InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "try to take over the world!"

Millicent Bulstrode (reinventingmils) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-01-27 00:19:00

Entry tags:

delivery: millicent bulstrode, delivery: richard summerby

Delivery: Private to Richard Summerby

[Carried to his flat by her owl Aeolus, with instructions not to wait for a response.]

Rich,

Late night or early morning, depending on how you look at it, but here's the list you wanted.

Gemma -- Hong Kong office -- re: copper contract

Agata -- Warsaw office -- re: shipbuilding contract

Henry -- Baltimore office -- shipping schedules

Yasmin or Charlotte -- Paris office -- weavers' meeting

Ibrahim -- Mombasa office -- re: new hotel

Griffin -- morning meeting Friday (Devon) -- turned up Molly's B&B after some digging. All arrangements done privately as requested. G promises Molly still doesn't know a thing. Found a local florist who'll send up something seasonally appropriate to the cemetery twice a month.

Armando -- Rio office -- discipline has been taken; an official apology arrived this afternoon

Marc -- still no idea what happened to Gordon's suit. Marc swears his courier got a signature for it. He sent a copy of it as support. Looking into that; I don't know why it wasn't picked up in person. We've always done it that way, and I find the whole thing odd. Stiff note, or go see Marc myself? Antonio didn't have an open appointment for two weeks, not even for us, so I sent a rush order to Ian over in that new shop by the university. If he can do it in time, I'll add him on the list of regulars.

Fred wants to have lunch with you on Thursday to talk about the Swiss contract. Shall I call Tipton's and reserve a table for 1 o'clock? And René must see you before he leaves on Saturday. I've made a reservation for you at Bell's for 6, Wednesday night. Don't forget to wear the cufflinks he and his wife gave you.

How did it go in Mexico?

-- Mils
P.S. I got an owl from Timothy just before close that his daughter is in hospital. Some daisies and a puzzle will arrive tomorrow before lunch.
P.P.S. Ruby had her baby early this morning -- no word yet on name or gender. Flowers for her and a teddy bear for the baby will arrive tomorrow morning.

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

the_richard
2015-01-27 06:29 pm UTC (link)

Mils,

Good on Hong Kong, Baltimore, and Warsaw. Paris, coordinate with Jacques and Pierre on what fabrics they're going to use for the spring fashion lineup. Might be worthwhile taking Jake to dinner and showing him fabric samples after you talk to the weavers.

Mombasa will turn into a time eater for both of us if I land the deal. Nevertheless, tell Ibby I'll pop in on him sometime Thursday if that's good for him. Speaking of hotels, I've enclosed some prelims on a new resort build from the wizarding side of Belize. Seems they've run into some supply problems. I'm considering closing Rio down and opening there. What are your feelings on it?

I think Mexico was a waste. The economy is tanking and they are pushing toward a peasant revolt. If we can make a profit and run, good. But I don't want to get any of our people caught up in anything long term.

Good on the appointments. And cufflinks. And an attaboy each for Griff and Devon. You seem to have the whole situation handled. And the reward for a job well done is another job. Straighten out the whole suit/tailor thing. Because we've always done something that way doesn't wash for me any more. We need service and reliability more than we need tradition.

I'm treating the Lovegood girl to a birthday getaway at my villa in Astrakos this weekend. Leave Friday night back sometime late afternoon Sunday. She's had a bit of a hard time lately with her father being sick. Maybe I can cheer her up a little. You are welcome to use the place when I'm not. Only two bedrooms, all muggle, but a bit of private beach.

Thanks,
Rich

(Reply to this) (Thread)

reinventingmils
2015-01-28 05:03 am UTC (link)

[Written in hasty cursive.]

Rich,

About to see my first client of the morning, so this will be terse so I can get it out before then.

Morning meeting with Jacques re: fabrics. Dinner with him Friday night to show samples. Charlotte is rushing a packet of forms for me so I can present with confidence, rather than in abstract.

Ibrahim will see you any time on Thursday after 10. His son just gave him his first grandchild -- make sure to mention it. I'll look at the prelims tonight. Personal feelings about Rio aside, I think that the market there is saturated, and we'd be well shut of it if we got out now with little loss. Belize has the advantage of not needing translators, so we'd only need a guide for local customs. If we can get into the fishing and tourism industries, we're off at a run. I don't think there's a centralised tour group that goes to the Mayan ruins, for one. There are a lot more unexplored avenues in Belize, in my book.

