On the coldest night/morning of the year it was minus 5 degrees when I set off for home. No brass monkey in attendance but it was cold enough.
Despite the adverse conditions 21 brave souls were in attendance with one visitor.
Best excuse of the day and indeed probably the year so far was Mike Rogers. He was expecting the delivery of a new car and did not want to run the risk of damaging his old one by coming to EBF in what would undoubtedly be adverse conditions.
Our visitor for the second time was Ashley Bermange who has more than positively threatened to join. Hopefully he will be a member by next week.
The Performance League
Terry Maylin is out front as announced by Scott Griffiths our Meeting Secretary. Closely followed by 4 other members of the EBF Leadership team.
Education Presentation
This is apparently the first of two presentations dealing with the 10-minute presentation. David Plumley scoped the possible contents of a 10-minute presentation. Further warnings included; only prepare for 7 to 8 minutes which leaves time for questions, if you are going to use props get it right in operating them and notwithstanding your 10 minutes do not waste your 60-second presentation. Good advice.
The 60 Second Round
Richard Reed was awarding the Oscar and therefore was first up. He was warning that we would be hearing about biodiversity in our holidays, I await this with interest.
Scott Griffiths revealed the outcome of a recent survey that dealt with people’s views on what was most attractive and persuasive on a web site. All of the things that he mentioned, with relevant percentages, are things that you need to go to him for. Don’t try and do it yourself.
I was almost tempted to reinstate the School of Whimsey having heard of Alan Moller’s offering. He has been doing work in a hairdressing salon. Whilst advising and about to carry out work something smelt fishy; it turned out to be a burnt out socket. It all goes to prove that if something smells fishy, it is not necessarily fish.
Nick Cooke was sporting a new hair and beard cut that was very fetching. It sort of detracted from his message which I forget now although later as it was to be his turn for the 10-minute presentation.
Terry Maylin was looking for landlords, particularly tthose whonare not being served well by their current letting agent.
Simon Essex is looking for strap lines. Surely we can all think of one for him for next week.
Ben Golding produced the first acronym. He is apparently addicted to BOOBS. Whoever, other than Ben, can first reveal the meaning of said acronym in the comments to this Blog will get an extra 4 points.
Stuart Smallcombe of the Naughty Corner was talking about various jobs with schools including the Naughty School. Don’t know if the two are related.
Brian Painter helped a lady stop smoking but she was in denial and put it down to her own will power.
Tina Walker was prominent with her furry arms on her wonderful jumper. She did have a sensible message but I was put in mind of “return of the vampire”.
John Freeman had a lady chasing him to “do” her kitchen; that is install a second hand kitchen at short notice because the woman had left it for weeks. He had to turn her down.
David Plumley waxed lyrical and somehow managed to get something to sound as if it rhymed with orange. We all know that wasn’t possible but he probably pulled it off.
In the meantime the award of the Oscar went to Marcelle Saad for her careful review of all the types of work that she does.
Next week’s theme is a test for members to steal other peoples Tag Lines to describe their own business.
This weeks statistics and points of note
21 Members present
1 Visitor – Ashley Bermange (soon to become a new member)
20 Referrals
Marcelle Saad won the Oscar
10-minute presentation by Nick Cooke
Looking less like Father Christmas than he has ever done Nick Cooke revealed that at one stage in his career he was/or is part of a subsidence team and then he went on to lay out the work that he does. As always, carefully and clearly presented. I have always had a vision of steel beams being “designed” to include heads and faces but after a careful explanation to John Freeman about whether the beam is supported with goal posts I think we all felt that it was easy just to leave it to Nick to deal with these things, well done Nick.
Chilly but lively meeting as always, hope to see Ashley join and don’t forget we are looking for an architect to join too!
An excellent meeting, even with the somewhat depleted Naughty Corner…Im sure we’ll back to full force next week!
Roses are red, violets are blue, I enjoyed the meeting, hope you did too…
I’ve invited an architect who hopefully will realise that attending as a guest is a no brainer. He’s got a very nice, established practice in Ongar and I’ve know him for years. I’ll let you know how it develops.
great meeting once again, and well done Nick for a really good presentation too. See you all next week people.
Excellent meeting everyone, as always. Wow…that blog title is really something else! I think I might need to assure potential members that we’re not a bunch of crude, inappropriate, 1970s throw-backs!
Good luck with that Jill.
Seeing as no-one else has said it so far, if I remember correctly, BOOBS is a reference to Boring Old Ordinary Bills?
Yes Scott! 👍😀
Not sure what car Mike’s getting but I bet it’s not an eco friendly electric one. No one else has picked up on Alan’s proposal… Good to see Ashley back and I think he will be an excellent addition to the group. Well done to Marcelle and Nick and yet another very good meeting.
Rather chilly morning but well worth attending, great 10 minutes from Nick and hopefully Ashley will be joining us. Have a great weekend see you all next Thursday.
Another great meeting even though it was freezing outside, it was lovely and warm inside, once all the delightful members got there. Well done to Marcelle on winning the Oscar. Boring Old Overpriced Bills is what I think Ben said. A nicely structured and engineered presentation from Sir Nick Cooke always very interesting. Hopefully see everyone next week. I wonder if anyone will high jack a strap line 🤔
I can safely say I am not thinking about boobs. that would be out of character. However thanks to Tina and may have a very good Tag line.
Congratulations Marcelle on the Oscar!. Just a thought, should we have the Wooden Spoon award for the worst 60 seconds?, just saying…….😁
Sounds like all of you that were at the meeting had a good one, sorry I couldn’t be with you guys. Have to say it did put a smile on my face reading the blog title 🙂 Have a great weekend all and see you all soon
Great blog from a great meeting…. I am beginning to wonder what I have got involved in now though – I am slowly being corrupted! Great presentation by Nick – thanks
Clever acronym from Ben, I can’t think of one for my business which has been described as timely intervention therapy.
I hope Ashley felt the warmth of the members on that cold morning.
Although it was freezing outside it was lovely and warm in the meeting! It’s always a great start to the day! Nick did a great presentation and it’s always great to see so many referrals being passed around.
I am in anticipation of tomorrow’s meeting – hope the blog titles clean up soon… Mason? a job for you?