Great Aunty Betty

We take the briefest sojourn into my extensive family history

Great, isn't she? That's 'Betsy Sheppard' - no, I never actually knew her (and can't quite work out where she fits in the family tree either) but wow, what a picture!

I have a very interesting family tree - and I also have two humungous leather bound tomes that contain the family history right back to Charlemagne I think (yep, I'm a Norman!). I really should spend some time looking at it and interpreting some of the hand-written stories that Elizabeth Sheppard (no, not Bestsy, this one was around 1873 I think - must go check!) had so carefully written.

The books are amazing - about 20" high, 10" wide and 3" deep and they contain Sheppard Family History, Coxe Family History and links to Royalty, Scallywags (no doubt) and Chamberlaynes. They are also loaded with amazing pictures; photographs and watercolours. Great Grandfather was a good watercolourist and I have many of his paintings framed and on our walls. In the Histories are pictures of the Old Mill at Bathwick, Marlborough Gardens in Bath, and our original 'family seat', Gatcombe Park.

One of my most prized posessions though is his sketchbook - full of little pictures depicting Georgian life; parlour games, visits to the countryside, parties... all intimate and sometimes scribled out or amended. Real. A wonderful insight into a history that now seems so remote. But, with these pictures in my hands, and items from the sketches (such as a silver samovar) still residing in my house, it's a tangible history.

Shiny awards, stimulating conversation

In which we get to dress up and meet a Norfolk Pirate

On the 27th September I had a date - a date with Jeremy. He was dressed up to the nines, dinner suit, bow tie, cummerbund - well smart. I had to dress up too (but I wore a dress, don't have a dinner suit). We were off to an Awards Ceremony. Yes, genuine deal - stage, celebrity presenter (the athlete Colin Jackson) and bits of shiny steel to be presented to those lucky enough to have qualified for the National Training Awards.

I'm 'back office' - so how come it was me with Jeremy (award winning trainer!) at the awards? Denise (the client) and I that spent hours collating information and putting together the entry for the award. So it was only fair that we went to the award ceremony (Denise brought her team, her husband and a delegate from the course too - from a primary school in Essex).

Jeremy took me home from work and changed at our house; "you both look gorgeous" Melody said as she took a photo of us in the kitched. "Straight on" I said to Jeremy, directing him to the Guildhall in Cambridge. And he turned left. EH??!!! We went round the roundabout and back again. We arrived at the Guildhall and made conversation ("I hate networking" Jeremy said, but I made him do it anyway). I talked to a young man from Essex, an electrical engineer. He was there purely as partner to one of the award nominees. A nice lad, very excited that his partner was four months pregnant. We talked about cycling and fibre optic cable production techniques. Our colleagues from the client that we partnered for the award arrived, so we had 'friends' in the crowd who we were sharing a table with.

We won a Regional Award which is pretty special in our business, so we were very pleased. The PR game now begins! We can put on our headed paper that we're winners, so its a really good endorsement of our company. Yeah, I know we're good, now I can put something in our marketing materials that says other people know we are good too!

It takes something to get me into a dress, but it was worth it. We had a superb meal and went through all the 'pre announcement nerves' as anticipated (but no bursting into tears or anything so melodramatic). It was a good evening, Jeremy and the clients with whom we partnered to win the award, were good company too. We texted our colleagues and many replied to wish us congratulations (hey, they won it too) but our boss phoned from Morocco to say well done. Cool.

That was the Thursday. On Saturday Shani, Nickie and I went out to dinner with another colleague (also a trainer like Jeremy), Sue. She lives in Maldon, on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. Well, as Shani an Nic have been known to be a little late on occasion, and this was a long journey, I scheduled in plenty of time. We arrived early and went down to the quay to while away some time before arriving at our host's. It was Regatta Day - the quay was littered with huge Thames Barges (I don't know, maybe they are always there?) and we looked over the estuary as the sun went down amidst a clutter of masts. Amazing things - many over 100 years old - huge, broad and shallow drafted. We walked slowly along the quay away from the hubbub of the Regatta. Two men walked behind us. We stopped, turned to photograph the sun behind the church. One of the men stopped too. "Well, come on then, if you want to take a photo of me!" So we did, in good humour, and exchanged a few words. He spoke with a Norfolk accent but, for some reason, in the manner of a pirate! Aharrr me hearties... we wuz by the sea after all.

We spent an extremely pleasant evening with Sue, enjoying good food, good company and many interesting subjects of conversation. We talked of politics, religion, the world, music, people... not about work at all. Shani and I sang some songs too, relaxed, quiet, pleasant. Sue sang along whilst Nickie tried to stay awake (two LARGE whiskies...) and Shani and I enjoyed an impromptu practice.

The journey home was long, late but pleasant. Again interesting conversation - kept me awake too. We also started singing a bit, which caused Nickie (in the back) to hunker down and wish she was actually asleep.

Home at 2.30am. A long night, but well worth it. Tall masts, stimulating conversation, Essex sunset, and a good long run in my new car.

PS: I will get some pictures on these posts soon!

To the gentle sound of Formula One...

In which 'the team' plays away from home and we sing 'Fiddler on the Roof' (badly)

My employers arrange an annual 'away weekend' which focuses on company strategy, some training and - importantly - some quality 'bonding' time (bonding, not bondage! OK?).

This year we travelled to a massive hotel and conference facility complex near to Silverstone race track - the hotel had displays of really fascinating things like... photos of racing drivers and (yaaaawwwnnnn...) well, I forget what else.

Our first event of the day (having negotiated traffic to the accompaniment of Israeli rock music on the CD player and enjoyed a welcome bacon sandwich) was a training 'demonstration' by two actors. They do a 'scene' and then welcome feedback from the audience - for example they do a difficult appraisal, and one of the two 'characters' will ask for feedback on what should happen next or what was wrong/right in the action. This is called forum theatre and does not involve role play by the audience - a factor which puts many people off participating in any kind of training like this. But, I have to say, it was extremely successful and generated lively debate. The 'late appearance' of two of the team was due to a Sat Nav... (hate the things! Maps and a brain is all you need!). "Not the sat nav," my colleague said.... "my fat fingers typing in the wrong postcode!".

The noise from the racetrack was audible when we opened the windows in the hot training room. "Can we shut that noise up?" the boss asked. No - it's Silverstone Race Track. Usually she gets her own way, but this once she conceded that perhaps sending someone out to ask them to be quiet may be a lost cause.

After lunch we had a session on communication followed by planning for the future through time-lining. At the end of this each department had to present on their areas and periods (in other words, Marketing had to do three presentations, on the last quarter of this year, 2008 and 2009). With my newly acquired colleague, Lucy, we'd done lots of work and had all sorts of plans in place, but it made sense for mem to present. Had to be short, sharp and meaningful. I have absolutely no idea why I did it - but I presented the first and last sections in rhyme! Poor Lucy - she'd only met me once at a lunch, and now she had spent an afternoon with me and the team and I'd 'rapped up' marketing in a rather unusual fashion. We packed up pretty promptly so folks could enjoy the spa and swimming pool and generally chill before supper. I managed to do none of that - I had a nice bath and sat and played guitar quietly in my room.

We had a brief champagne reception with the bosses, then down to supper where we had the usual 'three around three' (which is not only the name of a traditional UK folk dance, but also how we shift ourselves round in between each course so that you get to sit next to different people and 'mix'. It works very well - with us - because of the kind of team we are. I had some interesting conversations and some nice food. Then (after copious amounts of wine had been consumed and I have to say, for a change, not by me!) it was suggested that Shani and I fetch our instruments. Let the fun and games commence!

Shani and I do not play standards, we play our own brand of acoustic rock/folk/indie schmindie heaven knows what! But, at a gathering like this - they want sing-a-long. We started with one of our own songs to 'wake up' the audience and then we went full tilt into .... well, into a melee. As the wine consumption increased, so did the audience participation. This was no way a 'performance' by us - it was a 'facilitation'. We 'facilitated' the performance of some interesting vocal duets including 'American Pie' and 'Summer Loving' (very noisy, enthusiastic and almost unbelivably hysterical) and some interesting solos too. Shani and I just played along with whatever was requested to the best of our ability (including Hava Nagila, which I could play, amazingly, having not even sung it for over 30 years). I have to say, though, the highlight was a version of 'I am the Music Man' which included impersonations of staff members. Highly non-PC, but extremely funny. One thing I did notice was Lucy's face - she's not even started with the company officially yet - and she's been 'baptised by fire' (or by whatever means you can use to describe our extreme story telling/song singing/camerarderie based culture).

As we played we realised that we desperately needed a different song book - the few songs we could play along with (The Boxer, Toucha-Toucha-Touch Me, and some other highly non-memorable stuff) we realised that what we needed was not fully within our grasp - a book of show stoppers and musical hits... yes, not what we intend to do with our musical careers, but for occasions like this, certainly what we need.

As the singing degenerated (my audience split into two part harmonies failed miserably) we packed up at 11 and left the room - and drifting from the room we had departed came three part harmonies of Mustang Sally!

