Perhaps I will get there by tomorrow
Submitted on 09 / July / 2008I have been alerted to the fact that my last blog was some considerable time ago. I have many excuses, but most of them seem rather lame.
The last few months have been extremely busy at work trying to get organised in my new role. Added to that, the travelling is no better – my worst journey 2½ hours to travel just 20 miles. However, the school holidays are about to start and whilst many parents despair, those who drive at peak times like me jump for joy. I well remember our daughter when she was at school pressing us to drive her the 100 yards to her school – kids are great, aren’t they?
Talking of children, our daughter Georgina has now moved to a flat in Vauxhall which she is sharing with her oldest friend, Arianne. Our car quickly turned into a removal van and then lugging everything up two flights of stairs was at least the equivalent of a full work-out at the gym. Then we have the decorating. Are parents mad? Standing at the top of a ladder, brush in hand, being told by your offspring that you missed an area of ceiling near the window. “Sit down and have a glass of water”; “rest for 5 minutes”. Five minutes. I feel I need a resuscitation team! I am, however, “the best Dad in the world”. Sure!
Paula and I are also in the process of moving home. Now I have always liked Americans, but the timing of the credit crunch is not great. Our banks on the other hand have hardly helped. Why on earth would they be worried about taking on massive and seemingly unknown risks? Now, on the other hand, if I want to borrow £1000, I have to produce evidence that I have funds available and equal to not less than ten times that amount. Different, of course, if you are a 15 year old schoolgirl who was given a credit card with a £2,000 limit and, surprise, surprise, she spent it all and can’t repay!
CILA on the other hand is a sea of tranquillity by comparison. I am, however, conscious that my term of President comes to an end in about 2 months and there seem so many things that I have yet to complete. This week is busy for me. The Past President’s lunch (I know it seems odd that the President gets invited), followed in the evening by the Insurance Awards Dinner at the Albert Hall and on Friday the CII Cambridge Summer Ball. A quiet weekend beckons after that.
Wimbledon is over. The rain is pouring down and we have traffic chaos. I now intend to venture out to work - perhaps I will get there by tomorrow!