The chairman of broker Bollington reflects on a busy week that includes lots of meetings, a Biba dinner and a day spent as a tourist in London

Monday

Meetings, meeting, meetings – finance, marketing, insurer development and a phone call from the dark side (the press) about Bollington’s management board changes. It happened ages ago. I suppose we had better respond…

Tuesday

Valentines Day! Two cards! But one is from a four-year-old.

Client meeting in Stoke in the morning. Motor dealership. A great business. I first picked up the client in 1989, (how old am I?). Dad ran the business and now the son is MD. It goes well.

Wednesday

London. The 6.43am from Stockport. Meeting with a Lloyd’s broker, Groupama, a potential new employee, and then Deutsche Bank. A long day, interspersed with phone calls, emails, and so on.

Thursday

Osteopath at 8.00am. Aviva at 11.00am. Congratulations Tracey Threlfall and Nick Bancroft on your new positions – well deserved. Meet Matthew Reed from AXA in the afternoon. Very dynamic and forthright – I think he will do extremely well.

Biba Dinner tonight. We have four tables and lots of great guests. Thanks to everyone for their support. It is the first time for a while that I (or my evil twin, Eric) has not spoken at the event. I think I’ll sit back and enjoy the company of my table. Monsieur Matras and Mr Cliff keep me entertained before the speeches (and I try to catch a few zzzs during the comedian).

Early finish and back home  by 12.30am.

Friday

A day off – and a weekend in London with the ladies in my life – Lesley, daughter Holly (four) and her big sister Lauren (24).

Get the train at 11.15, and it is full of the London boys going home from last night’s dinner – some a little worse for wear.

Ice cream at Harrods, then Hamley’s, then off to see the Wizard of Oz. Then back to the hotel on one of those bike taxi thingys. Never again – Hyde Park Corner was an experience not to be repeated.

Saturday

Aged 49, I have never done the tourist bit in London. It is fantastic! Open top bus around all the sights – totally different from my taxi from Euston to Fenchurch Street. Afternoon tea at the Lanesborough, followed by the London Eye, tops of a great day.

Sunday

Before home to Manchester, I look around the new apartment being bought by my daughter and her boyfriend. He works at Willis – I wonder if he will be my boss one day…

Topics