Mike Gledhill

I hate leaving-do collections.

That little obligatory "bung some spare change in an envelope, then someone's gotta go out and buy something as a leaving present, but we don't really know them very well, so let's get them some crap" really winds me up. We've had guys who've worked here for 8 years, and walked away with a posh pen. Errrrr, no. That has about as much sentimentality as a bowl of corn flakes

So, I told the guys in my office. No collections.

> Disclaimer: we aren't having a leaving do collection for me.
> I detest these, they're painful and unnecessary. If you're gonna
> miss me and my award-winning sense of humour, buy me a pint.
> If you aren't and won't, then don't.

To back this up, I sent round a collection envelope earlier, with the following message
on the front:

> Because Mike has vowed to throw any an**ly-retentive leaving-do
> presents directly in the bin, unopened, please tick the box next to
> your name, and slip an "IOU a pint of beer" note in this envelope.

It worked, I have an envelope with a fair few IOUs in it. Should be a good leaving
do night tomorrow...!