“I am a very relieved BCO president,” was most likely an understatement when Katrina Kostic Samen took to the stage at the annual British Council for Offices dinner on Tuesday to announce a replacement guest speaker. Known for getting some of the best names in politics and journalism for its events, the BCO had pulled out all of the stops, with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg due to speak at the dinner. As news of Theresa May’s crushing defeat filtered through, it came as no great surprise when it was announced that Kuenssberg had been forced to cancel. But, in a masterclass in string pulling on the part of the BCO, political commentator Andrew Marr arrived, fresh from parliament, to take her place. “I’m sorry I am not Laura Kuenssberg,” he said as he began his speech. “What I am about to say about what might happen next could turn out to be completely wrong and you can mock me the next time you see me. And I won’t be Laura Kuenssberg then either.”
Misreading the Brexit signs
As the pound mysteriously rose against the dollar following May’s catastrophic Brexit defeat in parliament, one property lawyer mused: “What am I going to tell my Malaysian Pension Fund client now?” He was hobnobbing at the Royal Opera House bar, following the first half of the Nutcracker. While the pirouettes and fluffy tutus initially calmed down the anxious group of real estate lawyers and journalists, the nervous tension was palpable in the bar. The lawyer explained that his client has been expecting a sharp drop in the pound as a result of the deal failing, and had planned to return to London’s dwindling property market. Another lawyer, a contaminated waste expert, complained that the resulting situation was so confusing she was not certain how to handle a presentation on Thursday. Won’t somebody please think of the lawyers?
Real estate in a suit
Overheard at the BCO dinner, one tuxedo-wearing guest talking crossly to a colleague: “The doorman just looked at me and told me to head to this entrance, without even asking what event I am attending.” He concluded, sadly: “He just assumed I am going to the BCO dinner. I am just going to have to accept that the time has come and I am basically real estate in a suit. Great.”
Strength in diversity
EG has stepped up its commitment to helping the industry to be more diverse and inclusive, which means you’ll be seeing (and hearing) a lot more content about how the industry can achieve a better balance. We will generally be talking to a wider range of people and using those chats to get advice and tips about how to do things better. Take for example the first REWIRE podcast of the year (available now on iTunes, Podbean and Spotify) in which we talk to three wonderful women – CBRE’s Amanda Clack, Lendlease’s Sherin Aminossehe and London First’s Sue Brown – about their experiences on (often male-dominated) panels. During the podcast, our deputy editor (and REWIRE chair) Samantha McClary asked what they did to feel confident on stage. Much to McClary’s disappointment, none of them implemented the tactic she (and, to her defence, lots of people on Google) suggested of “imagining the audience naked”. Listen to the podcast to find out how to actually be great on a panel, without ever again having to picture the crowd with it all hanging out.
Win some, luge some
When Diary was asked if it could make it to Propski this week, its calendar suddenly became very clear. Alongside 300 of real estate’s finest (skiers), a few days in Chamonix seemed like just the tonic. And so it proved to be. EG hosted its highest Question Time of the year, a record amount was raised for LandAid in a charity auction and there were no reports of major injuries on the slopes or, for that matter, on the dance floor. And that was despite this year’s racing taking place at night. It was a close call on the luge, however, where one competitor took the instruction not to brake a little too literally. It’s one thing not to brake on the bends; it’s another entirely if you don’t brake at the finish line. Best not rely on the other sleds to stop you next time…
Blob’s a good ’un
An early contender for press release of the year, from Tesco, announcing a celebration of its centenary year with a campaign featuring “iconic moments from across the decades”, including a certain TV star of yesteryear. The comments from Tesco’s chief customer officer are all well and good, but it’s the line at the bottom that makes it: “Of his appearance in the campaign, Mr Blobby said: ‘Blobby blobby, bloooobby blooobby!’”
