A final On-Site shareholders meeting on a cold and wintry day and then radio and Tv interviews with Derek about his gypsy antics before time to celebrate Diana's Birthday, and then drive off to Norfolk, stopping for a meeting with Freda to talk finance and see my interview on Look East!
I was dog-tired when woken this morning and struggled down to breakfast after the girls had gone to school and was only then conscious enough to realise that it was Di's birthday. Also only just heard some of Derek's interview on Radio Cambridgeshire but that seemed quite satisfactory. It was not long before I had to get ready for the ONSITE shareholders meeting and then an urgent call came in from BBC Television Look East reporting team that wanted to do a TV interview with Derek and I in the vicinity of the Gypsy camp, now in Little Paxton.
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I arranged this provisionally for midday and then took my cellular telephone along to Grove House where I received the confirmatory call. The ONSITE meeting was an effective affair from my point of view. They presented the figures of money owed, summarised the situation in respect of legal action, and tried to forecast future business. The other two shareholders were all for struggling on but then they were even more dependent on the company for payment of their salaries and debts. I took the view that the figures and prospects were hopeless and that they were clutching at straws and told them so. I also repeated my disappointment that the original deal was done on the basis of hopelessly unrealistic forecasts for business and inaccurate financial figures but, not being vindictive, was prepared to accept this as a lesson learned.
I advised them to cease trading on grounds of insolvency but left the decision to the Directors. said my farewells and then rushed home to get there exactly at 12.00 noon to find both Derek and the BBC news camera team there waiting for me. We went inside and discussed the project and then opted to have me interviewed in my office; Derek in the conservatory and then we all went to the Little Paxton Gypsy site to see the mess and then Derek and I were filmed at the camp to give the introductory shots that they need for the news item.
This completed on a very cold and windy day, I was pleased to get back home to load up for my Norfolk trip. It took some time to get prepared and mobile and it was 3.45pm before I arrived at Redgrave for my discussion with Freda. She is suffering with her bad leg again but I had a good chat with her, Alf and Chris about the need to identify their shops business plan; to install simple but effective information systems and to get on top of stock control. We also agreed that of the £120,000 we had loaned them just £40,000 or so would continue as loan capital and the other £80,000 would be invested in the house on an equity (tenants-in-common) basis and then this would be transferred to the Heritage Trust as a long term investment protected for inflation by the capital appreciation of the house.
Freda gave me some tea and then we together watched the BBC Look East programme that carried the interview with Derek and I on the Gypsy problem with which I was well pleased. The journey to Heronshaw where I arrived on a dark and stormy night. Fortunately, I had left the storage heater on last time and I was able to unload in a lighted garage and was soon installed in this old bungalow. I made myself a hot chocolate drink and then settled down to update this last two days' journal before turning into bed earlier than of late at 10.30pm intent on a restful night's sleep.