Andrew Amesbury

Monday

I got to the agency by 8.45. New Account Assistant Julie was already there (she used to work with Head of the agency Yvette, and told me Yvette likes people to arrive earlier even though she doesn't usually get in herself until mid-morning). Julie seemed pleasant enough and not the great threat Andrea (fellow account executive) fears she will be.

News that Ian Miller had suddenly resigned from the PR Bureau (a specialist subsidiary of the PR division upstairs). Terry K started with the upstairs division today, and was brought round to be introduced. The phone hardly rang for the first two hours, then ads gradually began to come in.

Yvette arrived and immediately called a meeting of the account executives (which Julie also attended, which was interesting). We were told that the agency must make £140k profit for the second quarter. This seems an impossible objective unless we get more (and more profitable) clients.

Yvette went out late afternoon after a bad-tempered stomp through the office. At Julie's suggestion Eleanor (account executive) went out to get some flowers (roses, lilies and freesias) and arranged them in a vase on Yvette's desk with a note that said "From us all". The flowers had a magical effect on Yvette when she returned, and she beamed smiles at everyone, telling us how much she liked freesias.

Her mood improved even more when a series of ads came in with a total profit of £7k.

Tuesday

A day's holiday.

Wednesday

Another busy day, although looking back it is hard to think what exactly I did. Mostly it was a succession of little tasks, continuing to plan the toy client schedule, and dealing with the ads that came in yesterday. The mild weather has meant that the offices suddenly seem over-heated.

Andrea and myself are supposed to transfer some of our clients to Eleanor and Julie. The temptation is to give them the worst clients. But should this be worst in difficult to handle, or worst in terms of low profits?

Observing Julie this morning, she is very hard-working - the kind of person who must be continually occupied. Does this indicate low self-esteem? Or lack of an internal life?

Gordon P, one of the PR consultants upstairs, wants me to place an ad on behalf of one of his clients. But he has been infuriatingly vague about where it should go and what it should say. At one point I had to follow him out into the street to ask for further information.

Thursday

First thing in the morning we were all gathered together to get a long lecture from Yvette about proof-reading. As we dispersed Neil (graphic designer) said cheerfully "What a good day it is". Andrea said "He always says that when we've been told off".

A bunch of flowers delivered to Andrea. Smaller than the mammoth displays she has previously received, but obviously from her lover Paul de Lion. Yvette said that as Andrea's charms wear off so the bouquets will get smaller and smaller (this was very nasty, but the way she said it made everyone laugh).

News that Paul de Lion and Nigel Celeste (another of the former consultants upstairs) had formed their own company. Speculation that Andrea may go to join them. This may well be a good move for her.

The end of the day became very busy.

Friday

I spent most of the morning working on an ad for one of our charity clients (we don't make much money, but they look good on our client portfolio). There was a marked lack of new bookings coming in. Julie spent her time reorganising the job bags, which was an entirely pointless occupation.

A rep from one of the national newspapers came in and talked about special offers. Yvette bullied him, saying she could always get a full page in the Daily Mail for £10k (not strictly true - she can only do this if she buys late space). The rep went away without offering to buy anyone lunch, which is another indicator of the recession.

I went to the bank at lunchtime, and then managed to get hold of a copy of the New Yorker.

In the afternoon I handed over clients to Eleanor, giving her the ones I dislike the most. To my surprise Yvette thought my choices were excellent. And who knows, perhaps Eleanor will have more success with them than I have.

Although work piled up on my desk there was nothing that couldn't wait until Monday, and so I went home at 5pm.

Seth Godin writes interestingly about freelances: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/03/when-a-freelancer-changes-the-game.html

I prefer using freelances rather than in-house creatives. Mainly because they are more motivated, they always deliver on time, there are never any internal politics interfering. But perhaps I just like to be in control too much.

Dogs outside a pub at lunchtime. There were five of them in all, and they looked fabulous. It's funny the way just seeing these dogs made me feel happy.

The European Commission has just approved growing genetically modified crops in the European Union for the first time in 12 years!

