黑洞社区

Strictly speaking, Elementa Consulting鈥檚 local is in Horsham, West Sussex, but instead we find ourselves at The George near London Bridge.

This isn鈥檛 quite as random as it might appear 鈥� nor is it because 黑洞社区鈥檚 journalists resist venturing outside London for a drink in the evening.

Actually, Elementa Consulting, the credit-crunch-defying firm of M&E and environmental engineers, is about to open a -London office near the pub in Southwark and tonight provides just the excuse for a spot of familiarisation.

鈥淚 found this place on the internet,鈥� says Kathy. 鈥淚 wanted somewhere with good environmental credentials,鈥� she jokes.

Casting his eye over the wonky walls and sagging wooden beams Gary agrees. 鈥榊ou don鈥檛 get much more sustainable than this鈥�

Casting his professional eye over the wonky walls and sagging wooden beams Gary agrees. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 get much more sustainable than this,鈥� he says 鈥淚t must have been standing here for centuries.鈥�

Since 1676, it turns out, but as we鈥檙e sitting outside in the cobbled courtyard enjoying our first drink, Martin points out the one flaw. 鈥淗ave you noticed the deck heaters,鈥� he says. A collective groan goes around the group. Still, they鈥檙e switched off, and as we鈥檝e got one of the few remaining benches and it鈥檚 a balmy evening, we can carry on drinking with a clear conscience.

Naturally, as this is a group of professional engineers, talk quickly turns to technical matters. We discuss the latest consultation on Part L of the 黑洞社区 Regulations, energy performance certificates and then 鈥� water divining.

It turns out both Martin and Niall have the gift of dowsing. Former military man Niall, in particular, recalls how he was able to use a pair of manhole cover keys to locate a water main. Martin chips in with how he once used a bent coat hanger to locate a clay drain. 鈥淭o this day I don鈥檛 understand how it worked,鈥� he says, incredulously.

Former military man turned dowser Niall recalls how he used a pair of manhole cover keys to locate a water main

Rob seems slightly sceptical of their 鈥減owers鈥�. 鈥淎re you sure it had nothing to do with the survey results?鈥� he enquires.

But enough of such trivialities, the topic on everyone鈥檚 mind is tomorrow night鈥檚 softball game against arch rivals MAA Architects. The firm is still new to the sport, but Kathy has pulled together a crack team. 鈥淚 used to play for the national team in Australia,鈥� she reveals.

With the two companies at level pegging, tomorrow鈥檚 game is the decider. At this point Kathy heads home to relieve her babysitter and, I suspect, to get an early night before the big game.

The rest of us decide there鈥檚 time for another drink. Hopefully, it鈥檚 a decision they won鈥檛 regret tomorrow evening.