Cardiff. Sorted.

Jan 27

Posted by admin in Banking, Work | No Comments

12.35 out of Cardiff. Excellent.

And a very good session too.

I ate on my tod last night in a really sweet Italian that felt like it could actually be the real thing. I remember a girl I always fancied at school married an Italian restaurant owner in Cardiff. I kept looking out in the hope I’d see a clue that I’d happened upon their places, but no luck there.

It was wet and cold in Cardiff this morning and I was glad that we hadn’t actually got around to arranging for Y to come for the weekend, it looks like the weather isn’t going to change for a few days. But still, I reckon I’ll be back in a month or so.

Apparently the dog was running around the flat looking for me last night. It’s a sweet think to say, but I’m not that sure I believe it as he rarely pays me any attention when I am there. Still, it’ll be fun to take him out this afternoon and stroll through the city as all the bankers are leaving. Even their hearts melt at the sight of a Jack Russell on stilts.

Think I’ll catch up on emails, then maybe a little snooze.

Meeting the guys in Cardiff

Jan 26

Posted by admin in Banking, Work | No Comments

Cardiff in the sunshine.

Gorgeous. I ended up in a rather nice hotel in some new development area at the waterside, and the impressive copper clad Welsh Assembly building is just opposite. I’m off there in a bit.

On the train down here I met a business adviser type fellow from an outfit called Touch Financial which does invoice factoring as well as general business finance and stuff. We had a good old banter as I once worked at Griffin Factors donkey’s years ago when it was part of Midland Bank. We’d never even heard of them so I guess they don’t exist anymore.

It’s funny, we got on really well and I almost suggested we meet for a drink later as he’s only in town for the night too. But then some strange reserve kicked in and I held my tongue. I guess he did too so it’s not just me that’s quiet.

The first meeting is at 9.30 tomorrow so I intend to get up, have a decent long run, pukka hotel breakfast, and then swan along. I reckon I could be on the train east again by 1.00 ish. Fab. Home by 4.00. Unless something awful happens I don’t have any intention of going in to the office again.

Y’ll have to take the dog out on her own tonight. Even though the Barbican is about as safe as anywher in London she still doesn’t like the last pee before bed. Poor Pop.

more America

Jan 25

Posted by admin in Politics, The World | No Comments

Last week I had a bit of a rant about the state of the Republican party nominees in the US.

And then as if to thwart me the daft buggers went and voted for the newt in whatever state it was.

Just to make it more fun his main rival with the equally amusing name of Mitt! Now of course Mitt is a true friend of the common man in America living a very realistic life on his $44m income for last year. Much has been made of the 15% tax he paid on that, as indeed it should, but actually with the right investments, primarily in pensions, you could probably get away with a similar amount in this country too, so that’s not as scary or ridiculous as it sounds.

Anyway, talking of the lands of the rich and the free I’m off to Wales tomorrow. Strange place. Stunning in some bits, and so bloody grim in others, not helped by the vernacular housing of course which closely matches Ireland for ugliness. Oops, mustn’t get on a rant. I’m about to go and do a lot of business for the bank there with a guy from a business finance company which isn’t actually based in Cardiff, it’s just that the fella’s holiday home is nearby so he’s keen on Friday meetings there. Cool by me!

Off to Cardiff

Jan 24

Posted by admin in Travel | No Comments

It’s not often that I get to travel around for work. We tend to live at Canary Wharf, with occasional forays into the city, and even less often to the West End, or more likely Kensington to one of the madly overpriced agencies there.

But tomorrow I’m off to Cardiff for a couple of days. We’ve been cut back so much we now have to do our own hotel bookings, travel and everything, so I used the City Visitor site to get the hotel sorted, and then a restaurant for me Thursday evening, but I’ll poke around and ask a bit before booking the client lunch on Friday.

I haven’t been to Cardiff in years, but remember a lovely shopping arcade that stretched both sides of a street that had an Eden Park rugby gear shop and the best New York styled deli outside of London. Can’t say I remember much else though. I’m hoping this will be the start of trips down there and that I’ll get Y down for a weekend, maybe a concert at the amazing Millenium Concert Centre – is that the copper clad one, or is that the parliament building?

And bring it on. Work is boring me to tears at the moment. Might have to do something about it again. You know, just look to see what isn’t out there and feel grateful for what I have.

Trust – in cosmetic surgery!

Jan 23

Posted by admin in Brands, The way we live | No Comments

I was interested this morning by a surgeon who managed to get a short slot on the Today Programme to talk about how he believes there should be legislation against the offering of three for two type deals in cosmetic surgery.

I have to admit it’s not a market I pay a lot of attention to, however I’m delighted to hear this fellow speaking out. His position is that the offers destroy trust in what has to be a very trusted profession if it is to thrive.

I fully agree and would suggest that it’s an issue for brands in general. The question of whether or not to discount should be a very hard and long considered one.

The biggest consideration should be whether or not you can afford to do so. While that may sound obvious, I’m not talking about whether you can afford to today, or next week, but whether you can afford to get into a position where you are competing on price, and sustain it, profitably.

I believe that it’s a very dangerous game for any small player.

Then the more important angle here is the more important question of trust.

I believe that trust is a fragile concept. One which takes considerable time to earn, yet can be destroyed in a blink.

