January 20th, 1980, Sunday | London, Pimlico | Cold, foggy
Sunday, it should be quiet, unless you're caught in the maelstrom of a new department's birth.
Today is my second day assigned to the DSC establishment.
The office door was ajar. Pushing it open, he was already inside, earlier than scheduled. Not surprising, really.
He stood by the window, his back to the door, looking out at the grey, fog-shrouded Whitehall streetscape. His perfectly tailored charcoal grey three-piece suit, his tall, lean frame, his platinum-blonde short hair gleaming with a cool lustre in the sunless room.
There was only a temporarily moved desk in the room, a few chairs, an empty filing cabinet, and a small electric heater in the corner emanating faint warmth – clearly insufficient to banish the bone-deep chill of this old building. Yes, the establishment team had been busy all day yesterday finalising more important parts, failing to address Sir's office.
"Mr. Astley." He didn't turn around, his voice steady and low, with a unique rhythmic quality, cutting through the room's silence. "Punctuality is the politeness of kings, and the duty of civil servants. Excellent."
"Morning, Sir." I tried to make my voice sound equally steady, setting down my briefcase.
He turned, his grey-green eyes looking at me, a gaze that held an evaluative quality.
No superfluous pleasantries: "The PPS shortlist from the Cabinet Office is on your desk. I need you to complete an initial screening by midday, marking the three most suitable candidates, with brief justifications. The key points are: discretion, organisational ability, and an understanding of the Whitehall ecosystem."
He paused. "Additionally, this is the preliminary layout plan for the Minister's office." He handed me a hand-drawn sketch, with clean, precise lines, indicating the positions of the desk, visitor area, filing cabinets, and even a blank wall. "The Minister's preferences are unknown, but basic functionality must be complete. Prioritise ensuring telephone lines are working and the In/Out-tray system is in place. Specific decorative details," he said, a faint, almost imperceptible curve on his lips, "can be discussed after our Minister's arrival. Efficiency is key, Mr. Astley, we have limited time."
The tasks were clear, direct, unquestionable. This was his style. No grand speeches about the new department's vision, just concrete tasks requiring immediate execution, which paradoxically relieved me. Action is always preferable to idle speculation.
The entire morning was spent in busy activity. Screening the PPS shortlist required quick recall and judgment of each candidate's background, reputation, and potential suitability. At the same time, I had to coordinate with Logistics and the Asset Management Division to ensure basic office facilities were barely in place before the Minister's arrival tomorrow. Telephones, desks and chairs, the most basic stationery... everything required communication and coordination, yet the "Department of Synergy Coordination" itself was like a toddler just learning to walk. Full of irony.
Lunch was a hastily eaten sandwich. When I returned, Sir was still at his temporary desk, several dossiers spread before him, his left hand swiftly annotating with a pen. He didn't look up: "Astley, regarding the configuration of the Minister's office annex, I require your recommendations. Regular options are storage and small reception. But given the DSC's... particular nature, are there other potential uses that need to be planned for in advance? Draft a brief memo for me."
I naturally agreed, and as I was about to go to my assigned cubicle to complete this task, Sir called me back, instructing me to complete it right there.
"Yes, Sir." I immediately sat down and began to brainstorm.
This seemingly simple question made me think for a long time. The DSC's particular nature? Its very ambiguity was its greatest peculiarity. A new department seen by all sides as a political vase for display, how would the Minister use this space? Merely for storing coats and files? Or might it be for more private, informal conversations? I tried to think from the perspective of a Minister I had yet to meet, finally listing several possibilities in the memo, leaning towards maintaining flexibility.
Towards evening, I finally placed the memo regarding the annex on the corner of his desk, next to the PPS shortlist I had submitted before noon:
MEMORANDUM
Department of Synergy Coordination (Establishment Project)
Ref: DSC/EP/INT/002/80
To: A. Cavendish
From: C. Astley
Date: 20 January 1980
Subject: Configuration Options for Minister's Office Annex
Mr. Cavendish,
Regarding the configuration of the Minister's office annex, after initial consideration, I present the following options for your review:
1. Standard Store/Pantry:
Advantages: Highly practical, conforms to standard setups. Can store the Minister's coat, file boxes, books, and be equipped with a small sink, cupboards, for preparing tea, coffee, and simple refreshments (biscuits, etc.). Low cost, easy to set up quickly.
Disadvantages: Single function, space utilisation may be low. Limited privacy, only suitable for short breaks or informal conversations with one or two close aides.
