Oh what a blast.
What an amazingly good evening.
The National Audit Office Alumni met at the Cabinet War Rooms for drinks, nibbles and conversation.
I signed up maybe six weeks ago out of curiosity but for the past couple of days I had been filled with dread. I had visions of business cards being thrusted, one upmanship being paraded, and poor sad little Gert on the back foot defensive saying "well, I would be someone but I've had Yuppie Flu for nearly three years."
Nothing like that at all. And a very sharp reminder that NAO people are just about the best on the planet. I tried to avoid the "I work for the HO" but it's unavoidable. "I do as little as possible" went down a treat. The "Well, cut a long story short, long term sick, part time, barely pays the mortgage" went down even more of a treat.
Lovely to see G. who's terribly important but arrived in the smoking place with two fs and a b in a sentence whilst parading a short skirt and high heels. And I mean Grade 3 important; she was hotly tipped as trainee and now she is a seriously senior Civil Servant Essex Girl swearing like a trooper smoking like a fish it's 2206.
To D, my one time line manager, always and still a lovely guy, apologising for not progressing beyond when 'I left him; describing his shotgun marriage eleven years after he and L. moved in together. One of the good guys and clearly happy with being Dad.
N. my one time trainee and ethical inspiration (I told him). Due to become a Dad in two months, having downshifted from Accenture to a small and perfectly formed. Diplomatically, he agreed that I taught him everything he knows. Wonderful to see a lovely, lovely bloke.
And C. I got quite blunt with C. We met on my induction day 21 September 1989. I never had an argument with C, but she did come over as blue-stockinged straight laced. I was absolutely candid, I admire and envy her. She did the career thing, qualified accountant, maternity leave, followed by sprog number #2 and career break and now she cannot imagine going back, but she does a lot of things unpaid. She looks fabulous. I told her she hasn't changed an iota since 1989 physically, but that's not true. This is someone who is happy and fulfilled, and knows that in time she will do something different (children of 9 and 6). So amazing to see someone so formerly straight-laced so relaxed. Oh she'll never be a fashion victim, and kudos right there. But so amazingly chilled.
Just generally, it was so nice to chill with people. The real quality of the 1996 entrants, almost as classy as the 1989 entrants. A, whom I recognised immediately, and J. with whom I soon established connections.
If you know me, please explain the NAO role in my life. A fabulous and arsehole organisation filled - past and present - with the most amazing people. I could not work there again, but 90% of the best people I have ever met in my life are from the NAO.
A wonderful evening and I suspect I might just become a fully signed-up NAO alumna.
Comments