Caving to the GM lobby, the commission has ignored 60% of Europeans who feel we have to get the facts first before growing foods that could pose a threat to our health and environment.

A new initiative allows 1 million EU citizens to make official legal requests of the European Commission. Let's build a million voices for a ban on GM foods until the research is done; they will be delivered to the President Barroso of the European Commission. Sign the petition and forward this email to friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Consumers, public health, environmental and farmers groups have long rallied against a few international GM companies having such significant influence over European agriculture. Concerns about growing GM crops include: contamination of organic crops and the environment; their impact on climate due to the excessive need for pesticides; the destruction of biodiversity and local agriculture; and the effects of GM food on public health.

EU member states have voiced strong opposition to last week's decision to authorise BASF's potato and Monsanto's maize -- Italy and Austria are opposed, and France said it would ask for further scientific research.

There is still no consensus on the long-term effects of GM crops. And it is the GM industry, pursuing profits not public well being, that is funding the science and driving the regulatory environment. That is why European citizens are calling for more independent research, testing and precaution before crops are unleashed onto our land.

Now, the "European Citizens' Initiative" gives 1 million EU citizens the opportunity to submit policy proposals to the European Commission and offers us a unique chance to drown out lobbyists' influence.

Let's raise 1 million voices to put a moratorium on the introduction of GM crops into Europe and set up an independent, ethical and scientific body to research and determine the strong regulation of GM crops. Sign the petition now and then forward it widely:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_health_and_biodiversity/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

With determination,

Alice, Benjamin, Ricken, Luis, Graziela and the entire Avaaz team.

More information:

Last Eurobameter Survey 2008 'Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment', page 66:
http://bit.ly/aMkeVJ

The Independent, Fury as Brussels authorises GM potatoes:
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/fury-as-eu-approves-gm-potato-1915833.html

Reuters, France blasts GM crop approvals by EU agency:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6241ZQ20100305

New Report: GMOs Causing Massive Pesticide Pollution:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-kimbrell/new-report-gmos-causing-m_b_362888.html

Summary of the International Assessment on Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, including critics of GMOs use in agriculture:
http://globalpolicy.org/social-and-economic-policy/international-trade-and-development-1-57/genetically-modified-organisms.html#key

Interesting article in today's The Independent about swifts. The article was written by McCarthy and is very clear and informative. I had forgotten how good The Independent can (sometimes) be.

The Independent newspaper was a quintessential product of the 1980s. When it launched in 1986 it was widely acclaimed as the most beautiful British newspaper ever produced, with elegant layouts, and innovative typeography. From the beginning, the writers set a very high standard of journalism, genuinely independant of political affiliation.

Inevitably compromises were made as the newspaper came under financial pressure and made a series of editorial changes. The current production standards are very poor (as you can see from the photograph, a pinkish tinge mars the page). The standards of journalism have fallen, with writers such as Johann Hari and Yasmin Alibhai-Brown adopting a camp quasi-outrageous style that masquerades as "provocative".

Above: remnants of statuary on the former BMA building in the Strand. The building was designed by Charles Holden and the statues were carved by Jacob Epstein. When the hoardings came down in 1908 there was an outcry in the press on the grounds that the sculptures were so anatomically detailed they would corrupt the minds of people passing in the street.

Eventually the statues were partially destroyed on the spurious grounds that they were unsafe.

Added 19th March:

I meant to go on to discuss the way in which society has changed, and public nudity is now so commonplace we hardly notice it (there was a recent report on Newsnight about the way we are bombarded with hundreds of sexual images just walking down the street).

I then meant to go on to discuss Dolce & Gabbana advertising and their use of photography that combines nudity with implicit violence.

But as usual there is never enough time.

Interesting village in the flood plain in the south west corner of the county. Bleak morning, although it brightened up later on. Considerable work has been done on the anthropological structure of this little area, so it was rewarding to pay the place a visit.



Above: as you can see, the land is exceptionally stoney. There were local ancestral prescriptions on how crops should be planted – typically at a ritual “time of goodwill”. This goodwill period was associated with the appearance of specific birds (kestrels).



