It’s hard to say what I thought my last day Blackwell (should that be Wiley-Blackwell now?) was going to be like. Truth is, I think, I didn’t have a clue. But, ‘an odd day’ does seem to cover it. It was a good day though; a reminder of just what a good bunch of people they are whom I am leaving behind. I finished off the handover notes for a couple of non-standard journals, and surprised myself at actually sorting out three ‘contbugs’ before deleting emails and wiping the passwords and cookies from my browser history.
And then came the presents. So many presents. Chocolates from Edinburgh for both Vania and myself – couriered down in person by Clare, and theatre vouchers from the Social Committee. I had a sketchbook and a journal, a three-way pen, pencil, and PDA (should I have one) styless, £30 of book tokens and a bottle of wine to wash it all down. And of course a card with a multitude of signatures and kind messages. 🙂 I circumvented the need to give a lengthy speech by offering short but heartfelt thank yous and then ceremoniously handing over the First Aid box to Jules, thus nicely and switching the attention off me for a moment, and getting a laugh.
Of course, in the great tradition of leaving speeches, Edward’s whilst not too embarrassing for me was factually inaccurate on a few points. True, I don’t like marmite or jelly. In fact I hate them, they are food of the devil. Utterly. And completely the work of Satan. But I do like buses, it’s just the Oxford to Bicester bus drivers who are also, like marmite, the work of the devil. I was also not once, the back end of the horse. I was the whole horse, and it was a dancing ‘backing’ horse to Mephistophilis’s Seven Deadly Sinners Elvis cover-band. And I never did go on holiday to build toilets either. Or at least I never did build toilets on holiday. We built fire circles instead. 😉 Still, it is pretty scary that the Global Production Director has visited shepline.com… Eeek!
Following work, a goodly party of us, decamped to the nice garden of the scary Cricketer’s Arms for a drink in the Spring sunshine before heading into twon and to Prezzo and a meal of delicious Italian food and some drinks afterwards at the nearby HaHa Bar. Heading back home at half-ten, it was exceedingly odd to think that this was still only a Monday. For those left at work tomorrow its going to be a funny ol’, and long ol’ week. Bless ’em… 🙂
The Dinner Table
Originally uploaded by shepline on 1 May ’07, 11.33pm BST PST.
Philippa and Kathy
Originally uploaded by shepline on 1 May ’07, 11.37pm BST PST.
Helen and Jules
Originally uploaded by shepline on 1 May ’07, 11.35pm BST PST.
Us (by Jules)
Originally uploaded by shepline on 1 May ’07, 11.38pm BST PST.
