In international news Gouri has just received the framed photo. (I used express courier. I can afford it. So why not. What is money if not to be spent on the ones you love spending time with?) She called me on the phone and screamed with happiness. Then she asked me if I was spending too much on her. I laughed and told her to not worry. I told her that my liquidity position had improved substantially. She then laughed and asked if I had started stealing money from Lederman.

Both of us laughed a lot at that joke.

Should I take a sweater? Or will it be warm in Brussels?

Also I am wondering if I should buy anything from Brussels. Maybe some local specialties.

The last thing I did before leaving office was to sign off on the expenses estimate for LLTLF Show No. 1 which will take place day after tomorrow. There is a lot of excitement in the office. And it has even got some media coverage. Jenny was quoted on the Time Out, London saying that the event was ‘a great way for the banking sector to give back to society’. They published a photo of hers also. She is wearing too much make up. People will come for the show thinking it is a cabaret. Group A has put up a nice list of comics. They are all British and I haven’t heard of any of them before. But Rahul Gupta seems very excited. (Snob value.)

But I have to go of course. Given Jenny’s style of leadership (bossy, unilateral, self-centred, sexy, dominating woman) my expectations are low. If I hadn’t goofed up that conference call I’d be leading the show. Now I am just one of her slaves. Amazing how an intern has so much power just because she has prior experience in organizing this circus drama.

And finally one piece of gossip before I go to sleep early.

It seems that Rahul Gupta was hired from Goldman by one of the Dufresne partners. Apparently they were on the same flight and the partner was completely impressed. Carlos heard from someone in the Madrid office banking team that Rahul was offered double pay and a guaranteed bonus to join.

Need to have a chat with Dominic about pay when I am back. I can’t work in a company where a batchmate is making 15 times my salary.

Ridiculous.

24 May 2007

11.04 p.m.

Hello hello hello hello Diary.

I am back after a spectacular visit to Brussels. I have so much to say. So sit down somewhere comfortable and listen.

Now first of all I may have gotten a little carried away in the duty free section.