That's too bad. Should I recall the newest members, and let the old hands hold down the fort while we feel our way?

No, sorry, Devon as in the place. With the cliffs. I should proofread my messages better if I'm going to send them so late at night. But I've passed on your message to Griffin.

Updates on the suit affair: you won't like it, and I'm still sorting it out, but I've got a lead. You're going to be getting a very effusive apology from Marc if I'm right.

I may take you up on that next month. Let me know if you get busy and need me to set up a port-key (yes, I know your abilities, but just in case you need it).

-- Mils
P.S. Ruby had a little boy; named him William. Added a blue balloon to the order with no issue.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

the_richard
2015-01-29 04:04 am UTC (link)

Mils,

Tell Jacques that Eddie in New Zealand thinks this will be a good year for wool if he wants to keep that in the back of his mind for fall. And by the way, something you said to Pierre about shoes stuck in his mind when he talked to Leon across the way over wine. Long story short, Leon took heed of your opinion for his spring shoe line. Look in his spring catalog for a strappy heeled sandal called the Millicent. A complimentary pair is on its way to you and I picked up a contract on their leather. I'll split this one with you 50/50.

I think we might start pulling people out of Mexico and Brazil and concentrating more on Central America - Belize would be a good place to open a permanent office in my opinion. Get more into the tourist and resort business. English speaking, as you said, with a good population of British expats. And I'm fluent in Creole and started learning Q'eqchi.

Forgive the confusion on my part. You writing and me reading quickly. As long as the whole thing with Molly is handled discretely, I'm well pleased.

Make it 2pm with Fred, and tell him Crockford's instead. Which reminds me, if you aren't a member, I'll sponsor you. The Summerbys have been members there since the place opened.

I'm hoping everything else will sort itself out over the next week or so and we can slow down and catch our breath a little.

Rich

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

reinventingmils
2015-01-30 06:41 pm UTC (link)

Rich,

Passed along the message regarding wool; Jacques has one of his assistants looking into numbers, and knowing him, he'll bring it up the next time he sees you.

Got the catalogue (and the shoes!) -- I'm too pleased for words. I didn't think it'd be so helpful, but I'm chuffed he's gone ahead with it. I'll start the basic paperwork for the leather contract after lunch.

I've enclosed a list of the juniors in Mexico and Brazil who could be moved to Belize on a moment's notice. Two of them are actually due for a transfer already, time-wise. Also, Paloma in Madrid just put in a request to be moved, and it might be worth considering putting her in a #2 spot in a new office. I had Delima start looking into resorts, and Paul into tourism, to get ideas. What would you think of having someone take a look at the import side of things? With an established base of expats, there's sure to already be a business for bringing British goods, but there could be a foothold for us somewhere.

Your reservation has been changed, and sent Fred a note to let him know. My father, brother, and Jane's brothers are members, but we...don't go often these days.

James got the silver-craft contract in Tangier!

-- Mils

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

the_richard
2015-01-31 02:39 pm UTC (link)

Mils,

I've been reviewing the P&L for last year. Wind down all of Mexico and Brazil and plan on closing by second quarter. Do not open an office in Belize. It would seem to be time to push the fledglings out of the nest. Announce that Central and South America are open territory for anyone who want to work it as an independent factor. First prize is a 1/10th share as a junior partner. I'll be going after the big contracts to supply the new resort construction myself. If you need the help grab one or two of the best paper shufflers when we do close our offices down to help you keep track of everything, it would be fine with me.

By the same token, tell Paloma she can have the Southeastern United States, but only if she goes out there as an independent. If she isn't confident enough in herself to do that, she isn't ready to move up in management. She's been doing well enough in what she's been doing, but I think she can do much more if she pushes herself to do it.

Your idea of catering to expats and Anglophiles may have merit, but I'm not that interested in it myself. On the other hand, catalog sales and the occasional retail store have worked well for others and would probably be worth taking a long look at. Run with it yourself if you'd like or find someone to do it. Toss a preliminary budget at me middle of next week. SWAG will do for now.

I've put you on my guest list for Crockfords. Give then place a good look over. Always nice to be able to refer to 'my club' when you invite a VIP out to lunch. A 'one of the boys' sort of things.

Rich

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -