Work Perks

I apologize for the large gap since my last blog entry. Summer ended rather insistently, swinging into a very hectic September, and it has been non-stop ever since. Besides all sorts of fun activities outside the office – markets, a rugby game, high tea, a day at the amusement park, a housewarming party at the new flat and decadent dinners out – I have also got to take advantage of some amazing work-related London experiences as well.

Though it wasn’t the hat-donning Royal Ascot, I spent my first day at the races – and confirmed my suspicion that I could easily slip into a serious gambling addiction. It was race day at Ascot and I got to join my editor Debi and my deputy editor Debbie in a box. We were hosted by NorthingateArinso, an HR services provider, for a day of free-flowing wine, a lovely country lunch, and seven races. I was shown the ropes on the first race, where I put £5 each way on a horse named Tazahum. The “each way” bet means your horse can either win or place and you still make your money back and then some. Tazahum came in a respectable second place and, as the bookie counted back my bet and change, I was hooked.

After this promising start I stuck with conservative betting, placing £2 each way on two horses per race. In the 2nd, 4th and 7th races I randomly picked the winners – Electric Waves, Vulcanite and Humidor. I just liked their names. In all but one other race I picked the second place winners, and finished the day £35 richer than when I started. On a gambling and wine-fueled high, I cruised into my Saturday night.

During this past week I was treated to a couple of other work events that also served as spectacular London experiences. On Wednesday, health insurer Aviva hosted a spa morning at the Park Lane InterContinental Hotel. Along with a few other female journalists I spent the morning getting pampered with a manicure, a 30-minute back massage and a refreshing steam that ended with a tropical shower. The absolutely blissful morning ended with canapés and champagne, before I returned to the office to chase my deadlines.

The next evening I attended a party hosted by New Look Business Solutions, as they were pushing their new motivation and incentive vouchers. We congregated at their offices for a presentation, some autumn/winter clothes browsing, along with some snacks and drinks. Then we were all given £50 New Look vouchers, herded onto buses and dropped off at one of their flagship stores to shop to our hearts’ content. Back on the buses with new sweaters, boots, tights and handbags, we were told that we were being taken to a spectacular venue for dinner and drinks. Driving through the City, I was convinced we were en route to the Gherkin, but then the bus pulled up to the north side of Tower Bridge and we disembarked.

Next thing I knew we were packed into the lift of the Tower Bridge’s exhibition and soon soaring above the Thames in the high-level walkways. On the west walkway we enjoyed champagne and canapés, and then we were split into teams for the corporate games. On the east walkway we played a rifle range game, mini-putt, Wii tennis, foosball, car racing and horse racing. All the while we sipped champagne and gazed out across the stunning lit-up city as it borders the Thames.

So, yes, it was a really good week. All amazing experiences to add to all the other reasons that I love my job. In November, I will be heading up north to Manchester to cover the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) conference. Since we will be profiling the Manchester City Football Club in our December issue, I am also getting a free ticket to a Manchester United versus Manchester City match. Not too bad for my first-ever football game. I can hardly wait. But first I am back in the office tomorrow morning for news week as we chase news stories and wrap up the November issue.