Hansom

Anyway, I hear that the RICS held a gathering for Middle Eastern QSs in Dubai earlier this month. Globetrotting president Nick Brooke was there, of course, as was a more unexpected figure: none other than General Knowles himself. And it seems the two were extraordinarily chummy, given that they were supposed to be locked in a bitter power struggle. All very interesting – especially as I've just been told that the president is to attend Building's Specialist Contractor Awards ceremony at the beginning of November, as the guest of one Jeremy Hackett.

How the cookie's crumbling
Two new contenders have thrown their culinary hats into the ring for the Building Biscuit Best Practice Awards 2003, which is fast becoming the baking soda Baftas.

Frank Page of Hertfordshire developer Forebury Estates emails me with news that his contract manager, Ian Silvester, brings to meetings a "mouthwatering tarte tatin".

However, Kettering-based developer
Boughton Estates has gone one better and sent some excellent Caledonian shortbread straight to the horse's mouth (mine). One taste was enough to add them to the shortlist alongside Watkins Gray. Note to future entrants: please back your recommendations with hard evidence.

Comedy knockers
Word reaches me that there could be a replacement for the late, unlamented Tim Clarke at next year's Little Britain regatta. Rumour had it that such was the nail-my-head-on hilarity at this year's bash, all future comics would be banned.

But no: it seems that concrete guru Gunite is willing to pay one John Simmonette £1500 for three hours' work. According to the details I've seen, he is "an Oxford graduate who played rugby for Leicester and is an excellent magician … totally capable of entertaining 2000 people". One can only gawp at such polymathic skills, but we've no idea if he's funny. So John, if you're reading: please send in a cheeky gag …

The big read
Finally, my thanks to Charlotte Steedman, a marketing person at QS Robinson Low Francis. She sends me the firm's new corporate brochure, and has come up with a novel way of making sure potential clients keep hold of it. "It's big, very big," she says. "So big that there is no temptation to throw it away, as it doesn't fit in the bin." Sadly, Charlotte, empirical investigation has proved that this is less of a problem than you might think …