Well the Pfizer Brussels press event turned out to be a ball, and I ended up in the Grand Place with a journalist from the UK's Farmers Guardian at a bar called the coffin. We had to walk down a dark passageway to get to the bar, and inside there were actual coffins used as tables. Very louche.
It has been a week of endings and new beginnings at Pfizer. When I got back from Brussels I had a call from Pfizer PR veteran Bob Fauteux – announcing that he was retiring from his post at the head of the communications department in New York.
Mr Fauteux has been a regular caller into the office for as long as anyone here can remember. Bob's attention to detail was legendary, and he will be greatly missed by all of us in London and New York.
Apart from that bombshell, we have been going a bit mad getting an issue ready for the new year. Our press deadline is January 2nd for issue 604, so we've pulled out all the stoppers to get everything arranged and in its proper place - as I'm sure most of you can't wait for the festive period to be over so you can go back to work and get stuck into the latest issue of Animal Pharm.
Despite most of the staff here calling me Scrooge, I've decided not to mention Christmas this year, so I'm afraid there'll be no snow-covered Animal Pharm banner, and you won't find any pictures of bells and holly.
I'm personally sick of being bombarded with the unsavory shopping-fest that Consumas has turned into, and I'm certain that our unfestive policy will not detract from your enjoyment of our publication. So, I'm afraid no Christmas greetings from the Animal Pharm team this year. (BTW my rancor might have something to do with the fact that my birthday is on December 25th, but this is neither the time nor the place to go into that ...)
Despite all this, I'd like to say thankyou to those who have sent in Christmas cards, we do appreciate your gesture and have hung them up over the Animal Pharm desk.
4 comments:
you damn miserable brits, don't you ever stop whining - Xmas is a great time to tell people how much you appreciate them. your colleagues are right to call you scrooge
Hey Scrooge,
I hate to be pedantic, but you did mention the C word three times. Try not giving your partner a present and let's see how far that get's you...do let us know how she/he reacts.
Merry festive season to you anyway.
Agblogger
Bah Humbug! ;-)
On a serious note, Bob Fauteux leaving Pfizer and leaving the animal health industry feels a bit like the prospect of Christmas without mince pies - perfectly possible, of course but just not the same somehow.
We're going to miss him.
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