Win 100 iconic DVDs
Her stupid e-mail, detailing the plans for her 21st birthday party last Friday, is doing the rounds of City banks, with appropriately derisive comments. Lucy is something of a control freak, and her friends are instructed to arrived in groups at properly staggered 15-minute intervals to ensure sufficient face time with the princess.
They are given a strict script to adhere to on arrival. “When asked, how can I help you Sir/Madam, you reply, I am here for Lucy’s birthday party at the Rivoli Bar.” Dress smart — “the more upper-class you dress, the less likely you shall be denied entry”.
Any queries to her PA. This 21-year-old has a PA? Very Paris Hilton. I ring Citigroup to see whether Lucy is now an ex-intern. “She hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s just . . .” The spokeswoman tails off. How about being a silly, spoilt, stuck-up, overly rich ninny? “She has everyone’s sympathy.”
Lucy’s mobile, needless to say, is switched off.
A US firm — who else? — is offering ringtones that are quotations from the Bible. You can have a phone that, in the middle of a crowded carriage, intones “Thou art worthy” or “What a mighty God we serve”. Should clear that carriage a treat.
BA sandbagged
AMONG the businessmen losing their baggage at Heathrow was Gervase MacGregor. Various bags went missing, containing phones, a Blackberry, a computer, an iPod, car keys and a digital camera. MacGregor has written to Willie Walsh, the BA chief executive, detailing his experiences.
And boy, does he detail them. The letter runs to four tightly packed pages of encounters with various unhelpful and rude BA staff. At one stage he is taken to task for ringing the Terminal 1 baggage hall direct — I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but try 0208 562 7733 — and told that the only number that he may use is the 0845 one that no one answers.
BA says it is doing its best to find the bags. MacGregor’s is a forensic examination of recent woes at our airports, appropriately enough from the head of forensic services at BDO Stoy Hayward and the man investigating Rover for the DTI.
KYTE GROUP, the firm run by the derivatives market veteran Peter Green, has been fined a hefty £250,000 by the Financial Services Authority for accounting failures and putting client money at risk. It is a lot, given that no actual money was lost. (By comparison, Evolution got £500,000 for deliberate market abuse.) The FSA says the offences continued even after warnings to Kyte. Will you appeal, I ask Green? “We’re not going to. We just want to put it to bed and move on.”
city.diary@thetimes.co.uk
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Get ready for the winter sports season, with our resort guides and snow reports
We are backing British business, what is the confidence of the nation and what businesses are succeeding?
Growing demand for energy, oil that is harder to reach and the rise of carbon dioxide emissions. We examine the energy challenge
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
36-month car lease
on contract hire for
£359.99 plus VAT pm
12 months for the price of 11 and a 5% discount.
Offer ends 31/11/09
The UK's leading alternative to showroom finance.
Finance packages tailored to your needs.
Minimum loan of £15,000
Car Insurance
c£100,000 + car, bonus & bens
Lord Search & Selection
Midlands
Competitive salary + NHS pens
The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE)
London
Not Specified
The Sheppard Trust
London
£31,842 – £38,378pa
Charity Commision
London, Liverpool or Taunton
Moments from Battersea Park.
For sale with Winkworth.
See your free Experian credit report beforehand
Book now & save over £100pp.
11 cool resorts, lowest prices... Early Booking offers 15 Nov.
20% off selected Azores holidays taken in October with Sunvil Discovery
Get covered on your travels with a superb range of policies at great prices. Visit InsureandGo.com
World Class Golf, Spa and preferential Beach Club. Private estate overlooking West Coast
Villas from £275 per night inclusive of Golf
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.