For the last 17 years Phil Jones has been keeping us, both creatively and nutritionally, well fed at the annual Podge Lunch – The first being back in 1994 at Quaglinos for 30 people. Last Friday saw a staggering 220 guests (including a sprinkling of the originals) descend upon the IoD offices in Pall Mall. This year he reflected and referenced of why Podge is as relevant now as it was way back then when most of us still had hair: with similar economic climates and a sense of uncertainty in the air – but with a brilliant and eager creative industry willing to chip in and pull this blessed country out of recession once again – God save Advertising and Marketing 
Podge is an opportunity – and one James and myself most heartily enjoyed – of our industry getting together to eat and be merry – both big and small companies, and not just agencies… anyone who plays an active part in the industry, was there. It may sound like just another ‘network’ event… but it’s not. It’s been a while since I enjoyed such a shindig so much. Meeting some great new people, some of them my heros in the design world when I was still a young nipper, as well as bumping into old friends.
Everyone left the ego’s at the door and set about having a good chinwag about what we are up to, how to safeguard against tough times, new opportunities or opinions on old. Remembering that we should always be collaborative, that we love this space of ours and should be looking to the future not protecting the past.
Anyway, enough of my chitta-chat. Many thanks to Phil for organising. Many thanks to FutureBrand for such an engaging concept. Hope to be back at Podge next year to say hi to everyone again.
