Strictly speaking this isn't an ode because I learned while writing this blog that an ode is often intended to be sung. What I'm about to say is not intended to be sung because earlier I was subjected to what Amber Elliott calls singing when she broke into the chorus of I Will Always Love You (the Dolly Parton version). The fairy that died didn't think you'd always love it though, did it Amber?
Though it may have had some effect on Emily Sutton, who's leaving us today...
Emily is a bit of a Biteback Media institution. And I don't mean the big red-brick kind, I mean the blonde lady kind. I can't say small because she's the tallest woman I've ever met and she's strong as an ox. Emily walked over hot coals in Tanzania (by accident I should add) and her feet lived to tell the tale.
She's worked at Total Politics magazine since its inception and it's safe to say that many of the people who came through these doors have done so thanks to her. I was effectively hired by her following a (borderline desperate) email about Mary Poppins. I owe her a lot and can't believe she's going. To give you some idea of how sad this whole event is, I relay for you an email exchange between Em and I earlier today:
Katy: Oh no. I’m listening to sad songs. It’s like you’re leaving me and we’re married.
Emily: We should be married!!!
As you can see she's also full of brilliant ideas. And her miserable face will be sorely missed. I'm not being mean - a typical conversation:
Katy: You OK?
Emily: Yeah! It's just my miserable face.
Katy: Oh right, I thought Amber had killed another fairy with her exploding larynx.
There are so many stories I could tell, she's such a great character and we all hope she has a fantastic time in Dahab where she's training to be a diving instructor and swimming with sharks. Emily loves sharks, seriously, she makes Chuck Norris look like a three-legged poodle. Mind you, she is from Watford.
Chuck Norris vs. Emily Sutton. No contest.
Bye bye from all of us Em, thanks for everything - especially the laughs!