Russian oligarchs - a glossary of terms

Why do we only ever seem to hear of Russian oligarchs? What is an oligarch anyway and why aren't there British or American oligarchs?

If my dictionary is correct the definition that seems most applicable for its media use is: member of an oligarchy - a small clique of private citizens who exert a strong influence on government.

Who in the UK might fit that clique definition? I suppose government advisers and the heads of business and banking bodies could be said to be part of the British oligarchy. But we would never describe Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England or Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry as oligarchs. Nor would we talk about a British oligarchy.

So there must be new connotations, new assumptions, associated with media use of the phrase "Russian Oligarch". Do I detect the whiff of corruption? Gangsterdom, even? I think so. I think that the phrase, as used in the popular press, has come to be regarded by some of us, possibly most of us, as a codeword, a euphemism, for "dodgy individual". That, I believe, is the intention of those who use it and the conclusion of those who read it.

So when we read allegations that George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, has been trying to solicit a Conservative Party donation from a Russian oligarch while enjoying hospitality on the oligarch's yacht we are being invited to interpret certain words and phrases.

For Russian Oligarch read: "rich and powerful but dodgy individual who gained his vast wealth by various nefarious means, including favours and patronage, but certainly not through hard work, scholarship and academic diligence."

For yacht read: "Expensive, lavish, decadent, wasteful, ostentatious luxury possession beyond the means of most people that today is even eschewed by Royalty, however reluctantly, as an unjustified drain on the privy purse." Do not, under any circumstances, read: "A boat with sails."

For Conservative Party read: "Grubby, nest feathering, opportunists prepared to sell their own grandmothers, not to mention hitherto strongly held principles based on thrift, hard work and individual freedoms, for a chance to line their party coffers."

For Corfu read: "Tacky Mediterranean haunt of new money, "celebrities", smooching politicians, gas-guzzling motor launches misleadingly described as "yachts" and the occasional Russian oligarch.

For George Osborne read: "Numpty."

Lunchless in London - Facebook to the rescue

The joys of London during a tube strike. In fact the Northern line was running yesterday. It's not much of a life down there in those jam packed train carriages. No-one can hear you scream.

One tube journey was one too many. My morning appointment, as one of the judges of the CBI's Human Capital Awards, ended early as we sprinted through the categories with not much disagreement about the winners.

Out on the streets it suddenly occurred to me that I had nothing to do. A lunch appointment had fallen through, my next appointment was at 5pm and there was a dinner in St James's in the evening.

There are guide books stuffed with things to do in London and not one of them appealed. This was a work day which by noon meant only one thing: lunch. Lunchless in London is a bleak prospect.

Yes I could have nipped to any Pret a Manger but lunch is about meeting people and conversation. The eating bit is ritual. I walked down Tottenham Court Road and cut through to the Strand and John Adam Street where I often take refuge in the Royal Society for the Arts. In the library there I could sit behind a computer and look at my emails.

I popped on to Facebook, the social networking site. One of my favourite features is a little box where you can describe your situation or mood at any particular time. Mine begins "Richard is....." and I can fill in the rest. So I filled it in: "Richard is at a loose end in London (RSA) and looking for a lunch partner, so come on Facebook, do the business."

Within a few seconds, I had a message from an old friend in the recruitment business inviting me to lunch at the Gherkin where he works. The Gherkin is the somewhat phallic tower designed by Norman Foster. At the very top, in the atrium there is a restaurant and bar for the exclusive use of those who occupy the building - and their guests.

Top lunch, excellent conversation, some of it work-related too justifying the experience if any justification is needed which it isn't. I much prefer this sort of thing to lunches that are booked in the diary, weeks in advance.

So what does this mean? It means that Facebook works. It can put two people together spontaneously in a city of 10m within half an hour's notice. It made my day. Dinner in the evening was good too - business/social with people I know and like. Work? It didn't feel like work.

And the winner is.....

Have you ever won an award? There are so many awards knocking about these days it's difficult to avoid them. I think there should be a "best awards" award that recognises those who organise award ceremonies. The thing is, if you entered all of them you would never do enough to get one.

It's a sign of age that these days I'm at the other side of the award process, sitting on two judging panels - The Confederation of British Industry's Human Capital Awards and the Work Foundation's Workworld Media Awards. This week was judging day for the media awards.

It takes ages doing these things. First you're asked to draw up a short list for a specific category, then we get together to mull over the shortlisted entries. The process never fails to amuse me. Sometimes there is a clear leader and it all seems done and dusted until someone mentions another name, puts up a convincing case, and its like watching the last furlongs of a horse race as the back marker passes everyone and pips the leading horse at the post. If only they knew.

Awards are important in my business. They can boost a budding career and revive one that has been flagging. We all like to win them but losing out can be a bruising experience, particularly when you believe you're better than the winner. This year they had a good crop of entries and there was reasonable unanimity over the choices. So what's in it for me? Nothing much, other than a nice lunch, pleasant conversation, and the opportunity to be up to date with who's in and who's out. It's good to know where the talent is hiding.