Walking into that warehouse and feeling: ‘All I’ve done – is this all it’s worth?’”Redundancy has become a fact of life It is an occupational hazard in the world of work. A security guard was then called to escort her off the premises.”The thing that really leaves me cold,” concludes Amanda, “is the callousness of it. The boss was nowhere to be seen, although he did make an appearance at the lunch held for remaining staff, where he cheered them all up with the news that the dead wood had now been cleared out.Meanwhile, Amanda managed to gain access to the office by the fire escape, simply in order to clear her desk. When she tried to take with her a small plaque commemorating her award, she was told it was “company property” and it was snatched from her. Then the company’s solicitor dispassionately informed them that they were all being made redundant with immediate effect; they would not be allowed back on to the premises, even to collect personal belongings; and any questions should be addressed via solictors.

And the feeling was mutual: within three months of recruiting her, the company promoted her to sales manager and gave her an award for “outstanding achievement”.
Then, about six months later Amanda, along with 38 colleagues ranging from secretaries to managers, found herself invited to a breakfast meeting the following day.In a large warehouse specially hired for the purpose, they were served a full English breakfast, with crisp, white napkins and real silver service. In Nineties Britain, redundancy is a way of life, spawning a language and even an industry all of its own

FOR THE FIRST FEW months after she joined the European headquarters of a large, cutting-edge computer services company, Amanda Wolfenden felt “warm and comfortable”. Restructuring, delayering, down-sizing .. forget job security and golden handshakes. Leather stretches, so bear this in mind when making your purchase, as few things look worse than baggy leather trousers or skirts. If your leather clothes get wet, let them dry naturally – putting them near a radiator will make the leather stiffen – and always get it cleaned by a specialist

photographs by sean ellis
STYLING BY ZOe BROWN. Although as a rule the more expensive it is the better the quality, some really good buys can be had from such shops as Jigsaw, French Connection and Warehouse (if you can afford it, look into Amanda Wakeley, Joseph and Hermes – their leather is superb). Leather is Big in fashion this winter, and as cheap leather is truly awful, be sure to shop around.

Next time you have a terribly highbrow big-cheese meeting, swop that old woollen pencil skirt for one in leather and instantly acquire a name for yourself. This is rubbish of course, but you can use it to your advantage. Few other garments are described by their fabric content in this way, because wearing leather (unless you are a motorcycle courier) seems to imply you are frisky and into all things rock’n'roll. Leather has a bit of an image problem. “She was wearing a leather mini,” someone will say, and instantly one type of woman springs to mind.

But maybe it was just the gentle quacking of ducks and rain dripping off the apple trees.One session (which is usually enough unless you have serious problems) costs pounds 50 Contact Marie Ricketts on 01409 261480. Marie told me that I must remember that feeling I had standing on top of the mountain, and to go on the journey again, for about five or ten minutes each day, if the benefits were to do me any long-term good.Does it really work or is it all New Age mumbo-jumbo? Well, I can’t argue with the computer’s new analysis of my stress levels, and I did feel bright- eyed and calm afterwards. Then Pegasus the flying horse took me into outer space, where we floated around for a while and I ended up going back to earth and curling up on a sofa with my husband All without the use of mind-bending drugs, honest. I “woke up” feeling relaxed, but also alert.Marie, who began her medical career as a cholesterol-measuring technician, and who found that cholesterol build-up is linked to a stressful existence as much it is to eating red meat and butter, then asked me to repeat the tasks she had set me.Surprise surprise, my stress levels were much lower and my fish became an angel in no time at all. Could the fierce animals be shrunk? Can you walk through the wall? Ron does not hypnotise you, but the effect seems similar to mild anaesthesia.I ended up, having crossed a river and walked up a hill, on the top of a mountain with commanding views over what looked uncannily like the Lake District. If you encounter problems, Ron gently suggests ways of getting round them. On their journeys they encounter unclimbable walls, thick patches of mist, fierce animals, sinking mud, all representing fears and phobias they have to overcome before they can find peace of mind.