Well, I ‘m back now from 2 1/2 weeks in Cumbria. This time I was determined not to do any work at all and see if it is easier than dipping in and out and returning to a smaller “in tray”.

Well, I did not check my work email and I was reached by 2 texts that staff deemed most urgent, on the days I had to switch my molbiel on to book activities.

So , how many emails awaited me? Answer, 215, almost all of which I dealt with today on the bank holiday. I reckon it would have taken 2 or 3 days with the interruptions at work had I waited until tomorrow.

And did I relax more – most definitely. I do think, however, that when everybody else is on holiday ie height of summer or xmas time, it works better.

Tomorrow I will face the real mail piled up in my tray!

As the rioting and looting goes and the police response is woeful due to a lack of correct tools, SMEs suffer unbearable losses and life changing events for their owners. Mr Cameron – remember one thing , and that is that if the SMEs in this country are looted out of business because you are too scared to use European methods of quelling rioting, then you are nothing but a sound bite.

Ever since the creation of the Eurozone I have been saying that it is a near impossibility to tie in laid back Mediterranean economies with the powerhouses of Northern Europe. Different mentalities, different work ethics and different cultures. I should have bet the house on it failing! Also, I have also said there would be a double dip – regrettably once again I am proved correct. Perhaps I should work for the Bank of England – but if I did my forecasts would probably be useless.