now there's a turn up ..

So. I'm going back to the old firm and whilst I've known this for some time I was asked not say anything until the new dept head could plan it in and tell the team.

FAQs:

1. "WTF? You left to be a Head of Dept elsewhere and have come back as 2nd in command. You stoopid?"

No, but thanks for asking. Pragmatic. Head of a smaller, less-experienced, culturally 'depressed' (after 2 years of jerking about) team who were serving a less-challenging set of clients in a more parochial (Sales Promo-dominated) agency setting just didn't do it for me.
And that’s no reflection on the guys I have recently worked with on the interactive side. They did the best they could and are very fine people.. But they were already leaving (or are still doing so) (voluntarily or enforced) for reasons that I agreed with as each week went on.

2."Are you going to stick about this time?"

Yes. My priorities have changed.. Less about serving my ego (and taking everything personally) and more about job satisfaction: working with people I respect and missed (ah, shucks) and working on chunky projects with clever people across all disciplines. Like I said, job satisfaction.

3. "So no issues being a smaller cog in effect?"

No. None at all. I think each to their strengths and mine is more (I realise - actually kinda knew before I left) about people, processes and product delivery rather than promotion (as in new biz evangelising) and business profile raising. Different skills sets but complementary and I've always been a firm believer in hierarchy so putting money where the gob has been and I'm completely happy having a boss who has a seemingly similar career/age/experience profile to me but is a much better 'big agency' player I think in terms of senior inter-network and client business building. I am more than happy to be reporting in to him.

4. "Are you still going very bald?"

Yes and greyer. Nice combo

5. "Is all this an elaborate excuse to get back to the bistro and avoid the limp cheese and ham pasties which were the best on offer from Gregg’s bakery, a 10 minute walk from the office in Leeds?"

You got me.

Cornish blog

Its our third day here, its blowing a gale and lashing down outside and I was up at 4-30 checking we’re in one piece and again in earnest at 6-30. Agh - it must be Cornwall and camping ;-)
We had good weather first couple of days, the best was yesterday at Eden project, but that all seems a bit remote with the tent bending and buckling around me and the white noise of the large trees behind us a constant backdrop. Anita and boys seem able to sleep through it though.

I think we're going (like 500,000 other wet tourists) to go to a town today and jump from shop to shop, from café to pub. St Austell is nearest - may not have the beach-side mix of art, surf-chic and tacky pasty-tastic holiday vibe as st.Ives but we'll see.
Hopefully there's a tent still here when we get back.
Kettle just boiled.. Coffee to warm up and fox's crunch creams - because I’m a fat, cold, miffed old git and I’m worth it.

Evening follow up..
We decided not to go into St. Austell but drove in the rain and blustery wind to Newquay. Which provided brunch, a lot of hung over beach youth and .. not much else.
We went over to St.I ves where we had some sun , some high tea and also some new shoes (black Vans - groovy) for me.
Btw - I’m not allowed to say groovy, or cool, Ronan said. I'm too old AND his dad, both mean I must speak 'older'. Don't want to embarrass him, so that’s swell, top, sound, by me.