Something for (almost) nothing

This morning I went to an advertising conference in the ballroom of a 5-star hotel, and drank too much hotel coffee. Hotel coffee is bad stuff; it seems to have been made by straining tar through a filter made from plutonium-enriched caffeine, and it never wakes me up properly. It just gives me heart palpitations and six hours later there are black blobs appearing and vanishing in my vision in time with my heartbeat. I don't know why I drink it; perhaps it's because it's there.

Stuff

Today I received a large coffee mug, a Moleskine notebook and a bottle opener, "from a company we can't name". This goes alongside the power adapter, box of mooncakes, four USB memory sticks, three mouse mats, two luggage tags, drink bottle with integrated compass, and enormous luggage strap that I've received in the past six months. Not at the same time, mind you. That would have been rather ridiculous if an account rep had turned up at the office laden down with a mound of corporate branded geegaws and nick-nacks.