How an RSJ became a UB, and yes, there is hair under the hat!

Very Dark, very dull and very cloudy.  That’s how my morning started.  It was a glum reminder of Autumn.  As dawn broke and the morning progressed we finished up with sunshine.  By then with 24 Members present and 1 visitor we felt totally uplifted.

The Performance League

Scott Griffiths was back in the hot seat as Meeting Secretary and was able to announce that Kevin Radford with lots more points than anyone else was the winner for August.  It’s a new month and another months Performance League to be played for.

Education Presentation

A David Plumley special had him urging us to check the Business Card Box for business cards relating to those who only recently joined us and updated cards that existing members had replaced.  Never one to shun the theatrical he also provided us with business car holders, to wit a rubber band.

The 60 Second Round

Jill Willis was awarding the Oscar so she kicked off.  She can now provide a new service of buying media coverage with the bonus of 15% discount.

Marcelle Saad is fired up and full of new ideas.  She has been to Olympia to the International Jewellery Trade Show.  Some of our nearest and dearest might be in for a surprise.

Kieran Peaty is looking for other Architects to collaborate  with and he even asked to be put in touch with Alan Shaw.  As long as contact with said Mr Shaw does not result in water saving devices such as putting a brick in your cistern!

Simon Essex has a list of graduates with first class degrees just looking to be placed.  Quality will out.

Richard Reed emphasised how last minute deals within one or two days of booking can take you to Greece with better than 50% discount.  Howard Bullock had previously left the meeting because of car problems but was with us long enough to explain how he had been abducted by aliens to Butlins last week and although they were planning to keep him for a week he managed to escape after two days.

Nick Cooke tested our knowledge of initialisations. RSJ does not stand for Reinforced Steel Joist, but Rolled Steel Joist.  This is now de rigeur.  We now talk Universal Beams.  Yes that right UB.

Terry Maylin reminded us all that chasing commercial debts with the late payment interest and penalties can often pay for your debt collecting.

John Freeman has been instructed to paint a mansion and all the varying colours are shads of grey.  I understand that in every room he will have to take his trousers off before he does the pointing bit but Hey Ho.

Ellen is back, Ellen Beckenham made her first appearance following her months sabbatical.

Brian Painter told us about a client who was always blushing.  Brian is trying to spare him blushes by going back into his murky past.  At the age of 13 in  a chemistry lab after he had blown the place up some horrible teenage girl pointed out he was blushing; the poor bloke has been doing it ever since.

John Hammond has been on a training course; it’s all about appropriate lights and fire alarms for care homes.  if you’ve got dementia and the lights come on when you want a pee you will find the loo without any difficulty.  You learn something every day.

Paul Booth has been reading the political runes.  The Tory’s ambitious spending plans will involve increase in taxation as far as the Labour Party are concerned…… don’t even go there.  So how do you deal with this problem.  Appoint Paul to be your accountant. He of course will minimise your tax and maximise your wealth.

In the meantime Stuart Smallcome has been explaining to laymen the meaning  of VOIP.  Something to do with phones and the Internet.  I would have thought that his ability to mention something so obscure made him deserving of the Oscar but Jill was moved by Anna Marie’s photographic theming of love by parents and relations for a disabled baby.  Anna Marie was the winner.

This weeks statistics and points of note

• 25 Members present

• 1 Visitor

• 17 referrals passed

• £11,500.00 worth of business recorded

• Anna Marie won the Oscar.

10-minute presentation by Ford Astbury

It was a Ford Astbury’s first.  His opening was affectively “…unaccustomed as I am to public speaking…” He then explained something of his background and how he conducts his business without pause, hesitation of repetition.

First of all he explained that he was not bald and took his hat off to prove it.  Apparently it enables him to carry a pencil around behind his ear without it falling off.  “Ford” comes from Glenn Ford, a film star favourite of his father.  It is there that any similarity with cowboys ends.  A thoroughly professional performance in delivery and also explanation as how he does his business.  Recent testimonials justified our faith in him and this presentation only reinforced this.