12th April

Unusually for me, I've double-booked my time. I'm normally quite precise about my diary but I've booked a meeting with our Chief Exec at 11am at the same time as a meeting of the refurbishment project team due between 10 and 12. I square it with Steve and we arrange the project team meeting to start at 9.30 to finish by 11.

They turn up on time and we go through the progress. We need to sort out a couple of tea points. The door schedule needs updating. The fire alarm diagrams are now done. The real issue is the decoratoring firm. Its gone bust and we're having to find a replacement. There is a way forward but it could be pricey. From the language, I suspect that we're being set up and that we're going to get stung. These guys are all in bed with each other, know what buttons to press and know exactly how to play us. I'm a newbie in here and they know that they can get away with some stuff with me that they couldn't normally do. They are taking full advantage of it! And I'm helpless. I can see it but there's nothing I can do about it as I'm caught in the cold here. I'm just going to have to try some kind of damage limitation. My real problem is the time pressure.

We also chat about the main staircase. We have had a proposal from a firm for some glass and metal work. I've asked for a sketch of the work proposed but have heard/seen nothing. I reiterate that I will not move without an idea of the work proposed. This is our main staircase and must look right!

I go off and meet with Allan. He says that he's not interested in the infrastructure and the details of the work but he's trying to figure out what the finish should look like. We start with reception - pictures, noticeboards, rearrangement of seating. We move through the building - he presses the flesh and charms people and promises them the earth. There are a couple of areas which were never a part of the refurbishment. They've been real problems to me as I have no funding for them and the people working there have been pressing me to do something. No management steer and no money but I've been trying to squeeze the budget to see what I can do for them. Allan now wants something done. If only life were that simple!

I draw up a list of the things we've discussed and figure out the people I need to speak to to get this moving.

I go and have a word with Derek. He's done the work that was needed for the lighting for the Housing team on the ground floor. I take him to the Legal section on the fist floor to ask him to look into one of their problems. He reckons he can do what's required easily enough. We also have a chat about his brother Fred who's still in hospital. His temperature has come down but they still don't know what's wrong with him.