Take it back with flowers

In these commercially focused times, universities need events and communications people to smooth their diplomatic path. But it seems some are more adept than others. Spare a thought for the poor university events director who sent an e-mail to a colleague at another institution ranting about a certain male events man who she said, in no uncertain terms, was really jolly annoying and ought to remove himself from her vicinity. Good to vent one's spleen, perhaps. But slightly less advisable to send the e-mail by accident to every events and public relations person on the Universities UK e-mail list.

However, in true PR style the story has ended happily. First, a simpering round-robin apology e-mail, which pointed out what a jolly nice man said events person was after all. Then, an e-mail to all amused onlookers from the wronged man himself, commenting on the loveliness of the giant bouquet of flowers that had mysteriously arrived in his office.