Professor Bananas

Willem Buiter is wheeled out ad nauseam by supposedly impartial tv companies whenever an "expert" on the UK financial system is required to make a half dead story stand up. So it was last week, when the talkative Professor appeared on Channel 4 News to tell its gullible audience that Somerset was unlikely to get any money back after our intelligent investments in Iceland. Buiter is a charlatan, a trickster and a foreigner to boot. He masquerades as a Professor. He knows nothing. My own team of financially astute experts calculated all the risks and are still convinced that not only will the money return to Taunton intact, it will also have been enhanced by the excellent and generous arrangements we were able to achieve. I have instructed the County's legal locum to write to Buiter in the strongest possible terms.

Up the Summit

Tomorrow promises to be a very fruitful day. I like the buzz on the breakfast train to London - familiar faces from industry and commerce; useful contact with the right people; a decent breakfast and - when we arrive at Paddington - just a gentle stroll to the Royal Lancaster Hotel. As someone who has reached the summit in Somerset I relish the opportunity of passing my wealth of experience down to others less fortunate and also to spot new peaks for my next ascent. This Public Sector Summit is bound to be special, coming as it does midst the gloom of a recession. But am I gloomy? No way. Positivity is the only way to climb. Excellence was yesterday. Beyond it are pinnacles of unimaginable splendour. I am on my way.

Robinson's Golly!

Steve Robinson and I are old friends and I am utterly delighted to see that he is emulating my excellent example by performing two jobs at once. He was recently hired as Chief Executive of the new Cheshire Unitary authority, but will carry on as Chief Executive of Stoke on Trent City Council until a suitably able replacement can be found. Good on him. Incidentally the pay deal for his successor is likely to be close on £200,000 a year - that well beats Gordon Brown's salary! Stoke is currently an aspiring three-star council. They will certainly need a four-star personality to lift them even higher. Which reminds me - must give Steve a ring this week.

Dragons Dont Cry - except for Me!