Above: the area is divided into small farms, the farm buildings built of stone. Traditional decorations are supposed to be used on the walls of barns, but I saw no evidence of this. The stone barns are significant and the possession of a barn filled with food was one of the signifiers of masculinity and status among the freeholders.



Above: ancestral influence was particularly strong, and analysis of folktales indicates that "the ancestors" never really left the village. The path between birth and death and eternal life was seen as a continuum marked by a series of transition rites. These village communities also expended considerable energy on bonding ceremonies, recognising that if they stuck together they would be safe from enemies.

Exchanges of social food, initiation of sons into guilds and confraternities, marriage alliances etc. The quasi-secret nature of these observances has meant little detail has survived. As well as the parish church there were many other holy places throughout the parish, and most local houses would have a religious focal point.



Above: inside the church looking west. The arrangement of arches indicates the building was once much larger and had aisles. There was just enough light to look around.



Above: the unusual Norman font. Production of children was a matter of pride for local women - both sons and daughters were valued. There was also a complex arrangement of insignia which indicates that the influence of heraldry permeated further down the social scale than most historians realise.



Above: antique print to St Margaret of Antioch kept in the church. The dedication is interesting as it is usually connected to crusaders (the cult of St Margaret was favoured among communities that supported crusader activity). The feast day of the saint was marked locally by "Heg Peg pudding" - a suet pudding made with damsons.

Monday

Depressed expressions from Andrea and Eleanor when I entered the agency, so that I knew Yvette (our boss) was on the warpath.

Half-way through the morning Yvette called the usual agency meeting and harangued us for the rate at which we were losing clients (although only one client has actually left and one other has complained about the level of service and threatened to leave). There have been few acceptances for the client hospitality event Yvette has invited them to. Neil (graphics designer) has been told to get some of our best ads framed and put up in the reception area.

I tried to remain optimistic today, but it was a struggle.

Tuesday

I didn't rush this morning, knowing that Yvette would be in at midday. But no sooner had I got to my desk Yvette came on the phone wanting to know why I was late. Thank goodness she doesn't know my mobile or I would never have any peace.

Eleanor (newly appointed a Account Exec) was near the end of her tether, having to cope with influenza combined with the excessive work being piled on her (there are penalties associated with being Yvette's favourite).

Chris B, an old friend, paid a visit and I showed him round the offices. Yvette came in, and I introduced them. I could see him staring at her, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Julie, new admin assistant, started today. Short in height, brown bubble-perm hair, a little plump. Andrea took her to lunch, presumably to make friends with her (although she said previously that Julie would be Yvette's spy - they had worked together at a previous agency).

Wednesday

The weather much more mild, the geese parading happily in the north field.

As soon as I arrived at the office I was told the news that Paul de Lion (consultant with the PR division upstairs) had resigned.

I was so busy today I had to lay all the job bags on the floor so I could keep track of things. All of the day Yvette continually asked what I was doing, which was irritating. I suspect she actually wanted to keep an eye on Andrea, who was very subdued (she had had an affair with Paul de Lion and the news he was leaving had been a shock to her).

Katherine (PA to Terry who is our MD) came down when I was in the office on my own. We talked about Andrea's affair with Paul de Lion. His wife has apparently thrown him out.

Thursday

I was half an hour late getting to the office, and when I got there I found no-one else was in either. I borrowed the spare keys from Katherine and opened up and hurriedly switched on all the lights. As I did this I could hear someone walking up the stairs, and I was convinced from the heavy steps that it was Yvette, but it was only Chris (part time accounts).

Andrea rang in sick, so I had to sort all her work out.

Because it will be Julie's birthday at the weekend she handed out slices of chocolate cake.

Strange glinting lights on the surface of the Thames, caused by odd rays of sunlight getting through the dull massed clouds. Client meeting near Blackfriars Bridge. Nothing significant was said.

Friday

Absolutely nothing to do today. No work came in, and everyone was at a loose end. At one point we all sat in the general office talking - Yvette said that when she was a child on holiday in Egypt her father had been offered two mangy goats for her ("her Dad would have got the best out of the deal" Neil said later).