To my surprise he simply nodded

(Above) colossal statue of Achilles in Hyde Park.

Interview in west London in the afternoon. Because the interview wasn’t until 3pm, I went to Knightsbridge first to meet Helen B and we had a cup of coffee in a café near Harrods. Then I walked down past the Victoria and Albert Museum, turning right into Exhibition Road. Past the 1960s extensions to Imperial College (not yet worthy of listed status but it can only be a matter of time), past the Goethe Institute (ferocious signs prohibiting the chaining of bicycles to any of its railings), past the golden sculptures of the restored Albert Memorial, and into Hyde Park. So lush was the vegetation, so numerous the trees, so quiet the atmosphere that I could almost imagine myself in the country again. After a few minutes walk I reached the equestrian statue Physical Energy (a copy of the one at Cape Town). Turning off towards the right, a path took me towards Lancaster Gate where I caught a Circle Line tube to Perivale.

The company where I was to have the interview was in a small industrial estate. The approach was up some brick steps and into a Reception. I was actually ten minutes late, and Richard Drayman (one of the two owners of the company) kept me waiting ten minutes, presumably in retaliation.

The formal part of the interview, for the new post of Marketing Manger, lasted an incredible four hours, two hours with Richard Drayman and two with his partner Peter Lee. Richard Drayman was tall, thin, aged late fifties, very quiet, seemed to be the real decision maker in the company. We talked about marketing, and he became quite enthusiastic about some of the ideas I put forward. At the end of two hours he took me on a tour of the offices and warehouse. The offices were entirely open-plan, but because they were in a linear design they were more like a series of interconnecting rooms. Everything appeared to be new and of the best quality. Despite the large number of staff, there was hardly any noise (a sort of industrious hush pervaded the building). At intervals there were bowls of fresh fruit alternating with bowls of sweets - Richard Drayman said these were regularly topped up and staff could help themselves to as much as they wanted. Downstairs into the warehouse which was light, airy and immaculately clean (also very quiet - because it was late in the afternoon all the operative staff had gone) . Into the canteen (again, very clean) and then into the fully-equipped gym (neat and tidy, all the machines ranged in sequence, all the weights racked in order. Richard Drayman gave a small grimace of annoyance at a faint humming noise we could hear, and said that someone had left the air-conditioning on).

“We look after our staff” Richard Drayman said. “Working conditions here are good, morale is high, and we have the best staff retention in the industry.”

The second interview, with Peter Lee, was difficult. Peter Lee was aged in his late forties, medium height and build, dark curly hair, prominent nose. He was conversationally dominant, and talked mostly about himself (how difficult he was to work for, how hard he worked, how he had spoken to over a hundred people that afternoon etc). Out-of-the-blue he asked me what sort of salary I was looking for. As I had already made up my mind I didn’t want to work for the company, I suggested a figure that was double my last salary. To my surprise he simply nodded and said it wasn’t too far from the figure they had in mind.

The interview with Peter Lee came to an end about seven o’clock. He left me alone in his office for a while, reappearing about ten minutes later to say that Richard Drayman and himself would like to invite me to dinner. We drove in Richard Drayman’s car to a nearby Italian restaurant where they were greeted personally by the owner. The meal was in many ways more demanding than the formal interviews as I had them both talking to me at once as I tried to cope with the meal (smoked salmon followed by chicken in a cream sauce). I also had to be careful not to drink too much of the wine (my glass continually being replenished). The meal went on for three hours. Towards the end I was becoming tired of their questions and the self-important way Peter Lee talked about himself (again he told me how difficult he was to work for, Richard Drayman nodding in agreement).

Eventually we finished our coffee and they drove me to the underground station. They said they were interviewing two other people for the position. As I travelled home I felt exhausted.