18 April 2007

The party in Portugal was about as professional as can be expected. At some point in my life, I wend from being the young inexperienced kid tagging along to these things to being one of the main participants. I haven’t gained any more experience and can still feel like I am playacting at my job. All the bankers were younger than me, as were some of the lawyers. Of course thankfully they all brought their bosses as well which meant I was still closer in age to the young tables. Not by much mind.

The New York bankers relished being away from their desks for a change, but took to drinking all night in the same competitive way they approached their work. We of course gave them all a run for their money.

The closing party was round the Chairman’s spectacular house, replete with in-house cinema. There was a lovely touch of dry humour in the showing of Scarface in the cinema, amongst all this ostentation. Whether to credit the Chairman or his party organiser, I’ll never know.

At one point in the evening, the Chairman announces that he will be dropping us off on the way home to Jamaica in his private Jet. While excited at this prospect, I was dreading the 10 hour flight pouring over detailed budgets, especially after a party. In a bid to avoid the drudgery, I collared a very young and very fit lead banker and got him to challenge the Chairman to a tequila drinking competition.

As myself and two female colleagues were leaving the Chairman kindly walked us to the car. Following the customary air kiss with the girls, he did the same to me. The tequila challenge was obviously working.

The journey back was the epitome of comfort and self indulgence, soft leather seat, ankle deep carpets, Earl Grey tea and home made bacon butties.