The tender mystery

One of the 'joys' of running a small business is tendering for work. We continually scan for work opportunities through various tendering websites and occasionally go for it when the brief is appropriate for us. The tender jargon trips off the tongue. PQQs ITTs are all part of the process. Evidence of minute details of business life are frequently requested. The insurance details of policies that have been in place for over 15 years. The date of your graduation (sometime last century). Getting shortlisted is fine but then the work starts, preparing the tender document. Weekends slip past as full effort goes into the document. Eventually it is off by courier or registered post. Relief. What happens next is often a mystery. Decisions are increasingly being made without seeing the potential client. Can paper alone make it easier for the decision makers?

Late winter break

No skiing in France this March for us. A trip in the camper van to Loch Morlich was the late winter destination choice. Heavy snow on the way north closed the road and forced a welcomed overnighter in Blair Atholl. The Cairngorms looked magnificent, capped in snow and reflecting on the loch as we pitched up for 5 nights. Great skiing next day. No queues, fast downhill on the M1 and sunshine. Good food in the restaurant. Had we somehow or other been chairlifted to the Alps? No. The next day warm winds came in to create a rapid thaw. Still, with the sun shining and the mountain bikes off the van the many trails and hikes of the area were discovered. A full moon made the area quite surreal during the calm of the night. Did we miss the annual ski trip? Yes and no. Jake our dog loved his winter break though!

Birmingham International Airport

Working in Birmingham with client. A good day. Arrived at airport for the homeward journey with plenty time so a chance to get some food. Not much to choose from and all a bit grubby. When a table for one was asked for in the largest restaurant I was told that there was none available at present and would I go to the bar. The place was empty. My reply to the waitress was a firm but polite no. Further along the concourse, at an even grubbier bar, I ordered a coke and nachos from the menu. The reply came, could I wait 20 minutes as the 'chef' was on his break. The local time was 17.50! I write this at the airport, hungry and bemused. Birmingham International Airport - what a joke.