Well, this is out of chronological order as last week was 'a bit of a week' as they say – but I didn't want to let it pass without saying what a cracking evening it was.
Somehow 11 of 'the old gang' were herded together into B@1 in Clapham to get the wheels oiled nicely (you've always got to love a two for 1 happy hour) before heading (at snail's pace, in my case) up the hill to Cote Bistro for a nosh and natter session. Where we also very sensibly (well, half the room were facilitators and half very amenable research bods) rotated round so everyone got a chance to chat.
Given that it will be 20 whole years (un-blooming-believable – how on earth has so much time gone by?!) since I joined Added Value come this September, and there were a few there who had most certainly preceded my arrival, it's pretty impressive that AV forged friendships that have lasted this long. And genuinely lasted, where you really do want to see the people in the room, and wish that the night had just a few more hours in it.
Or – that we could do it again, and this time, with even more of us! Yes, the brilliant Xmas party goes a long way to doing this, but it was really good from my POV to have cocktails on tap, a dark room so everyone was in the mood and no chat about work, just 'life' stuff… all good ingredients for a top night.
Well done to the organising few – what a great result.
Photos to follow separately I hope – our Tinterweb is playing silly buggers and won't upload today. Too many Easter Eggs methinks.
x