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Farewell Geoff

To Park Lane for the retirement bash in honour of the 37-year career of Hammerson construction boss Geoff Wright.

The swanky West End HQ has now been sold to a private buyer so it was truly the end of an era. So how did Geoff celebrate this momentous occasion? In true style with a room full of industry bigwigs. Oh and by trotting out not one but two obligatory QS gags. Shall we share one with you?

A QS returned to a pub where he had enjoyed a night of passion some years ago with the landlord's daughter. He greets her and she declares she has given birth recently to a baby boy and he was the father. "Why didn't you contact me? I'd have rushed here and made an honest woman of you," he says. "I sat down with my parents and we decided it was better to give birth to a bastard than a ." An entire profession will miss you, Geoff.

Singing for England

You're probably getting thoroughly bored of all of the World Cup songs being put out at the minute. Will a new ditty by five builders from Bromley hit the right note?

Young Stanley are releasing the not-that-originally-titled Sing it for England! and have even produced a video. For the full story on the rise of this five-piece beat combo go to www.lycos.co.uk/music/young_stanley.html.

One thing's for sure, it will be better than the forgettable Embrace attempt.

Wireless perks

A new take on ‘logging on' was unveiled at last week's IT Construction Forum conference, courtesy of RLF's IT head Neil Cannon.

During his powerpoint presentation on the benefits of his firm's customised IT network, Neil treated delegates to a slide of how he would look on the toilet while looking at his laptop at the same time. Cue tumbleweed. An excellent recovery was made though as he swiftly accused RLF's marketing team of coming up with the idea.

Best wishes

Our best wishes go out to Jeremy Hackett, the scourge of the RICS in recent years with his Stop the Rot Campaign, who this week underwent heart surgery. No doubt huge bunches of flowers and grapes are arriving to Hackett's bedside from Great George Street as we speak.