PeteB

Poll

A long day! In bed early last night but awake at 4:30. The Sales Meeting started at 9 then pretty well went on until 15:30! In some ways good meeting as some issues got aired but I find myself getting angry as when I see when a change in a machine is needed, I feel it is best to do it PDQ. While others seem to think that a change needs a period of calm reflection, testing, moderation and consideration! Aaargh!¡!! I get annoyed to the point of facetiousness when info is not communicated and then when questioned, the response seems to be 'oh? Didn't you know?'. Or at the statement of the bleeding obvious, they dislike me saying "No !Removed! Sherlock!". They forget that, while I'm a Sales Manager, I've also got a 'bent' for engineering, messed about with chippers for more years than all in the drawing office put together and seem to have a retentive memory for many things except birthdays, postcodes and pin numbers! After the main event, myself, the Sales Director and my odd colleague had a meeting about these "key accounts". I had to ask which people need to be treated as key accounts and that meant asking when some key players had last been spoken/visited. I'm am stretched a little thin in the Midlands and North and recognise that. But I get despondent, embarrassed, angry, when I asked about some key players who spent big with me and no one has been to see them for years! I could get so upset at the missed opportunities, that I could very easily get charged with verbal assault, abusive behaviour and language, combined with conduct unbecoming! The type of thing that he confessed to recently included that he couldn't drive anywhere for a day because he had trimmed so many sheep's feet on the Sunday, he couldn't move his fingers on Monday morning!!! How he laughed..... Nice to get home a see Caz, quick bit of good shopping, supper, she had a glass of wine and into bed for her 02:30 wake up! Me? G like add if wine or three and tripe on the box. Enjoy your weekend!

County

Caz away early, I knapped for a bit, then phone woke me up at 5:30 with a call from Cyprus about a Used machine that is with a dealer!!! Lost the plot then and started to look a 4x4 things! Took yesterday's machine back to the factory and put a DNU on it as the blades are hitting the shear bar after 3 hours use. Not good, badly assembled as something has moved! Disappointing.... Hitched up to an ex demo unit that was sold and headed out to the middle of Lincolnshire. The buyer agreed to this in mid December but is slow at getting finance in place etc, it is untrue! He had always been so 'calm', he could be horizontal! After a catch up with the dealer staff, I headed to Shepshed to grab my stuff and drove to the factory again. Staying overnight in the hotel in readiness for the sales meeting tomorrow. Only myself and the odd colleague here and I got to say that his home life is hellish mad! How he finds time to work, I don't know! Kids in rehab, and relationship, bad divorce, sheep, fishing, blah blah blah! Heads in a spin! No further instructions on the lemon Q7. She pushing to get s Disco......still.

contend

Away before 8 to get to Darlington for 10. Was a few minutes late after a section of the M1 was down to 40 and the A1 at a standstill north of Doncaster for some unaccounted reason. The council were very receptive to seeing us and we had a good laugh while I did my speel. They hitched up and we set off across town to try it on site. It worked well and they liked it. It is now down to the Transport Manager to get a wiggle on and order one. I hope it doesn't go to tender as that can be a delay and opens to the door for some other supplier to try and muscle in. Good fun and good demo, everyone smiling again. Then the phone started ringing and that was it for the trip back home - non stop and often hard work! One of my dealers had a momentary breakdown in the thought process when a chap rang, asking about a relatively low value machine, but they were a fair way away from the dealers spot. A usually perceptive and canny lad answered the phone and told him that they wouldn't handle the sale and that he ought to ring our office direct. Whilst that is true in one respect in that he is out of their given trading territory, he has two used machines that can be sold anywhere to anyone! When the customer got to our office, it puts people back's up to hear that a dealer could not be bothered. All he had to do/say was 'leave it with me and I'll come back to you......' I phoned the chap direct and he wants a demo next week and we cannot do that as the machine is away, so passed it to the original dealers Used specialist who was grateful for the headsup. Hope to have salvaged that.... Also got to get two units underwritten, one from 2001 with no engine and a 2003 that doesn't run. The owner is sure that they are made of gold too..... Nice to have Caz back here, she gone to bed with an 02:30 alarm....she dreaming of Discovery while I'm still searching for another Q7 with similar spec to what we got sa on the drive ready to go back....

Bowl

True enough! Brought mine with a card, and after so much hassle trying to talk to the garage I brought it off, I got/gaining a section 75 to get my money back! Shame too as it is a good spec car but busted!

