PeteB

I understand your views and comments about just offering help can make people feel a little more at ease but unfortunately, in his instance, the offers of help were continually rebuffed. He came to us from one of our dealers and I had been asked to remind him by his employers that he was employed solely to sell machinery and not go off on a tangent with papers on where they were going wrong with their hire fleet, their business models, their transport issues etc. When he joined us, he was given my patch and I offered to take him around the clients, talk through the database and other usual 'handover' stuff and this was totally rebuffed in a haughty manner on three critical occasions. He has that demeanour that he doesn't need advice, nobody else's opinions matter and he is always right. He has had sales/work things go so wrong many times that he picked up the moniker 'Captain Fantastic, the Master of the Disaster, The Minister of SNAFU, The Deliverer of FUBAR'. We all make mistakes but not to the same frequency magnitude or consequence. I have got so sick and tired of trying to help keep him on the sales route to success that I gave up and distanced myself from his activities for my own sanity! I've supported him when he has screwed up and hurt my own reputation to keep him from harm, but I gave up. Today he had to load a 1500kg towed unit onto a trailer along with 1000kg of tracked device to take out, due to a demo day in Kent tomorrow. I unloaded the trailer and left it where he wanted, asking if he needed help. Not required - 'I've done this hundreds of times' type of thing. I then informed him where the cables etc are for the electric winch and left him to it. Another colleague asked if I should be helping him, I agreed as I always felt that he was short on that skill set but that the offer was turned down. Ten minutes later, he is in the office asking where the Directors are as it fell over the side of the trailer and is wrecked! He absolutely needs this model for his diary and nothing else will do. I suggested that as that is our only demo unit, that he either takes a different model or blags a new one off production for static use only. No good as it needs to be worked, I point out that the tracked variant would be too heavy for that trailer but he is such a state by then that that doesn't matter! At this point I make myself scarce. I can do without dealing with his trauma, it is nothing new...I later found out that he had loaded the wrong machine, he had loaded a new machine that was destined for the Czech republic by lorry this week, he hadn't bothered to check serial numbers and had ignored that demo kit has a 'service' tag fitted to show when it was last checked over! Back to my day.... After a show, there is usually a load of menial stuff to do, kit to be cleaned and put away, machines to washed of the mud and correct keys re-issued etc and all the marketing bumpf and kitchen stuff to be done so I rock up in working clothes. I then get told that apart from unloading one trailer, jobs have been allocated! Hallelujah! I got a stack of paperwork, emails, phone calls etc to be done so head out after the little upset mentioned above! I got to go via Wellingborough as my son has his ageing Subaru Legacy with a dodgy twin scroll turbo engine in to be remapped as the original mapping from 215k miles ago is wrong and it is down on power and not suited to UK fuel. Funny how you do things when you are young - he thinks it is well worth the investment in doing this and I think it is a shed! Yet I did put wide wheels and arches on a 6v Beetle and think it was the Muts danglies! This Subaru is running at less than half the PSI it should so needs a de-choke and new rings before the bother with the remap to see if can get close to factory spec.... Quess what I'll be helping with?

I'm back! What a whirlwind couple of days! Got to go down in history of trade shows as one to remember, the weather, the intrigue within the industry, sackings and appointments caught up with, trade gossip, unexpected sales done, internal 'doings', stress and much laughter! Got home late last and was in bed fairly quickly after a chip supper. I've done this job for a tad over 20 years and worked with some fairly memorable people who we reminisce about, remembered their miss-givings and triumphs, met ex-industry people who always bob by and have a lid of tea too, and people I sold machines to 15 years ago who still come to chat....The office and other staff always say that I'm always talking to people on the stand and around the field but put very little new business to follow up in the show enquiry book. Having said that, they will have a surprise when they do read the book on Monday to see that I sold the first of a new model (without any demo etc) at £30k and three other orders for the flagship model @ £40k without any histrionics! (okay, one is subject to the lad getting finance which is a tad doubtful and another subject to a ropey trade in!). The one big bombshell that did occur, which is mind bogglingly awful is that the other sales guy on the UK team (and I cannot get on with him) admitted that he is seeking help for mental health issues and his (mid -20's) son is in a secure spot in rehab and mental health assessment after he has twice tried to kill himself with a knife. He is a drug addict and alcohol dependant again and his father (my colleague, also suffered similarly as a youth/20's/30's but got over the addiction but appears to be bi-polar). Truly awful place to be in your life and I did shake his hand and offer best wishes but I do not have the skills to help in anyway apart from support at work and may end up doing his area for a while while things are ongoing.... Weather was awful at times which meant numbers were down on the first and last day but sky high on the middle day this lead to much angst in trying to get on the field with a four hour queue at times and rebellion trying to get off at night too! The exhibitors fled across a field, Stewardship Scheme belt and out to dodge the security people as we/they were fed up! I walked two miles to get a lift away! An Audi RS6 going across a field that has been turned over was a memorable sight! Them big phat tyres and wet ground made the diffs and electronics do their bit!! Today is a day for chores etc and watching the rugby. My son is 22 today and I got him a set of Wolf air tools and have ordered him a spanner bracelet but that hasn't come yet! Enjoy your own sundays folks!