The Stella ads of the last decade come to mind here as a whole lot more clever than many thought with their tag lone of reassuringly expensive. Would you go to the eye laser clinic that offered a discount? I suppose some might, but I believe there’s a strange glass floor effect in industries such as these and I firmly believe our surgeon is right, but not through legislation.

America!

Jan 20

Posted by admin in Politics, The World | No Comments

The American pantomime took a brilliant twist again yesterday when the second wife of Newt Gingrich revealed that he delivered her an ultimatum of either accept his affair with some other bird (now his third wife) or get out.

There are a few howlers in this amazing story.

First – could the world’s most powerful nation possibly even consider, for just one minute, having a leader called Newt? Newt? Really? In fact could any self respecting man call himself Newt, no matter what his dastardly parents might have stitched him up with?

Second – aren’t all these Republicans supposed to be good upstanding Christians? All that “So help me God” stuff? Standing on the stage with their families looking chiseled from wax?

And then, here’s another beauty. After his ultimatum to Mrs G number two, he goes and delivers a lecture to some women’s group on American family values.

Does irony truly fail to occur to these guys.

Shit Obama. You might not be the saviour I’d hoped for, but if you can’t wipe the floor with these assholes it’ll be a bad job indeed.

Looking at a couple of Forex suppliers

Jan 19

Posted by admin in Banking, Work | No Comments

The proposition workshops I ran a few weeks back seemed to go extremely well. In part the success was down to exposing the guys who develop the software and back end of our platforms to the traders and brokers who actually use them.

I’ve spent the last few hours looking at one of our competitors, a small Swiss Broker which got its banking license in 2009 and one that has serious aspirations. It states quite clearly that it wants to be the best in the world. What I love about it is that it exudes confidence from the outset. And in today’s markets I think confidence is going to be the next big thing, those who are there first will reap the best pickings and need to have moved on before the bandwagon is realised and suddenly too many businesses are shouting about their confidence.

It is small and versitile. While we have several thousands of staff in the UK alone, I think these guys have less than 200, and yet operate in 20 languages, trade 70+ pairs and have a phenomenal reputation. Their strength is their web presence, and I’d advise them to work very hard at being the point of reference for the online commentators like FXstreet, forex pulse and forex factory. These guys need a lot of information and will keep returning to a reliable source.

Their PR is good and it’s an important part of the machine for them.

With such a small team they can all be helped to understand where the company is going.

It’s amazing looking closely at a competitor business like this. I’m doing it more often and will keep it up.

Dentist. Grim.

Jan 18

Posted by admin in Home, It's All About Me | No Comments

Bloody hell. For years I had never had a filling, then in the last few years I seem to be falling apart in the oral department.

When I was contracting and earning a heck of a good wage it all started. I was feeling just a general ache in the jaw and thought I’d pop along to Lance, my old dentist in Manchester. He had a poke around, filled a tooth and recommended root canal work and a crown on another. It didn’t sound bad, but bugger me it was awful – don’t be talked into root canal work unless you’re absolutely sure you need it. It was the most anesthetic I’ve ever had. I slept for hours after and ached for many hours after that, but it was the drilling that truly killed. And the price – £500 thank you!

Two years later the bloody thing fell out. Was stuck back in. Then broke.

So today I had to pay another £200 to have an ugly metal crown put in. Oh and another filling.

Thankfully I took the day as a work from home, but was up front about what I would be doing.

It was a few hours ago now, but I can’t even get off the chair to take the dog out.

Grim.

Oops, catch up time.

Jan 17

Posted by admin in The way we live, Work | No Comments

Blimey, what happened? I was in a good routine. Writing pretty much everyday, then turn around twice and nearly a week has gone by. We had a calm weekend, just a big walk through town and down to the Kings Road on Saturday. We managed to come back with nothing other than a candle stick from the David Mellor store on Sloane Square, which I consider an achievement. The stick itself is a real classic and something I’ve wanted for a long time.

Just because we didn’t but anything doesn’t mean we didn’t spend anything though!

We stopped off in the Harrod’s food hall on the way down through Knightsbridge and had the bast pizza I’ve had in ages. Super thin crust, just a scraping of sauce, but a brilliant combination, just that with a glass of fizz each set us back £45. Then there was tea in the Michelin Man place alongside the Conran Shop. In fact we spent so long in the Conran Shop I thought we may have to buy a house so Y could start collecting the madly priced furniture she has suddenly developed some kind of lust for.

If we do ever buy in Cornwall, which is still very much on the cards, then it could end up the best kitted out holiday home anyone has ever come across!

Y let’s the cat out!

Jan 13

Posted by admin in Gaming | No Comments

I’m shocked.

I’m chuffed.

I laughed my head off.

Y has just admitted she won £200 on strictly come dancing betting!

The money is great as it’ll just be a treat.

But the best thing is the utter surprise that this girl who frowns and gives me a hard time every time I even play solitaire online, has actually placed a bet.

Brilliant!

Oh. I just thought. I over reacted to such a degree I bet she’ll go spend the money on a night with her mates rather than me. Bugger. May have shot myself in the foot there.

Actually, thinking about it I bet she has already blown it. I was surprised at the time that she was so keen to watch the silly programme. That was half of her Christmas viewing.

Friday Friday Friday.

What joy. It has been a tense week, especially with the RBS news.