Double helping of Glasgow glamour?
Diary is accustomed to seeing images of glamorous young women pasted in the foreground in the tide of CGIs that washes daily across EG’s inboxes. So at first glance there was nothing unremarkable about this view of Abstract’s St Vincent Plaza office development in Glasgow. Sure enough there is a blonde lassie on the right of the pic, dipping into her executive satchel. But wait, who is that on the far left, chatting to a friend? Either we have a case of amazingly identical twins (with matching satchels) or a graphic designer who is a bit too in love with their own creations… you decide.
Songbird’s fair share
A tale from the Songbird boardroom now. When Brookfield and QIA completed their takeover of the majority owner of Canary Wharf Group last month, not only did they get their hands on the company’s prized real estate portfolio but they also gained access to the minutes of the bidders that were considering a sale of their stake. As well as revealing some rather derisory comments about the pair’s initial 295p bid the notes showed an agreed minimum price at which the sellers would engage with the bidders. Brookfield and QIA were left feeling rather smug when they found out that the set price was 350p per share – not a penny more than they paid.
Colours cloud conclusions
Political pundits, pollsters and property folk were on the stage at a BNP Paribas Real Estate organised post-election debate last week (see p52) to give their views on the worst predicted election yet. Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos Mori, revealed that the real reason was that the tried and tested “Sweet FA” rule didn’t work. Some 14 out of 16 elections have been called by the colour of shirt worn by the winner of the FA Cup. Not this one apparently.
Politics takes a hard line
And more observations from BNP PRE’s Capitalise event. There has been a shift in the political roadshow displays of affection for the nation. Where there was once kissing of babies, there is now the donning of hard hats and hi-vis jackets. Infrastructure not infants…
Graduate gives the hard cell
The first day on the job is always nerve-wracking. Particularly if you are a graduate shadowing your boss as they show clients around a decommissioned magistrates court. What could possibly go wrong? Well, if your boss eggs you on to take a picture of him in one of the cells as a joke and the door slams shut by accident things turn to panic quite quickly. Particularly as it becomes apparent there is no key and no bolt cutters strong enough to make so much as a dent on the door. Let’s not forget there are still clients to be taken on a viewing. So, the graduate had no choice but to blag his way through while his boss remained in the cell. Someone eventually responded to being in possession of the key to the cell door… but not before several long, cold hours in the slammer.
Post-election objection
There were plenty of things for a reporter to get excited about post-election: fresh policies, another budget, and meeting newly appointed MPs. So perhaps one of our journalists could be forgiven for getting carried away at the prospect of meeting Greg Clark at a JLL event. Except the Greg Clark at the event was not the new communities minister, but the chairman of JLL’s cities research centre. A thoroughly interesting chap all the same. It was a pleasure, Greg.
The value of valuation
Savills’ valuation veteran William Newsom may have the skills when crunching numbers in the property world but needs a little more help when putting a price on family relics. He popped up on Antiques Roadshow last Sunday clutching a coconut and silver drinking cup dating from the mid 16th century, which was valued at £20,000. He told Diary he suspected it was worth half that and thinks the piece has been in his family for centuries as his great, great grandfather was the bishop of Salisbury.