That was about it for me - some folks had gone off to play cards, and some went to bed early whilst some stayed up till 3 am drinking! (no way, with training in the morning!?) The morning session featured a culture audit - and one thing is evident, our people like each other. The anaysis was an interesting exercise and the expected different perspectives from different groups within the organisation emerged, but overall the feeling is still that the company I work for has a strong supportive culture.

The next few months are going to be very interesting for Lucy and I. Lots of changes ahead, lots to achieve, and lots and lots of fun. But I promise, no more rhyming presentations!

Return to Lloyds

Or, 'at least this time I didn't look like an overweight Pocahontas though I did see the 1907 Loss Book...'

The reason I visited Lloyds before (see Fish out of Water) was in preparation for an event - an event which took place last night. Our MD speaks at these high falutin' events for women's development (the whole idea is we get names for our database, of course!) and I have to say it was a terrific success.

My previous observations on the Lloyds building were not that complimentary, but - I have to say - the place grew on me. We were in the Old Library downstairs - oak panels, carvings, and a most severe looking Founder of Lloyds peering at us from the alcove, in his preserved, oil-painted state. We had around 100 young women (and three men too) from the Insurance industry ready to listen to the 'great and the good'. The content was pitched just right for the audience and my boss made a superb interview/host/facilitator. And how she handled the support staff too (yes, there were a few problems of course!) was admirable.

But me - I'd set the whole thing up and I must confess I'd missed a trick or two. Drinks on arrival? For some reason I had it firmly in my head we'd decided against it. So when my boss asked for welcoming drinks, I said no, we hand't arranged it. But, after three askings (and she used my colleague to ask me - perhaps my unusual stubborness was more than a little out of character so I wasn't in a very receptive mood) I thought 'well, it's what she wants, it makes sense, do it!'. And I got the drinks sorted (just in time) and the guests were happy and tra la laa... it all went swimmingly.

Mind you - not completely. PA. Dread PA. 'Dave' tested everything for me first off - four lapel mics, three hand-helds. Four clip ons for the panel, hand held for the host (my boss) and two for questions from the floor. All worked fine. Comes to wiring up the panel and zero, zilch! One of the lapel mics went on strike. "I always do this" the speaker said. Aha! One of those people who carry their own electrical field round, specifically to flummox sound engineers and hapless marketing managers who think they can handle these things! One speaker used a hand-held.

My boss was instructed exactly how far to hold the mic from her mouth - 'boob height' she said, tucking her arm neatly below one side and maintaining perfect distance for optimum sound. However, as soon as she was up and talking (with a room full of people), that went out the window. She held the mic right near her mouth - and subsequently her volume was somewhat more prominent than the rest of the panel. Oh well!

After the discussion (great stuff about women being successful in insurance - it is possible!) there was the 'networking' bit. Now, in a room full of women from banking and finance, I have one major disadvantage. I know sod all about banking and finance! But hey ho - I was there to work, not to enjoy myself. I met one lady from a Middle Eastern bank and we chatted for quite a while. "Shame we can't see the trading floor..." she mentioned, as we talked with one of the Lloyds hosts.

Well, you got it! She and I got a sneak visit (no way they could take all the rest of the visitors up two flights of escalators and un-guided into the trading area). We saw the Lutine Bell, the Loss book for 2007 (they still write in it using quill and ink!) and the Loss book for 1907. They always have the book from 100 years ago next to the current year. They'd had an open day the previous afternoon and had the Titanic Register out (but that was locked back in some vault somewhere).

That's when I thought actually, this building ain't so bad. Despite looking like tin cans from the outside, the high interior and the open plan trading floor was actually quite restful. During the day a hive of activity, I'm sure, but despite the lights (everywhere - can you imagine trying to balance the environment in a building like that with a varying populace of anything form 600 to 2,000 people inside at any one time?) it was a welcoming, comfortable place of work.

I like these insights into places you may not ordinarily see. I like to see them when they are resting, as well as when they are busy. I liked talking to the catering manager (who had worked there for 13 years) and hearing about the Adam Room and the history (which he knew intimately) of the buildings. I enjoyed meeting different people, though I had virtually nothing in common with any of them other than our presence at this event.

The journey home (arrived by train) was with a colleague. She talked, I listened; I talked, she listened. We are very different people but we work well together. We have very different lives, but an understanding. At half past ten in the evening I got home. Tired, not exactly happy (why had I been so bloody stubborn about the drinks at the start of the evening?), but certainly pleased with the outcome of the event.

Next? Well, I probably won't be running the next event. My new 'Buzz Lightyear' colleague will be responsible(she's Buzz, I'm Woody). I will miss the visits to unusual places (for me) and meeting some intersting people, but not the hassle of - no matter how hard I try - never ever quite getting it right for my boss.