Hidden treasures

Open-door policies are fraught with dangers, not least the possibility that colleagues will start nosing around your desk while you are away.

That is the fate of the holidaying David Sanders, a partner at City firm Macfarlanes, who was profiled in the property department's latest client briefing by reference to the contents of his room.

At least they have got another partner - Patrick Holmes - to do it, but he was not impressed by Mr Sanders' various sporting trophies, such as the 'Corams League 1994 Goal-den Boot'.

In the corner, he found a pile of legal journals, which was 'taller than most of the property department partners' (whether that says more about Mr Sanders' ability to hoard or the vertically challenged nature of the property team is not clear).

He even keeps to hand a Gazette article on the changing property market dated 13 January 1993, which speaks volumes for his good taste in reading.

Mr Holmes finally mulls over Mr Sanders' supposed interest in indie pop.

'I do question how he classifies favourite hits from Oaklahoma as indie pop,' he sniffs.

It might all spice up the next partners' meeting, we guess.