Business Networking in Brentwood – 8th August 2013

Chairman’s Blog Meeting Thursday 8th August 2013-08-09

Despite the holiday season a good turnout we produced 25 members raring to go.

David Plumley produced an esoteric Ed Slot based on the principle “we are what we are”. Both in relation to personal and business relationships, we must view our clients and customers in the same way ..same thinking applies to ourselves providing our services…I told you it would be esoteric. But still, by the time he had finished just about everybody had finished their breakfast. Good Egg awards were handed out, the standings in the performance league after the first week were handed round and before we knew it the business card box was winging its way round the table and the 60 second round was under way.

Despite the exceedingly clement weather and the holiday mood, the members wearing shorts were limited to the regulars, namely Ed Crocker and Stewart Roberts. As with last week Stewart Roberts was in matching black shirt and black shorts Indeed I do believe his shoes (I believe they are called loafers) were also black. Indeed my recollection is that his ensemble was identical to last weeks. Now this means one of two things. He either has two sets of shirt and shorts or one set which have been washed in the interim. The third possibility is unthinkable! Ed Crocker was sporting less vibrant shorts and I suspect, the way in way he is shedding weight he will be buying new shorts very soon. He might like to consider EBF colours when he does come to supplement his wardrobe.

Enough of sartorial matters and on to the business of the day.

Graham Wright wanted to be put in touch with more clearance companies so as to give him greater access to stock. Marcelle told us of diamond pendants, a lady wanting bigger earrings and finally a delivery that she if being forced to make to Paris and therefore she is forced to make a long weekend of it. I think we should be pressing for croissants as part of our breakfast buffet selection. Brian Painter told of an exotic dancer This was to be the zenith of the exotic to come out of the 60 seconds. Richard Reed could normally transport us to faraway places. He told us of some good deals and good prices but when he mentioned a deal to Australia for all 5 Ashes Tests in the winter (I did not catch a price) I did listen carefully.

Back to the humdrum. Michael Adelizzi with well sun tanned head from a week off was extolling his bathrooms, both new and refurbished. Peter Hood said it’s all gone quiet and is ready for any plumbing job and Kevin Brooks was talking about extensions in Chigwell. It became slightly more interesting however when he talked about a funeral home opposite West Hams football ground, it doesn’t bode well for their first season back in the Premiership and the a Methodist Church in Dagenham. We have now moved from the exotic to the spiritual. This movement was taken up and advanced by Alan Shaw, some protege of his is involved in the renovation of a Christopher Wren building and Alan is looking for something spiritual to get his teeth into…he did mention St Paul’s.

Announcements from the new Govenor of the Bank of England has led some stability to the rather low interest rates. Mike Rogers celebrated this with the prognosis that there will be a kicks start in the housing market starting with first time buyers. No hint of grumpiness here; only glee. By contrast Howard Bullock saw the low interest rates as being a bit of a challenge to him in finding suitable investments for those of his clients who needed to save and as he talked of “tax wrappers” he illustrated this by referring to ISA’s. My memory clicks to the beginning of Queen’s “under pressure” ISA ISA baby…. definitely a tax rapper. There were other worthy offerings but mention of music draws me inexorably to the Bard of Hadleigh who rose to the challenge of would be laureates Jaimie Harrison and John Probert by bursting into song. This multi talented entertainer started with a hark back to last week and comparison between the builders of Ark and Titanic, pausing briefly to extol the virtues of boating insurance that he could offer and ended with a crooning crescendo. His rendition of “thanks for the memory” was reminiscent of Bing Crosby, Val Doonican, Perry Como and Ole Blue eyes all rolled into one. Yes it was a sort of rat pack, which really brings us back to boat insurance, the Ark and the Titanic. My memories, for which thanks, are that rats tend to desert sinking ships and if there are enough of them no doubt they will do it in packs. Am I getting cynical in my old age?, am I getting blog weary?…of course not, a star has been reborn. Our Kev has moved from Bard of Hadleigh to Troubadour of Hadleigh. He will need little encouragement in the weeks to come but it got him the award of the Oscar.

It is true to say there were further offerings after Mr Radford had spoken, Ed Crocker was complicit in importing a quantity of cocaine and now does not do imports and Nick Cooke wants vendors and purchasers to know that if they split his fee it will only cost them £150,00 each.

So the next stop was the 10 minute slot. The 60 second round had reached dizzy heights there was almost a carnival atmosphere…no you are right, I do exaggerate. Nonetheless the quality was maintained by Richard Reed’s very personal presentation that both highlighted his enthusiasm for what he does and the care and attention that he brings to his job in organising that thing that is very important to all of us, our holiday. Not a cut price offer in sight, but an approach to his work and to his clients that will make it easy for us all to feel confident in referring him to our friends and acquaintances and also using him, as many of us have, ourselves.

The testimonials and referrals round had two hard acts to follow but it rose manfully to the occasion. 22 referrals and £41,375 worth of recorded business.

A brilliant start to the month.

Harking back to the theme “under pressure”, I have not been oblivious to the traffic there has been between members in praise of the Troubadour of Hadleigh’s musical prowess. I fully understand the impatience of you all to receive my blog so that you can carry on with the comments. I hope I have not been too dilatory and that we can perhaps put a whole album together of songs appropriate to the various members singing in conjunction with RMK’s would be rapper, with or without a W.