Voxpop

Were you directly affected by the Icelandic volcano, and if so how?

(Written on 21 April) We were booked to fly back from Spain on Saturday 17 April, but the flight has been rescheduled to 30 April. We are advised to wait at the airport on standby from Thursday 22 April. So before we enter the departure hall of doom I can only say the volcano has meant that I got to see Mount Fuji (how ironic) and the ancient shrine of the last shogun emperor of Japan at Nikko. The cherry blossoms have now fallen around Tokyo and Kyoto, but were marvellous in the moonlight last week. Apart from that, I know that the team back home have been beavering away in my absence due to the abnormal amount of e-mail activity and that free wi-fi in Tokyo is all but non-existent. I am weighed down with cutesy phone straps and ready to come home. Wish me luck.

David Law, Founder, Someone

I was meant to be in Amsterdam on Monday 19 April and New York on Wednesday 21 April. We managed to do the Amsterdam meeting by conference call so it just shows that sometimes you don’t need to add to your carbon footprint. As for New York, this is being postponed, which means that all of a sudden I have a gift of three free days to catch up on stuff that I am woefully behind on. Fantastic. But best of all, my golf partner is stuck in Spain. He is a nice chap, but a rubbish golfer, so for once I might have a chance of winning.

Jonathan Sands, Chairman, Elmwood

Iceland, possibly Niceland. Work completed, various smiling staff from our London office were relaxing in the US, Thailand, Spain, France and South Africa. Carbon footprint down, vacation time up, fewer e-mails, offices more spacious, clients sort of understand, something new to gossip about. What’s not to like about it?

Tim Elliott, Obviously not the finance director, Jack Morton Worldwide

I was due to present at Promax BDA in Lisbon and then travel to attend the European Broadcast Union’s Connect conference in Lucerne, but I was stuck in London. Don’t you just love Iceland? Fortunately, I’ve now been invited to deliver the same session atI was due to present at Promax BDA in Lisbon and then travel to attend the European Broadcast Union’s Connect conference in Lucerne, but I was stuck in London. Don’t you just love Iceland? Fortunately, I’ve now been invited to deliver the same session at Promax BDA in India in May – so it’s true: every (ash) cloud has a silver lining.

Omar Honigh, Managing director, Kemistry

Who wasn’t? A senior colleague was stuck in Gran Canaria. Apparently, Easyjet has been amazing and his insurance provider awful. My travel was cancelled, which caused all sorts of anxiety. However, I did rediscover the video conference – sorry BA, but the technology now really works. Two whole clear days appeared in my diary – joy – plus my family got more of me than usual. And life went on. It’s been quite therapeutic, really.

Fred Burt, Managing director, Siegel & Gale

 

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