Very nice car! I wished that mine hadn't had battery minister issues, suspension compressor myther, and MMI issues!

cake

Good day here, thoroughly enjoyable! Caz still at Wood Lane which is now strange having the empty house that I was used too. Right now, YouTube on, and loud! Anything from the late 70's through to 80's! Prince right now - purple rain, all that while I iron, hoover, toilets etc! Set out for Stourbridge Golf Club this morning for a demo on a small chipper - pocket money to the club but not a decision that they take lightly! Committee and all that stuff. I was at Boarding School in Stourbridge so it was a trip down memory lane today. When I went in September '75, it was a brutal place with endemic bullying which was taken as growing up! When we first started, there was a system called 'fagging', whereby a designated 10yo boarder had to visit each 6th Form Study and get their shopping list and money, setting out to get it all. The list of designated pupils was published on the main notice board and you paid dearly if you didn't do your duty. You basically went for whatever they asked for and didn't question it - cigarettes, booze, pornographic magazines - whatever! As well as stamps and stationary.......As an extremely naive and unworldly 10yo, I got sent, with cash, to the shops at Old Swinford cross roads for a yard of Fallopian tubing and a pint of Pigeons milk! I went, I asked......The system was banned after complaints from parents before the first half term, but, if you got told by an Sixth Former to go and get, you did! It is now one of the Nations Premier Schools with many notable people to come out of the place happy for being there and some, like me, didn't do well academically but we done alright in life! The demo at the golf club was great, well impressed! A lovely little machine to demonstrate and always opens eyes! Lets hope the committee are in a good mood. Went back to Alcester to swap machines as I got to be in Darlington tomorrow - a quick chat in the office and I'm off home to sit behind the screen, tapping out emails and planning the next few events. I got 5 units being dropped off tomorrow in Yorkshire and Durham and each will need training and support while they get going and getting them organised is like pushing string! Highlight of the year so far is some pivotal news. The bank have done that Section75 and refunded my purchase price on the lemon Q7! I got to await instructions on getting it back to them and it still isn't 100% sure that the decision stands but HSBC wouldn't throw the money at me if the were not sure that the vendor was culpable! I do feel a tad sorry as it was a good spec car but with knackered electrics and suspension! I am tempted to make them a really cheeky bid for it and getting it repaired! Caz has already sent me a load of stuff about OverFinch RR that she has seen, I may be going to the other side! But, having said that, I learnt to double de-clutch in the first LR sold into Hereford and Worcester, and owned a 109IIa, 110V8, 2x127 Crewcabs, 1x 130 single cab and an LSE which was a nice ride! And driven various Defenders, Discovery's and had a FreeLander as a tow tug for 150k miles! And sold two wood chippers to the brand, one to care for Lode Lane and one atGaydon testing ground.....so the connection is strong!

Collar

Twas on of those days. Caz stayed overnight and went back to hers to have a few days there. I got up on time but everything started to turn sour. I had arranged to be in Barnoldswick at 11:00. I got two calls before I could get out the house, one social and one work. Rugby chat by with a good friend from Scotland who is a good player and knows a few of the Scottish team blah blah blah. The work call is from a lad who has two of our flagship units and he failed an audit the other day as he had put down the capacity of the winch at 8,000lbs but did not submit the papers for it. He and I talked about this for 30 mins while I tried to get ready and out the door. Some other delays to do with paperwork that I needed meant that I was late out the door to the tune of 45 minutes! The trip to Barnoldswick was through some bits of fog but once that had burned off, the weather was a pleasure. The folk at Barnoldswick were okay with the delay. They brought £70k's worth not long back and as soon as I saw one, I knew that it was coming back for silly jobs to be done properly. The bonnet was a poor fit, the bonnet micro switch did not work, the fuel tank leaked, the spare wheel bracket is floppy and the mudguards were sub-standard. Why they sent it out like that is beyond me. When I got back to the office, a production supervisor was on about how difficult his job was - he looked shocked when I replied 'I'll swap with you any day, but you couldn't manage the pressure or reduction in salary!'. I also had an email saying that five top machines were being delivered by truck on wednesday and the silence was deafening when I asked who they had advised that the drop was on! Some of these yards are not manned all the time and the times may be away on site! Guess that I'll have that to do tomorrow amongst the rest of my day. I also had to talk to someone about them slagging off our dealer and bragging about how busy they are yet there year old chipper has already missed two services intervals and his engine warranty is now void. He thought it was funny and I was joking..... A young rep, who is always above himself was bragging that he had sold a tracked machine locally, when I congratulated his boss, it turns out that he hasn't got the order and he isn't buying until later in the year - good job I did not put that in my forecast. Another dealer wants a big chunk of money for us to borrow a machine for a week - no wonder his sales are slow at the minute. I wish him the best but he did sum it up, 'I seem to get calls but all those used units are still in stock!'. The tale of the the lemon Q7 could be coming to a conclusion - the bank rang twice today, they could well refund my money in a matter of days! It will be a shame if they do and a historic victory at the same time! The spec on mine is/was good but the seller will not get my recommendation! Caz and I would like to get a Q7, but she looked inside a Range Rover Vogue the other day and it was lower mileage, cheaper and better spec! I would hope that I stay brand loyal but who knows.....Once the lame toys have gone, I fancy a pepped up S3 to take on Tom at Santa Pod!

