My 10 minutes scheduled for early October was recently swapped with Julian to help him, but noticing one earlier week was free – should I swap, I was thinking only last week?? Caroline reads my mind on Wednesday as in the middle of another task she flashes up that today is available and “faster than Usain Bolt” I grab it which should leave 10th October free??

In my 10 minutes I explain how accidentally I ended up doing Employee Benefits and telling a business owner that they could actually afford to retire now while they are in their 40s. The questions after my 10 minutes go very well and I will be having some talks with people on starting off or maybe tweaking their financial planning. To close my bit on this meeting, the “safest investments” i.e. cash and gilt-edged securities which many people feel most comfortable with at the moment, actually give the worst performance in the long term as the chart from the Barclays Capital Study clearly showed.

Otherwise there is not the same overcrowding at the table as last week with a few subs and 3 people who were not able to find them. Louise Hackett of Delfont Mackintosh theatres stands in for Maurice Press of DRT who is on holiday. Fiona Gale is back with a charming story of 3 managers and making Corporate Responsibility a USP. Mike Segall explains that the initial consultation cost for his marketing services is £350.

Jamie Denham’s sub explains that he has been in animation for nearly 10 years during which he has done work for BBC, ITV & Channel 4. Traffic delays cause George Metcalfe to arrive just in time and tells us the importance of “open questions” finishing the meeting with an inspiring Helen Keller quote “Ask not to be equal to the task rather ask for a task…….”

Kirsty’s sample chocolates including a scrumptious turkish delight are passed around the table and she shows us a chocolate house she has made for Karelia’s clients. Karelia’s company needs a new name as there are lots of Chase property companies – thinking caps on? Yours truly had treat fun with naming new flavours in the Walker Crisps competition earlier this week. Zoe is back and OPUS now offer broadband as well as Siemens communications equipment.

Richard Houldsworth of Splat Print is doing some printed wallets for a car retailer as the previous printer did not do a very good job. Lewis Malka tells us of a replacement engagement ring which was robbed from a couple on holiday in the Maldives – their insurance company picked up the cost and the replacement was ready when they returned from holiday. He will shortly be off to The Big Apple for their marathon and has raised £2,000 of his target £10,000 sponsorship.

Mike Nightingale tells us of a typical week where objects insured include a £2 and half million car, a vintage tractor as well as his talking to a haulage contractor.

Dexter Moscow tells another charming story in his 60 seconds.

Father is on holiday and phones his son in Florida. Your mother and I are getting divorced after 35 years! Son says not to do anything and that he will be on a plane and see his parents following weekend. Next father phones his daughter in Australia. She will be there at the weekend as well. In the hotel room, father turns to his wife “Well that’s your birthday with the children sorted out!”

Moral? Often it’s how you say it that really matters.

Russell Bryant of X&Y (part of Chime group) stands in for Roy Duncan – they specialise is marketing to women and in one case, increased sales by 22% by retraining staff at a call centre. Caroline used to work for Camelot and was involved in drafting the Students’ Charter in the days of the John Major government.

Have an interesting 1:1 with Mike Chan who explains the Equity Shield product where they are UK distributor. BBC Three Counties Radio phone me about a mortgage story in the press today – interest rates are coming down – but by the time I get back to them 10 minutes later, they have found someone else to cover the item. Win some, lose some.

Have a good weekend – for me it’s glider aerobatics tomorrow and for a different day out on Saturday 6th September, don’t forget www.gp2008.co.uk

George Emsden