Bit of a long one. Work conference. Usual attire at these things was very casual. Invited to HR conf in London. Staying overnight expenses paid so took friend. Didn’t have small case so borrowed DDs which was bright pink. Night before had a great night out ?. Friend headed home next morning. I headed to conference. Bit niggled as discovered I had forgotten plain jeans so had only got sparkly jeans from night out. Coat was pink. Heels from night before. Thought ok it’ll be casual as usual. Walked into a room with a sea of suits. Black with white shirt was the uniform. I took a breath and headed for the back of the room - in my pink coat, sparkly jeans, pink case and heels. Sat at the back table with 4 ladies - out of the way. Looked for a pen - DD had taken mine and replaced with one with pink feathers on the end. Sigh.. par for the course this day.
So Conf started. MC welcomed us and introduced/indicated the key speakers - at my table!!! Everyone turned round to smile at the Chair of ACAS, leader of a big union, and a senior barrister - and me trying to shrink under the table with my feathery pen. It was the most mortifying moment of my life. A lady came to me at break and said how she admired my chutzpah in not following the crowd ?. At the end though the ACAS lady quietly asked me if I thought she would be ok to sneak off early to get her train. I’m thinking ‘you’re asking me??’ She must have thought I was super confident and in control. ?. NB my normal work attire was -yes- suit and shirt. ??