Custard

Would Audi give you a proper clue, don't ask the sales lad as my 56 plate is keyless! Do you doors. Unlock if you are close by? Is there a black rubber square in the door handle?

Away early to carry on with setting up the APF show. Well worth a visit if machinery etc is your thing - probably the biggest Arb and Forestry event in Europe and only held every other year. Mind boggling array of stuff! This industry is a !Removed! one in that tree work and forestry and Arboriculture is so poorly paid but has some hugely expensive and technologially advanced kit! If the wind hasn't called a halt to the proceedings, it starts tomorrow and ends on Saturday evening. Held at Ragly Hall Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire - south of Redditch. Finished my bit and left early to get home - some more show prep (Youtube video rehearsal) and then take her and her daughter to Manchester Airport to catch a flight to Crete for Mum and Daughter holiday. I doubt I''ll get time to post until sunday but I will try.

frugal

Setting up a trade exhibition can be a stressful time! Especially if you put together a plan which everyone agrees with and rubber stamps. Then one person seems to want their own way and everyone else had to toe their line! I have got to that stage where I just say, 'what do you want me to do?' because I know that win or fail, his plan has to be obeyed! He has a pile of unanswered emails, calls and unforfilled tasks but it is God given right to have his way on site. She is starting her shift at 02:30 tonight! A couple of more shifts and she is away for a holiday, perhaps I'll get some therapy and make that hot rod run!

Thought

Following the usual sales meeting, I could have got away with last months notes!, I went up the show field with a ride on mower, cut and collect a tidy area with a mower that is the wrong size and type because we are a tight company who thinks that it is the right way to do it that way. I got enough clients who do grass work as well as tree work who we could have paid to do that - reciprocal trade! Got home at 19:45 and quickly did some tea so she could get to bed for getting up at 3 to start another shift at the airport. Saturday was basically supporting my dealer from Bishop Auckland with a his stand at Eggleston Show by Barnards Castle. I always say that my figures are based on their figures and if they have to go through this hardship then their manufacturers and suppliers should be able to do the same. Home again late to do tea before she gets to bed again and sunday is housework in the morning which frees up a bit of time to watch the rugby on the box and get bored by a bit of the F1 too. Not doing a roast today, fancy making a lamb bhuna instead.

Meaningful

Truly

This week is flying by and really busy but with the occasional dull interval dealing with some detritus or other. I can get frustrated by people not doing what the are supposed to do when they have promised to get it done or chose another, less successful way forward. Planning for next weeks show is well on the way and I think that it will happen smoothly, it really needs a 'doer' to say what is to happen rather than have a few chiefs and only one who can get it done. I had a situation where the holder of the cash and carry card insists that he comes with me when I go but then objected when I said that I was going after hours to the Nottingham shop and not the Warwick outlet during office hours. I just replied, 'No worries, I'll go to Tesco instead!' I don't have a desk in the office so do a lot of stuff at home which helps me out of the way with office politics too! Sales meeting tomorrow which will be a repeat of the last series of meeetings - I nearly printed off my report from the last one to see if anyone would notice! We are a small sales outlet so we talk all the time so a half day full of re-runs is tedious when i got so much else to do. 3 Kilos of pork scratchings turned up today for show fodder!

