25 of us tried out a possible new venue at Calcott Hall Farm. It appeared totally suitable, particularly as we were able to have the tables in a U shape which prior to Mary Green Manor had been our traditional layout. The breakfast was good and the setting excellent; it seems highly likely this will be our venue for the future. At the very least a curiosity over our new venue that our numbers ensured there was that buzz that always accompanies our very best meetings.
Education Presentation
Talking of numbers, Scott Griffiths delivered the Ed Slot and the theme was attendance, the commitment that we should have to each other to attend regularly. He went into cover the whys and wherefores but frankly the message is simple, you cannot get or give business without attending the weekly meeting.
The 60 Second Round
Cathy Neat was first up because she arrived late having sampled the car parks of both Mary Green Manor and the Holiday Inn. She must be commended for her perseverance.
Mike Rogers celebrated the increase in interest rates. He thinks this will make fixed-rate mortgages more attractive and he is there to organise them for anyone who is interested.
Jo Jones illustrated a variety of reasons for having a sports massage, none of which had anything to do with sport but her point was well made.
The School of Whimsy’s main contributor, Alan Shaw, started talking quite sensibly. Listed buildings posed restrictions and problems on extensions, he then suggested you should not be tackling extensions of listed buildings and the rest became hard to fathom.
Stuart Smallcombe has been getting about this week; the Match room sports office, a dairy farm in Basildon and an 8 storey building in Chester Square. Unfortunately I have been in Hockley all week.
John (little jobs) Freeman wants little jobs but not yet. Maybe in the new year.
Jo Eastwood bemoaned the 17% drop in yield from the vines in France but nonetheless predicted a good year from a quality point of view. She finally made a plea for Christmas Orders. I am pleased to say the only other person who mentioned Christmas was Tina Walker, asking for people who are looking to close down over Christmas but need their telephones tending.
Kevin Radford whilst not, this week, ascending to poetic heights had a theme of bird feed and of the need to feed the insurance brokers as well and something about fat balls.
Brian Painter, rather less Whimsical than usual, told of a cabby who could not pass “the Knowledge” because of his fear of exams. Beforehand he could not sleep at night, he felt sick and generally had negative expectations. Our Pilgrim sorted him, however. In the absence of Nick Cooke Alan Moller vied for the best whimsey in a 60-second offering. He said he had come across his first turd. A knackered old house with specific requirements from the owner that wasn’t worth doing, it needed a rewire. The reference to a turd, of course, is a well-known mollerian phrase and saying on the basis that you can’t polish one.
Howard Bullock challenged us all to state our preference for cash in hand or an increased amount in 6 month’s time which represented about a 42% interest rate. He was not impressed as the majority preferred to have the cash in their hand. Excellent illustration however of the sensible advice he offers and he duly won the Oscar.
P.S
Mention of Richard Reed has been omitted from this 60 second round summary because he took 120 minutes.. but he does exceedingly good cruises, watch your emails.
This weeks statistics and points of note
- 30 referrals
- £11,800.00 worth of business recorded.
- Howard Bullock won the Oscar
- 25 Members present
10-minute presentation by David Plumley
The 10 minute presentation was a David Plumley special. He produced various objects and gadgets and asked us all to identify them. Most of us got hardly any, either wires or boxes or wires attached to boxes. Only John Hammond answered all of them correctly. I think the whole point was that David deals with wires and strange looking gizmo’s and on the basis you don’t know what the hell they are you should be employing him to do all the identification needed…… and the fitting.
Referrals and Testimonials
Short on time, the Referrals and Testimonials round went at breakneck speed but from the statistics, it will be seen that there was an excellent number of referrals and valuable business recorded.
Next week it is Mary Green Manor and after that, we should be starting at our chosen venue. You had better turn up next week just to make sure you know where to turn up the following week.
Lovely location and a lively meeting
Bloody pesky squirrels have nibbled me nuts . Loved the new venue and it gets my vote. An enjoyable meeting as always
good meeting everyone, well done committee for organising the new venue, which had a good feel about it i thought. see you next week
An excellent meeting. Loved the new venue.
I’d better make this snappy… liked the new venue.
The big difference with this venue was that we were made to feel welcome. Liked the chunky toast, that’s how it should be.
Enjoyed the meeting, good atmosphere.
Fun meeting and really enjoyed the new light venue! Great buzz in the room due to excellent attendance!
Great venue looking forward to going back there.
Nice venue and very welcoming. Great food and drink. good attendance.
I am intrigued with going to the toilet there and I’m wondering who is going to go to the wrong one.
unless you are a milk maid there is no choice but to go to the boys
Pull the udder one
An udder time maybe 😉
Agree, great new venue thanks to the committee for sourcing it for us.