黑洞社区

So we turn to the classic game of working out who among us has had the closest brush with fame. At first, the group is reticent. But then Rachel lets on that her 鈥渇ormer French teacher鈥檚 cousin鈥� is Ralph Fiennes and all hell breaks loose. Apparently Barry鈥檚 鈥測oungest daughter鈥檚 boyfriend鈥� is the grandson of circus master Billy Smart and Aussie Leticia claims to be related to half the cast of Neighbours.

Then Rupert pipes up 鈥� not only did his aunt present Tomorrow鈥檚 World, but he was also at university with rock band Coldplay. Impressive stuff, even if he鈥檚 blas茅 about it. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e dull, dull, dull,鈥� he says. 鈥淛ust like U2.鈥� He gives us a little bit of air guitar here to illustrate the point.

Rachel lets on that her 鈥榝ormer French teacher鈥檚 cousin鈥� is Ralph Fiennes and all hell breaks loose

Mike the architect turns out to be sitting on the best stories. He casually tells us he spent six months working on the film Alien alongside director Sid Mead (cue gasps of appreciation from the male members of the group) and one of his own buildings 鈥� Cardiff鈥檚 BT tower 鈥� appears in the credits of Dr Who spin-off, Torchwood. 鈥淚 tape the programme just so I can see it again and again. I can鈥檛 get enough,鈥� he jokes.

The group is divided on the merits of being connected to a programme about aliens in Wales, however. And Rachel is desperate to shake off the science fiction link. 鈥淐an you put a star by my name in 黑洞社区 saying 鈥榥ot a sci-fi boffin鈥�?鈥� she pleads.

It鈥檚 a time of transition for her. Until three weeks ago, PB鈥檚 London contingent was divided between two offices. Now everyone has been thrown together, sci-fi fans and non alike. But even if their TV tastes clash, the team has welcomed the new offices with open arms, not least from a hygiene point of view. 鈥淚n the last place, we had 50 people cycling to work and just one shower. Eugh,鈥� says Rupert. You can tell he鈥檚 a sustainability expert 鈥� he bikes to work, spent his holidays canoeing in Wales, and has a 鈥済lut of home-grown courgettes鈥� to get through.

The group is divided on the merits of being connected to a programme about aliens in Wales

Even the non-cyclists are beaming about PB鈥檚 new home, where they have more rooms than they know what to do with. Mike floats the idea of setting up a company creche in the extra space. 鈥淎ll the babies could have PB-branded bibs,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t would be great for marketing.鈥�

Rachel, who has a 10-month-old daughter, is keen on the idea. Childcare is on her mind as her teacher husband, who has been on full-time baby duty all summer, is going back to school next week. But there is a plus side to losing the live-in help, she says 鈥� 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to have Liza Tarbuck鈥檚 niece in his class. Surely that鈥檚 got to count.鈥