2. Enhanced Private Meeting Room:
Advantages: Offers greater privacy, suitable for the Minister's more in-depth or sensitive discussions with specific visitors (e.g., colleagues, senior civil servants, sensitive stakeholders). Can be equipped with more comfortable seating, small coffee table. Enhances the comfort and functionality of the Minister's working environment, potentially better suiting the DSC's potential future coordination work (often involving sensitive or preliminary discussions).
Disadvantages: Requires additional budget for furniture (sofa, coffee table, etc.). Takes up slightly more space. Could be perceived as "overly comfortable" or exceeding the usual scope for a new department's initial setup, inviting unnecessary attention or comment.
3. Hybrid Configuration:
Recommendation: Based on standard storage/pantry functions (ensuring practicality), but opting for simpler, more presentable built-in (lockable) cabinetry, and pre-allocating power outlets. Initially, only necessary storage shelves and tea/coffee facilities. Retain flexibility in the core area of the space, avoiding fixed large furniture (e.g., sofas).
Advantages: Balances practicality with future expandability. Cost-effective (initial investment comparable to Option 1). Can be flexibly adjusted over the coming weeks/months based on the Minister's actual working habits and departmental operational needs: if more private meeting space is required, one or two comfortable armchairs and a small side table can be easily added; if primarily used for storage, the space is also sufficient. Avoids excessive initial investment in potentially idle functions.
Rationale: Given the unique and yet-to-be-defined functions of the DSC, as well as the Minister's unknown personal working style, offering maximum flexibility seems a prudent approach. It can meet basic needs while quickly responding to subsequent changes.
Recommendation: I lean towards Option 3, the hybrid configuration. Prioritise ensuring basic functions (storage, simple refreshments) are ready, keeping the core space empty and flexible, reserving scope for future modification for potential private talk needs, while controlling initial costs and perception.
Please advise.
Cyril Astley
He picked up the memo, quickly scanned it, then took his rather aged-looking dark green fountain pen and neatly wrote a few lines in the margin.
"Sir?" I couldn't help but ask softly, with a mix of anticipation and nervousness at having completed the task.
He didn't answer immediately, instead handing the annotated memo back to me. His handwriting was fluid and strong, with a classical elegance, but the annotations instantly sobered me:
Analysis comprehensive, but overly detailed. Core: function & flexibility. [He had underlined "comprehensive".]
Avoid conflating memo with personal diary. Focus on actionable options. [He had circled "potential uses" and parts of the analytical descriptions.]
Recommendation adopted: basic configuration, space reserved for adjustment. Execute.
Remember, every word is potentially minuted. Brevity is a virtue; ambiguity, armour.
A.C. 20.01.80
That last annotation was like a warning bell, Sir reminding me of the civil service's rules of survival. My analysis might have been meticulous, but in his view, it was too verbose. In Whitehall, excessive detail can sometimes be a burden and a vulnerability. He always cuts straight to the point. My face flushed; it was a sense of professional defeat at being corrected on the spot, but also mingled with a... strange feeling of being held to a rigorous standard.
"Understood, Mr. Astley?" He picked up the teacup beside him – arrived at some unknown moment, the tea very dark, steam almost invisible – took a sip, his gaze still calm and unruffled.
"Yes, Sir. Brevity and flexibility, I will remember that." I took a deep breath, collecting the heavy, annotated memo. It felt like a most direct induction manual.
"Excellent." He set down the teacup, its bottom making a faint, crisp sound on the desk. "Tomorrow, our principal actor makes his entrance. Ensure all is ready. Your primary task is to guide him smoothly into his role, and..." He paused, something seemed to flicker in the depths of his grey-green eyes, "...observe. Your role will be a critical node in the DSC's information flow, Cyril."
He called me Cyril.
I knew I was retained, as a PPS candidate – a strong candidate.
Before leaving, Sir wrote me a note:
Cyril,
Tomorrow's focus: smooth process and first impression. Ensure Minister's smooth arrival, clear environment, and a sense of initial 'utility'. Observe, record any special requests or habits. If policy is involved, please refer to Cabinet Office materials or forward directly to me.
Additionally, noted weather forecast for low morning temperatures tomorrow; remind driver to ensure car heating is adequate.
Efficiency and decorum are key, neither servile nor arrogant. Avoid over-commitment, demonstrate adaptability.
No need to be nervous.
A.C. 20.01.80
I filed the note and the annotated memo together.
梦远书城已将原网页转码以便移动设备浏览
本站仅提供资源搜索服务，不存放任何实质内容。如有侵权内容请联系搜狗，源资源删除后本站的链接将自动失效。
推荐阅读