Truly

Donad

Buffoon

The Ranger was 4 months old today and went to Shepshed Ford for the 20k service. They are good and well priced! We acquired two of these off the forecourt of Bristol Street in Worcester despite getting a truly bum steer from another Bristol Street set up - enough to make us say 'never again from them!' Anyways, I collected it to be told that these should have had a recall done back in September 2017 and Bristol Street had a letter (according to the Ford hub computer). Yet they still sold them to us without this modification to prevent water ingress to the Power Distribution Box!! Beggars belief! At home all day with emails, calls and notes for the up coming sales meeting which is always a trawl! Starting to get gritty and determined about an up coming trade show that we are at - The APF Show at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire - if forestry machinery and stuff is your thing, this is the one! I got the job of organising the daily supplies for our stand. I have introduced pork scratchings to the budget - we get through a kilo a day! No alcohol on the stand and I feel that this will be the year that I buy in fizzy drinks by the slab and everyone will want tea or coffee! We (or at least our German outfit) are exhibiting at The Galabau show in Germany so it is an expensive period in the calender!

Forest

Took Caz's kids and the dog for a walk at Clumber Park. Ez is 17 and Joe is 21. We used their Grandparents NT tickets and the woman at the gate gave us a right look! A mid fifties chap and teenage girl with Mr and Mrs's tickets! While she was at work today, I had good intentions of getting in the garage and trying to get this old hotrod running. I ought to get it running and flog it tbh as I don't use it and the 'need' has gone. A sporty modern, easy to live with toy would be good! But Tom has been in there and let the place a right pigsty and tools all over and muck and dust to contend with! His stuff caused the reaction ' nowt gets done in here until you've cleared up!' I got three V8 blocks to get rid of, a 3.9 runner to go, a BW65 and worn BW35 to go along with numerous heads, carbs etc as well as his kelter! Grrr....I feel an Ebay sale coming on! Once the garage has been done, the Austin 16 will go and after I fixed and mended the other projects, I'll start looking for something else! Like fixing the oil leaks on the Q7, fathoming out the erratic parking sensors etc!

Jane

Fighter

Award

Yesterday and today were a tad slow! The Ranger has the 'Change Oil Now' sign up so the planned repping in Wales and Yorkshire didn't happen - the AdBlue sign keeps advising me that I have anywhere from 1500 miles to less than 1000 to go before that too, becomes an issue! It is booked in for Monday and I'll only do about 150 over the weekend so, hopefully, nothing untoward will happen. If I appear at the factory - I always seem to get various people who want to chat, ask questions, complain etc - today, Mac Taylor, our ex-Service Manager, and mentor of mine appeared in his new ride. Mac loves cars, especially old ones. He lives on his own so is free to do so too! He turned up in a 1923 Humber. A delightful little thing that has 3 doors - driver has to shimmy across! Loads of period touches and a fun thing to toodle about in! But only good for 40mph! Nice to see Mac again - he taught me a lot in the Service Department engineering wise as well as attitude! She is working over the weekend and I did think of sneaking off to get a day of noise, smells and power at Santa Pod but ought to mend stuff and after seeing Mac's ride, the hankering to get the Hot Rod working is strong! Oh, and the Q7 has got an oil leak from somewhere up front!.....

Council

Fibs

Tuesday was a trip to Scotland towing a trailer with a tractor mounted woodchipper on it - had to be in Glasgow for lunch time so an earlyish start and 60mph all the way! Demonstrating tractor mounts is a hassle as things rarely go smoothly. In this case, the tractor had an odd linkage set up so the pto shaft was very short! Too short of I'm honest and something odd was happening with the chipper electronics too. But we persevered and got the demo done - its now up to the local rep to sell it too them! I overnight-ed in Stepps then dropped the machine off in our dealer in Selkirk - he will sell that one to a local landowner who was a 'something' in Maggie Thatcher's government. I then had to drive across to Dumfries to see our dealer there. Anyone up that way and fancies a spectacular drive should take the Moffat to Selkirk road (A708)! Truly marvellous! Have a look on Street View on Google maps.... From Dumfries thence home - again at 60mph.....Ranger now tells me that I need to change the oil and we got 1000 to go with AdBlue.