Released 05/12/2008
It's been a busy couple of weeks - Brother held a smashing party at the Cuckoo Club here in London for us journos that was a welcomed kick off to the Christmas season. So swank was this celeb haunt, that I felt like I should have had some paparazzi snapping as I exited. Next time I'm hiring these guys: http://www.christopherjohn.co.uk/fake-paparazzi/hire-fake-paparazzi-uk.html. Or not...
The party's cabaret show, introduced by sales and marketing director Phil Jones, involved a rather disconcerting contortionist that managed to pull himself through a tennis racket. Not always something you want to see after a big dinner but it was a talking point none-the-less.
I then was off to the Cotswolds for a little four day weekend with my husband, and was very pleased to see pumpkin pecan pie (yes, together) on the menu at the local pub in honour of Thanksgiving. Even more pleased to overhear all the British punters grimacing at the thought of the vegetable in a pudding. I convinced them that it wasn't worth trying (see what I was doing there?)...then made sure they gave me an extra big piece. After all, the orange gourd-like squash is part of my cultural heritage.
But one of the highlights of the last couple of weeks was Integra's Leading Excellence conference, which took place last night at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicestershire. Now, I've had the honour of attending a few conferences to date, and I have to say, this was very impressive indeed. The talks were relevant; the keynote speaker, in the shape of Steve Cunningham, the first blind pilot to fly across the UK, was touching to the point of having me blubbering quietly to myself like a baby; and the exhibition was buzzing and well-attended. Did anyone else have a look at that crazy computer cleaning slime one supplier had on display? I've been throwing it at people in the office, which, really, is for their own good, since it also works as a disinfectant.
To top the conference off, Luke Chapman surprised us all with bacon sandwiches at 12.30am. Always thinking of everything, that guy! I now know the way to a dealer's heart is through butties and beer. Gotta use that tactic at my next dealer interview.