Peril

A quiet day here, nice occasionally not to have to get loads done! I had to get a built in bookcase removed downstairs as the decorating needs doing and we felt it was time to go. Once removed, we remembered that it was agin an original wall which wasn't upright, smooth, level doorways or skirting! A feel a bodge job being done once painting is finished. I have decided to sell off some of the machinery so fired up the strimmer to clear around stuff. Was happily surprised that the 4 stroke strimmer started easily using fuel from last September too! The circular saw, pedestrian flail and 82" ride on mower are going - I would love to keep the flail, but realistically, when will it get used and by whom! This is my second weekend at Wood Lane Farm this year! The bench is fine but the flail needs an expensive control module - new, was a £14k piece of kit and the module is a G. Any cracking electronic wizard fancy a job? The Toro mower I brought as a basket case, another engine and some clever thinking got it working, but it is really a spares job going forward. Father in law isn't interested or capable of using any of it and wouldn't help with the cost if it so it goes - hopefully for a usable amount of money! Still eBay dreaming of a straight liner! Anyone else go to Santa Pod? I had a little snooze after dinner while Joe watched the football and then we went out for a supper. The first time that Caz, her kids and I have had supper out without Grand parents or Aunts/Uncles. They were away and getting back after we had gone. No doubt that they will throw a guilt trip our way for not inviting them or being here and having tea on the table for them! Back to mine tonight, Caz will come back in here Mini as she has a few days off!

Belly

Not much of a lie in. Dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and geese to be let out fed etc! Caz had brought a table from someone in Manchester, so we had a little trip out returning with a sofa! Caz and her daughter went to the shop while I watched the rugby matches. Neither was the result I wanted! I did a stir fry for Ez and myself, Caz is in salad mode. Slow day with nothing to report. eBay dreaming about what to get as a straight liner, S3? TT with bam engine? Golf? Passat? Don't want a ricer! Could go retro Brit tin?

Tumescent

Caz was away for her 04:30 start and I got up at 05:30 - leaving at 6 for Blackpool. Got there for about 08:45 - to the surprise of the buyer. He had forgot that I was coming and was due elsewhere! 45 mins later and I'm on the way to the dealers in Burnley. Good meeting there but watched 3 artic loads of John Deere stuff arrive - my stuff ain't high on the priority list. Finish that meeting and head over to a hire company in the Stockport area. He could talk more than I could! Got away after over two hours! Then the drive down to the factory and change the machinery and then head home. Left the house at 6 and got in at quarter to eight! It's a Rep's life! Now at North Nottinghamshire, gin in hand!

Prosecuted

Caz home at 04:30, and crept into bed! I got up at 7 and spent a couple of hours behind the desk before collecting demo tracked machine from the chap in Nottingham. They have bent a control bar which I'll ask them to pay for! Then off to see a couple of hire firms and off to the factory. After washing it and putting it away, I got to do some voice over stuff for the video chap. That's about that stuff done for the time being! My colleague has a load of dealer staff in with every machine in a line to show them. I got one for demo to but was quite disheartened to see that it is filthy! As Sales, we get to recognise that we have to 'sell' the machines, our company and ourselves to these people and scruffy get hasn't even got the machines cleaned! Then, on the way home, I got to collect a dining table that Caz brought off someone in Bromsgrove. The Sellar starts to tell me about her very recent hysterectomy, her relationship issues with the father of her child, her boyfriend and another chap, her mother's marriage issues and her father's three wedding fails! I'm trying to get away but the stories keep coming! She even invited me in for coffee to tell me more!!! Early start tomorrow, appointment in Blackpool at 09:00!

down

Grand

Caz came home as I was beginning to wake up and go, we barely mumbled 'hello and goodbye'! I was in the car and trundling north before 6...I got to my dealer's in Bishop Auckland and after a lid of tea, we head out to Durham Council main yard. I was put on the spot right good! I thought that when they "wanted training", I was expecting the tree teams, but no, it was workshop staff! I had to rethink what they needed to know and quickly remodel my speel! Thankfully, they didn't ask too many questions that I had to blather my way through! Durham are hot on training as a tree chap got badly hurt some years ago in an awful accident and lost his arm! They have been loyal customers since 2004 and are due to buy two or three this year! I spent big chunks of the journey to and fro on the phone - somewhere close to 45 calls to folk up and down the country sorting various issues and perceived wrongs as well as organising some diary events going forward. A new machine had a brought in component failure and we diagnosed it over the phone, organized a replacement part to be delivered, organized a fitter to go following a short delay and still the customer is unhappy! Sometimes, you cannot help people and sometimes even when you do your best, it still isn't good enough! Tom here for supper, he tells me that he had an invite to a gaming event in Berlin soon! That stuff is beyond my perception of fun!

downfall