The offices suddenly seem over-heated - the past week at work

Monday

I got to the agency by 8.45. New Account Assistant Julie was already there (she used to work with Head of the agency Yvette, and told me Yvette likes people to arrive earlier even though she doesn't usually get in herself until mid-morning). Julie seemed pleasant enough and not the great threat Andrea (fellow account executive) fears she will be.

News that Ian Miller had suddenly resigned from the PR Bureau (a specialist subsidiary of the PR division upstairs). Terry K started with the upstairs division today, and was brought round to be introduced. The phone hardly rang for the first two hours, then ads gradually began to come in.

Yvette arrived and immediately called a meeting of the account executives (which Julie also attended, which was interesting). We were told that the agency must make £140k profit for the second quarter. This seems an impossible objective unless we get more (and more profitable) clients.

Yvette went out late afternoon after a bad-tempered stomp through the office. At Julie's suggestion Eleanor (account executive) went out to get some flowers (roses, lilies and freesias) and arranged them in a vase on Yvette's desk with a note that said "From us all". The flowers had a magical effect on Yvette when she returned, and she beamed smiles at everyone, telling us how much she liked freesias.

Her mood improved even more when a series of ads came in with a total profit of £7k.

Tuesday

A day's holiday.

Wednesday

Another busy day, although looking back it is hard to think what exactly I did. Mostly it was a succession of little tasks, continuing to plan the toy client schedule, and dealing with the ads that came in yesterday. The mild weather has meant that the offices suddenly seem over-heated.

Andrea and myself are supposed to transfer some of our clients to Eleanor and Julie. The temptation is to give them the worst clients. But should this be worst in difficult to handle, or worst in terms of low profits?

Observing Julie this morning, she is very hard-working - the kind of person who must be continually occupied. Does this indicate low self-esteem? Or lack of an internal life?

Gordon P, one of the PR consultants upstairs, wants me to place an ad on behalf of one of his clients. But he has been infuriatingly vague about where it should go and what it should say. At one point I had to follow him out into the street to ask for further information.

Thursday

First thing in the morning we were all gathered together to get a long lecture from Yvette about proof-reading. As we dispersed Neil (graphic designer) said cheerfully "What a good day it is". Andrea said "He always says that when we've been told off".

A bunch of flowers delivered to Andrea. Smaller than the mammoth displays she has previously received, but obviously from her lover Paul de Lion. Yvette said that as Andrea's charms wear off so the bouquets will get smaller and smaller (this was very nasty, but the way she said it made everyone laugh).

News that Paul de Lion and Nigel Celeste (another of the former consultants upstairs) had formed their own company. Speculation that Andrea may go to join them. This may well be a good move for her.

The end of the day became very busy.

Friday

I spent most of the morning working on an ad for one of our charity clients (we don't make much money, but they look good on our client portfolio). There was a marked lack of new bookings coming in. Julie spent her time reorganising the job bags, which was an entirely pointless occupation.

A rep from one of the national newspapers came in and talked about special offers. Yvette bullied him, saying she could always get a full page in the Daily Mail for £10k (not strictly true - she can only do this if she buys late space). The rep went away without offering to buy anyone lunch, which is another indicator of the recession.

I went to the bank at lunchtime, and then managed to get hold of a copy of the New Yorker.

In the afternoon I handed over clients to Eleanor, giving her the ones I dislike the most. To my surprise Yvette thought my choices were excellent. And who knows, perhaps Eleanor will have more success with them than I have.

Although work piled up on my desk there was nothing that couldn't wait until Monday, and so I went home at 5pm.