The Friday office drinks ritual

I love this photograph. Office life thirty years ago. And apart from the pack of cigarettes and the lack of digital tools on reception, this could be early 2020. 

The company ritual of Friday evening drinks had stood the test of time… until now of course, when instead of opening a bottle in the workplace we’re joining in on cocktail hour remotely. And it’s not quite the same.

Looking at this photograph, I feel like I’m back there. A Friday in the Autumn of 1990, the start of my full time career. I’d been around the corner to Oddbins to get the sparkling wine. The phones are still ringing. On the desk are packages waiting for couriers to collect. Most Fridays there would be a last minute something. A call from Los Angeles for someone upstairs. A request for an urgent bike. And someone would dash through - running for a cab or an appointment. But Friday evening drinks weren’t going to stop for any of that. 

The Australian fizz flows freely. The Marlboro Lights are lit. Stories are being swapped. Flirting was probably happening. The usual question "what are you doing at the weekend?" does the rounds. 

We’ve got all homes to go to. We’ve been with each other all week. We’re sick of the office, right? But no. In two hours it’ll be a tough job getting rid of everyone. And The Newman Arms across the street will welcome us with welcome, er, arms.

It could be now. But it feels like a distant era.