Eyebrows raised

Eyebrows were raised when Overheard learned that Opus had won a contract to insure monkey business. The contract turned out to relate to an adventure assault course company, Go Ape! It wasn't the only one going ape this month. Overheard is told that, at the recent press trip to Gibraltar, a number of finance journalists were left clinging to their seats as one pesky primate leaped onto their minibus while it meandered close to a cliff face. Journalists also clung to their seats during the flight home, which unfortunately coincided with the England versus Portugal game, while waiting for updates from the not so helpful pilot. Some passengers were not happy to learn the result of the match during the flight - having recorded the game to watch at a later time and complained about the 'rowdy' behaviour of some of the journalists. Overheard is sure that Mark Bishop, communications manager of Allianz Cornhill, would understand their lively behaviour, having missed out on its football party at the Walrus and Carpenter pub in the City. Overheard would like to thank AC and Royal & Sun Alliance for their hospitality during UEFA Euro 2004 and is sorry Mark Bishop had to miss the match; apparently he was called into a very important board meeting. So, the AC press team does do some work after all!

While being treated to the very English delights of Ascot this month, mercifully during one of the days it did not rain, the PB team set about 'doing the knowledge', studying the turf and previous form of the runners, etc. However, it was not the horses that came unstuck on the soft turf but E-funds hostess with the mostess, Karen Williams. While crossing the track, her high heels pinned her to the ground, requiring some nifty manoeuvring to avert the galloping advance of the 3.30.