Another Day At A Medium-Sized International Bank IV

After more than six months of waiting we have a new organisational structure. We know this because a variety of support areas have started using different numbers and headings on their communications, and occasionally asking questions such as:

"Why are your products split into apparently counter-intuitive business areas in the new organisational structure?"

To use an analogy, it appears that on the funny farm, crop rotation strategy is now the remit of the head sheep-shearer, while planting and harvesting falls under the dairy shed.

Since nobody has bothered to inform the revenue-generating areas of the new reporting lines we can at least try and deflect such questions with a simple:

"What new organisational structure?"

although this does occasionally prompt an ensuing lecture as to the specific expertise requirements for arable and livestock farming and how stupid we are to mix such things up.

Another day of taking sh+t for a living...

Motorheadache

SSHHHhhhhh...

We did something highly decadent yesterday and flew to Manchester for only one purpose: to take the mini-somnambulists to see Motorhead (and Saxon and Danko Jones). Fab, if a bit different from the old days.

The first time I saw Lemmy and co was 25-odd years ago - with the classic Fast Eddie and Philthy Phil line up (supported by Anvil, I think). I seem to remember begging for enough cash to buy a ticket and walking about 50 miles, with my friend Jim, to Hammersmith Odeon. We walked through Leicester Square where we met several shady characters, bought bootleg cassettes and refused various drugs. Well various packets of things purported to be drugs, anyway. Two days later, I sat my 'O' level English exam, and remember straining to look up at the gym clock because I had headbanger's neck....

Review and photo to follow... !

Phriday Photo XVI

On page 19 of Birmingham International Airport's Report & Accounts (2007-2008) was a little surprise. To illustrate the in-depth security procedures was a collage, including a picture of an x-ray of a luggage item...

Let's hope that BIA insists on a greater attention to detail during their security checks than they do in their graphic design.

Click here to see previous Phriday Photos!

BamBam The Buddha Boy

It's not surprising, with the virtually hysterical worldwide fervour released after last week's earth-shattering US election result, to see one or two other opportunists jump on the messianic bandwagon. Lo and behold Bambam the Buddha boy has popped up in Nepal again, artfully not denying claims that he is Siddhartha Gautama reincarnate. What is surprising, is that I was convinced that BamBam was trading Spot FX at a MSIB in Sydney - if he really can be in two places at once perhaps there is something to this after all...

A group of currency analysts hold a communal seance in order to divine where EUR/GBP will open this morning...

Alternative Career

As one career is coming to its end, I started to think what other things I might do, in case the plans to become an internet magnate don't unfold as quickly as I expect. The advert below on exec-appointments.com caught my eye. I have no special forces experience but I can drive an Aston-Martin, and I quite like the idea of being a "Targeting Officer." In fact I can think of one or two potential targets already...

(It does say I should not discuss my application with anyone, so I'd appreciate it if you kept this all to yourself)

This advertisement will self-destruct in 10 seconds...

New Book

We like new books around here :-) That gentleman and scholar Trywalker very kindly brought me a gift back from his recent trip to London: "The Price Of Everything" by Russell Roberts, replete with a touching inscritption from our young star.

I am thoroughly looking forward to reading it so that it will "change my life - reading it will give me a sense of wonder about the everyday marvels that are all around me." Check back soon for the verdict...

A parable of possibility and prosperity (and, apparently, alliteration)

Monday Is Funday

Another day, another dollar, or so the saying goes. If only it was just the dollars we had to worry about. It's the pounds, and the euros, and the yen, and the francs, and the florints, and the liras... ah, well, at least Trywalker is back at his desk.

Apparently, an infinite number of spot monkeys with an infinite number of Bloomberg terminals can tell you where EUR/USD will go (with the following conditions...)