We're Almost Ready

Following the successful show at Excel last week we are busy pulling all the loose ends together for the new products. We initially aimed to have them on the shelves for 1st March but we had too many orders to fulfil and we had a two week setback. However things are looking to be running well now and we anticipate the first units rolling off the production line towards the end of next week. We are busily writing up the new programming instructions which will allow the users to set the time that the boilers come on and switch off on a daily basis. They are pretty user friendly and the customers should find them easy to understand.



Yesterday I posted a video of Robbie Fowler on the blog with the comment that you should watch it and weep. This would be especially poignant to fellow Liverpool fans. Last night I watched Liverpool on my subscription to ESPN and wept. The spirit of Shankly is no more. The once mighty Liverpool who could always be relied upon to put in an effort even if there was no skill in the team have faded into a jaded and unrecognisable team of misfits and moaners. Apologies to Carragher, Mascherano, Reina, Kuyt and Kyrgiakos who still have the Liverpool work ethic and team spirit but you need all eleven to have it for things to work. I still have two season tickets but it's going to take a lot of persuasion to fill in the renewal form when it arrives a few days after the season ends. By the way lads, we play in red. Last night our passing suggested that we thought that we were playing in blue.



I went to the gym last night (not this one). The recent wedding and 21st parties and Hotelympia have left me overweight and unfit. This has been exacerbated by the need for a new hip which has kept me away from the gym. I managed to cycle for twenty minutes. As long as the saddle is at the correct height the hip moves perfectly but if it's set too low or too high the results are excruciating.



Mark Jones from Workhouse marketing sent me a copy of a press release about his son Tom's opening of a wine store in Whalley later this month. I suggested a headline of "Tom Jones To Open Wine Store In Whalley" fully knowing that Tom will have heard all the jokes about his swinging namesake before and Mark came back with a brilliant response in which he told me that he was off to Wales next week to visit the green, green grass of home (which is not unusual for him) but best of all if the weather was good he was going to take de lilo with him (groan).

Don't forget to get your ticket for this week's draw Mark

I'm really sorry but I can't make the appointment.

It's only ten or so words isn't it? But just think how much trouble and money you could save Instanta if you picked up the phone and said them.We know and understand that accidents happen,cars get stuck in jams and people get ill but our sales team has had so many instances of turning up to be met with "sorry he's out" lately that I am beginning to wonder if simple courtesy has disappeared. Our sales force cover large swathes of the country and often have to stay overnight in order to keep to the schedule that they have booked.I'm not accusing all our customers, as plenty do have the courtesy to tell us, but please don't think "I'm only seeing a rep". Your cancellation has cost us dearly and you have also missed the opportunity to find out about how Instanta can earn you money.



We've scanned the Vue cinema listings for today but have either seeen or have no wish to see everything that's on offer. So, to keep with the Orange Wednesday theme, we're going to treat ourselves to some beans on toast and eat it in front of the telly and watch a good film on Sky (if there is one that we've not seen).



We'll go to the gym first as we've missed it a lot lately. Since I was diagnosed with the need for a hip relacement I've had to limit the activities but I need to keep active and if I set the seat on the gym bike at the right level I can manage to get some exercise. If I set it at the wrong level I can go through absolute hell.



A big thank you and well done to Northern Sales Manager Peter Brindle who has just landed an order for 60 DB2000 boilers. That's a great order by anyone's standards and it's all down to Peter's tenacity and devotion to a lead. (Better not big him up too much or he'll be asking for a bonus.)


Someone gave me a link to this video. You know what it's like, your team is trailing with seconds to go and the goalkeeper comes up to join in the attack. But for once the keeper shows that he is more than just an extra body in the penalty area. What a pity it didn't quite go in.