Transcription
Stuart Cook
Lower Farm House
Hambledon.
Surrey GU8 4HE
England.
1st October 1989.
Dear Adriaan & Vera,
It is just two years since we returned from Spain and we seem to have gone through a mini version of 'the 7 october 1987 events, stock market reverses, gale-force winds and generally unsetteld times. However at least we can draw comfort this time from the fact that we are at least, not regretting our decision to return here to live and I personally, more and more thankful, as times goes by, that I am out of the Lloyds Bank orbit. Occasionally I come across erstwhile colleagues, either at Waterloo Station or on the 'tube' or just in the City, and I find myself increasingly unable to relate to them and life at Lloyds Bank.
I sometimes wonder if there is a touch of bitterness in all this, but even if there is, I have only to speculate at what I might be doing , were I still be there, plus recalling the early retirement package that I took, and all such thoughts disappears.
So did I join the Cubans, you must be wondering? The short answer is "no." In the end, they tried to get me on the cheap and this together with a job would have required overseas travel to such countries North Korea, Vietnam and some southern African countries (to generate 3d country trade, plus the obvious factor that Cuba under Castro must be the most backward Comecon country. All added op to a "niet."
Incidentally the friend who introduced me to the Cubans, Ernst and Whinny (now Ernst & Young) banking partner died six weeks ago of a heart-attack (aged 53). He felt slightly unwell at the office, got an office car to take him home, and just died within minutes of reaching his home, an awful shock, as .... beeps reminding me with a moral, which is: If one were to feel rather odd, breathless or slight pains in the chest area, one should take a taxi to the nearest hospital and not get home. So doing will give some chance of survival.
So my business life continues with Banco Exterior UK. The period of formalization is over and I am now embarked on a fairly extensive new business campaign, but initially directed at a selection of existing customers of the Bank, which seem to have been ignored. The Bank has in essence been a reactive one with little attempt at hard business getting or any level of sophistication. Barring one British executive (who is currently Deputy General Manager, who retires in February 1990) the whole management are Spaniards, who grew up with the organization here. So without to bore you with the story, there is much to do, but before being able to achieve a great deal, we have to await a major organizational change in London and to hire new managers. I am in touch with Nick Leng Smith and he has sent me his CV. However in the end, he may well think that joining us might not be in his long term interest. I shall be meeting him towards the end of the month to pursue the matter.
Meantime, I see from your letter of 8th July (for which many thanks) That you are loosing some of your key staff to Amsterdam. Is this the prelude to closing your Rotterdam office ?? However, whatever the outcome, you seem to be mentally attuned to whatever happens.
I wonder how your trip to the U.S. worked out. I seem to recall that you were going this year.
We had a good break for 3,5 weeks in July/August at our house in Spain, though it was a little long for Ursula and me. We prefer to do, say, 2.5 weeks and then take a week (without the boys, selfishly perhaps) in the spring. Next year we shall be planning something a little different, I think.
Ursula keeps herself busy enough, now she is more involved than before in a local cultural group and I am glad to say, playing some more regular tennis .
The boys are making normal progress at school, Alastair in his second year at Wellington (now with his own room) and growing up fast.Julian continues to perform extremely well academically and is also doing well with the violin. He changed to a 3/4 size instrument this term (a 60 year old German violin) and making big advances. They are both back today for a 10-day 1/2 term break.
Now I will have to do a little business-mails and also on reading today's Times. I must just make sure that my Home Insurance Policy contains protective clauses against earthquakes, storm damage and subsidence.
It never ceases to amaze me how relaxed Californians are about covering earthquake damage in their insurance policies. When we lived in Los Angeles, only 25% of house owners were covered for these incidents. I had only to pay USD 100,- extra being covered
Love from Ursula +me, Stuart
