Tales of the Unexpected

This post is about what happens when you really don’t expect it to and everything is magical for a bit. But, it comes with a hint of caution  – the magic sometimes doesn’t last (or at least it didn’t in this case). But, here it is anyway – because if nothing else, it was fun for a time.  And the strange thing about magic is, it might just re-appear again one day, as quickly as it departed.

Let me set the scene. On reflection, a hotel conference room and a mining seminar optimistically entitled a “Natural Resources Summer Event” with the world’s best phrase: “post event networking drinks and canapés”, at the end of a 40 page PowerPoint presentation might not sound the most likely combination of where to expect the unexpected, unless of course there was going to be news of amazing gold results finally being found in a certain part of West Africa that had, until now, yielded the total of absolutely nothing, despite various geological surveys and drill samples hinting that there was something there.

Last year, I was transported back into the wonderful world of the mineral exploration and mining industry, with my rose tinted spectacles clouded perhaps by iron ore – and maybe by a little bit of chemistry as well. The hot drinks queue before a seminar doesn’t lend itself, at first – to intrigue. Rather like weddings, us singletons become used to going to most events alone.

Attending professional seminars, (especially with the world’s smallest violin tucked under your chin), is no exception, especially when you can’t straighten out your name badge whilst balancing a tea cup and trying to shove a biscuit in your mouth. I went because……try as I might, like the relationship that is bad for you, for some reason I could not seem to let the mining industry go.

I had a brief foray into the world of mineral exploration and realised that, for every moment that I hated discussing IPOs, doing terrifying restructuring [for that read “redundancy”] processes, justifying my existence and dreading the monthly Exco meetings (not to mention taking Board minutes because I was The Girl – which were judged as “s**t” by my then CEO, by the way), I cannot help but miss it as well.

Sometimes, I still miss being on planes, living out of a bag, the fabulous Mining INDABA in Cape Town with its visits to wine estates and some of the best food I have ever eaten, PDAC in the bitter cold of Toronto with the obligatory visit to Canoe, the madness of Mines & Money in London and the giddiness of going up in a helicopter in Liberia to see some of the most beautiful scenery I know I will ever set eyes on…..This of course followed by lunch in the palaver hut before going to mind boggling Ministerial meetings in Monrovia, with a quick CSR trip to a hospital thrown into the mix. And, as with most unhealthy relationships, there is that feeling of hoping that, if you ever go back, it might just get better.

Speaking of relationships, it is amazing whom one meets at these events. After all, what else are those 500 business cards for? Sometimes, a spark can be struck in the most unlikely of places and in the strangest circumstances. On this occasion, the stranger was (very) tall, twinkly with dark hair and wearing the most beautiful tie I had ever seen. I believe that my first words to Tall Twinkly Stranger (TTS – I am nothing if not literal) were “Hermes?” “No”, replied James Bond (or maybe actually he reminded me more of the new M whom I also rather like, played by Ralph Fiennes). “Salvatore Ferragamo.” And that he had lovely eyes as well. Ok, no wedding ring. Might mean anything. Must find out.

But, before that, I must focus on being at this seminar and writing intelligent looking notes, whilst nodding sagely about assay results.

And so the tea turned to  post conference wine and canapés, (I ate about 10, they were very good) canapés to curry, curry to cocktails and cocktails to (for me at least) a mint tea. At this point, the four accountants I was with (more fun than it sounds, I assure you, they were from London), shrieked collectively: “Mint tea?? (An observation at this point: a lot of men can’t seem to cope with being challenged by a herbal infusion after a couple of whiskies.)

By this time, TTS and I had passed what I hoped was an evening of light flirtation and my blood type was more or less Sauvignon Blanc positive. We had exchanged business cards, the corporate equivalent, surely, of the old-fashioned swapping of phone numbers, but without looking too desperate (ahem) and like any private investor, not taking too much of a risk before you consider and draft the memorandum of understanding.

How did I know I liked him? Because…..I just did. The TTS made fun of my signet ring and qualifications (guilty on both counts). I laughed at (but secretly rather liked) his oval cufflinks with initials on – always handy to have in case you forget your own name…. and I even forgave his Chelsea boots and braces (and in fact rather liked those too).

So, then what? Like a mineral exploration company looking to do its IPO and re-writing the prospectus, time ran out and it was soon two o clock in the morning – and I had work the next day. Not sure what to do (and not knowing the international sign language for “Fancy walking me back to my place?”) I stumbled off into the night like Cinderella when the coach becomes a pumpkin.

As I walked home alone, I couldn’t help but think that there was some more unfinished business and it wasn’t just with the mining industry. The difference in this case was that I was scared not to take the opportunity and I just knew I had to see  the TTS again. Since that day, I have often thought with a smile: “I’m so glad I jumped into that queue.”

A bit like looking for gold, sometimes it’s nothing to do with survey results, it’s all to do with patience – and a little bit of luck.

And, as I said at the beginning, you never know when the magic may reappear – so here’s to hoping that it does.