< p>Last week was one of those bizarre ones where things never go the way you planned them. It started off with the usual Monday morning blues remembering what exactly had gone on at the weekend and making sure all the kids were back in the house. Then on a serious note I got a call saying my mum had been attacked by a dog and was in hospital, which instantly started the week off on a downer, as I was concerned for the poor mutt. My mother is a formidable character and no dog in their right mind would dare take her on. Things got marginally better as a few offers and valuations came through which lightened the days and then a few introducers rang with some really good specialist cases which were interesting to read, one such case was for just under £10,000,000 and we managed to place that via Lihou the Guernsey based start-up I have been working with, in a very short space of time we got some terms which basically showed the funding coming from 4 separate funders to one lead bank this is a practice I haven’t seen at that level sine the mid 90’s but does show that some of the smaller investment banks are being a bit more entrepreneurial which is encouraging, and makes a pleasant change.

  On another point I would like to give an award for stalker of the week and that goes to Martin Horwood from Corporate Advances……..He is currently serving a 6 month sentence for the offence…….Joking apart Martin is a very passionate man so much so he phoned me at midnight last weekend to explain in the new language now known as slurrinese how things had gone with one of his business colleagues. I really appreciated that as did my wife who beat me with her hair straightners which are a replacement for the old fashioned rolling pin! I have forwarded the bill for medical to Winchester nick.   I have had a few people speak to me about this article most want me to ask lenders questions about their lending policies following my own questions about dual underwriting last week and I am happy to point out the common failings without being personal if that’s what’s required.   One last thing is that my highlight of the week was a trip to Soho House which ended up with me in an arm wrestling match with a group of lesbians (I am now an honorary member of that clan) and doing my knee in falling down a flight of stairs after slipping on a puddle of spurious liquid then waking up on the 3.30 Gatwick Express……….and they say my life is getting boring!!!!