Colourful Southbank

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:54:31 -0400

Colourful Southbank

Leaving Edelman

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0400

Today was my last day at Edelman. The last few days have been full of mixed emotions; after five and a half years I’m sad to say goodbye to many friends (both colleagues and clients) but I’m also raring to begin my next chapter. Edelman has been my life, it’s familiar, it’s my norm (some weeks I’ve spent more time at my desk than at my flat…). But there are exciting things ahead, my departure means the beginning of a new adventure - and I’m itching to get scratching.

It’s worth pointing out, before I rattle on, that Edelman Technology has pretty impressive, previous form on leaving gifts. There have been videos, infographics and even an iPad app. It might be because when you’re lucky enough to work with friends you celebrate their departure spectacularly, it might be because our employers allow us the freedom to run wild on extra-curicular pursuits - to hell with billable hours (the same reason we staged Gleedelman, no doubt). It might just be because we’re a soppy bunch. Nevertheless a card from Paperchase, hurredly signed, never really cuts it.

I don’t often write proper posts - but after my ~~colleagues~~ friends raised the bar on leaving dos I thought it appropriate to a) thank them again here and b) share the fun I’ve been having.

It started with a lunch
Last Wednesday I was having lunch with the Naked_Pheasant and Nicky Brzeska. Rather unexpectadly a package was delivered to our table. Addressed to me the package opened to reveal:

A very retro looking Nokia
A sinister note
3 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle

Switching on the phone, I received some teasing text-messages asking me to make sure my phone was switched on at 8am the following morning.

It began again with breakfast

So I woke up the next day, switched on the phone and was instructed to be at Pret on Victoria Street by 9. When there I was told to ask for Andreas, the manager, and say “I’m just a small town girl, living in a lonely world”.

I laughed. My colleagues were insane - but this was going to be fun. I dashed off to Pret, where I was met by a snaking queue of commuters thirsty for their morning coffee fix. I walked to the front of the queue and sheepishly asked if Andreas was there. The line of baristers raised their heads like inquisitive, giggling meerkats. Andreas replied “Yes, do you have something for me”. I, figuring it was in for a penny, in a for a pound, very boldly answered with my code line. The queue of commuters looked a bit confused. Andreas handed me my next envelope and told me to take anything I wanted to eat or drink, on the house. The queue of commuters looked really confused. I grabbed a bacon sandwich, said my thank yous and stumbled out of Pret opening my next envelope.

(Can I pause to say a massive THANKS to Andreas and the staff at Pret for being such good sports. I also thank you for the Ham and Greve sandwiches. I have eaten many of those over the years).

The day continued with tasks

My second envelope started a theme for the day - each stage marked by a new clue and three jigsaw pieces:

Clue 2: say “Video Killed the Radio Star” to ground floor reception
Clue 3: climb the stairs to 3rd floor, following the yellow brick road and look for the Wizard
Clue 4: Sing Stevie Wonder’s Superstition to the WIzard

At this point I was given a reprieve and told to report to my desk, which had been lovingly adorned with Edel photos

It began again after lunch

The afternoon was then spent collecting more jigsaw pieces

Clues 4 & 5 involved visiting our Corporate department and signing One Direction at Emily Middleton, and then serenading Jo Sheldon with “Your Sex is on Fire”. All in a day’s work.
Clue 6 involved rummaging through Edelman’s library (encompassing the entire Penguin Classics catalogue), only to find jigsaw pieces in the very last book I looked in
The final clue was lodged in some awful office art in the Edelman bar

My quest complete I then travelled back upstairs to our department - to be received with colleagues, beer, the remaining pieces of my jigsaw (a very nice photo of the team) and a video including messages from ex-colleagues from far flung places like South Africa, San Mateo and the toilets of Slam.

It ended with a drink

So that was how i spent one of my penultimate days at Edelman (the fun was actually last Thursday, so my leaving drinks coincided with the Bank Holiday).

Thanks Edelman. Thanks for an incredible five years. To say I was overwhelmed by the effort, thought and unbillable time that went into my leaving do would be an understatement. Special call outs to the masterminds who could rival Anneka Rice in planning a treasure hunt: George, Lucy and Nicky.

You are all awesome.

Edel-Jigsaw taking shape…

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:17:29 -0400

Edel-Jigsaw taking shape…

My first week at Edelman, 5.5 years ago. Not sure the years have...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:52:56 -0400

My first week at Edelman, 5.5 years ago. Not sure the years have been kind?

Wow. Edel Tech colleagues raising the bar on leaving...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:18:05 -0400

Wow. Edel Tech colleagues raising the bar on leaving cards…

Slowly falling in love with the Shard

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:56:12 -0500

Slowly falling in love with the Shard

Long shadow

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:50:57 -0500

Long shadow

#8bitlane burst pipe. Must be the cold weather.

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:00:04 -0500

#8bitlane burst pipe. Must be the cold weather.

Turkey & Ham

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:17:39 -0500

Turkey & Ham

THIS is why I love London. Christmas Column Menorah. Awesome

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:33:15 -0500

THIS is why I love London. Christmas Column Menorah. Awesome

Love the Seven Dials Christmas effort

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:28:21 -0500

Love the Seven Dials Christmas effort

Love this Wilkes Stree Christmas window

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:20:17 -0500

Love this Wilkes Stree Christmas window

Hollydays are coming Hollydays are coming. Tis the season etc...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:57:11 -0500

Hollydays are coming Hollydays are coming. Tis the season etc etc

Autumn

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 09:49:12 -0500

Autumn

Wrapping Paper

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 11:00:22 -0500

Wrapping Paper

It’s been a tiring day

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 16:55:47 -0400

It’s been a tiring day

Sunday cycle (Taken with Instagram)

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 10:21:47 -0400

Sunday cycle (Taken with Instagram)

Saw this and thought of @philipgabraham (Taken with Instagram)

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:17:09 -0400

Saw this and thought of @philipgabraham (Taken with Instagram)

Urban Fox (Taken with Instagram)

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:30:49 -0400

Urban Fox (Taken with Instagram)

Where it started. (Taken with Instagram)

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:54:57 -0400

Where it started. (Taken with Instagram)

Noises from an empty nest

Colourful Southbank

Leaving Edelman

Edel-Jigsaw taking shape…

My first week at Edelman, 5.5 years ago. Not sure the years have...

Wow. Edel Tech colleagues raising the bar on leaving...

Slowly falling in love with the Shard

Long shadow

#8bitlane burst pipe. Must be the cold weather.

Turkey & Ham

THIS is why I love London. Christmas Column Menorah. Awesome

Love the Seven Dials Christmas effort

Love this Wilkes Stree Christmas window

Hollydays are coming Hollydays are coming. Tis the season etc...

Autumn

Wrapping Paper

It’s been a tiring day

Sunday cycle (Taken with Instagram)

Saw this and thought of @philipgabraham (Taken with Instagram)

Urban Fox (Taken with Instagram)

Where it started. (Taken with Instagram)