delights which you too could experience if only you manage to grapple with the tricky little poser I received from East Coast Rail the other day.
This November, the 24th Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) takes place. Showcasing long and short features from around the globe, exclusive premieres, previews, documentaries and more, the LIFF is now one of the UK’s biggest movie events – and we’re giving away a pair of VIP passes to two lucky film-lovers!
Enjoy all this with the VIP pass:
• Access to every one of the hundreds of film screenings
• Exclusive invitations to special shows
• Advance programme announcements
• A complimentary official event catalogue
To have a chance of winning, just answer this simple question:
For how many years has the Leeds International Film Festival been running?
A. 14
B. 24
C. 34
Enter now hurry competition closes Sunday 3 October 2010
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