First team quarterly

Had my first team quarterly meeting today, which meant the whole day off the phones! Kicked off with people bingo, then had a business update from Carl, followed by 'living the brand' - a series of presentations/activities about the psychology behind marketing and how consumers choose a particular brand, how consumer experience is the make or break of it, and how we would brand ourselves as individuals.

We went for a brisk team walk over an extended lunchbreak (as had to be in half an hour earlier than normal) and had a presentation on the art of communication (how our personality affects our communication skills) and then Carl gave a little presentation on salary/ratings and promotion criteria. There was a 'radiation' team challenge (complicated!) and it ended with an awards 'ceremony'. Mine was the Give It A Go Oscar.

Last Friday we had our cheese and wine evening, and Saturday Mary and Vik were up and we surprised Mary with an early birthday party. Sunday, I went to Castle Leazes for the LBS 'technique' workshop (didn't do a lot). Tuesday night, I went to Bar Beyond for salsa (and even the classes at Castle Leazes beforehand), last night I was meant to be going to the Intsoc social at Nancys but locked myself out the house and went to Anna's STAR talk instead (Student Action for Refugees) a society of which she is currently President. Tonight was going to go to LBS but have an awful stomach ache. Tomorrow night, is a work pub crawl round Whitley Bay! Oh, and last Saturday during the day, we cooked and ate at Linda's house in Seaton Sluice(another work social).