All that's expanding is the time it takes

Who said expansion was easy? More than a month has passed since we began negotiations for a new site, and we don't seem to be much nearer a completion than we were then.

The sticking point is the strength of our covenant. The landlord - surprise, surprise - wants everyone and our dog to guarantee the lease while we are anxious to limit our liability in case the whole thing goes pear-shaped.

Meanwhile, our solicitor has received a draft lease which runs to 42 pages, and we need Listed Building Consent to install an extraction chimney and air-conditioning units on the external elevation. This one's got a long way to run!

We have always been enthusiastic towards training and development within the business, and introducing NVQs seems a natural thing. But previously, we have found that one or two elements of the qualification are missing from our business. However, we now understand that NVQs have been introduced which cater for our type of firm, so we are looking at the financial implications.

Sales are holding up very well in Louth and Scunthorpe, up by 10% and 16%, but recent new openings and building works next to the Lincoln restaurant are having an effect. We've just had a Starbucks and another Wetherspoons open fairly close to us, and the ongoing refurbishment next door is reducing footfall.

Lincolnshire has so far remained free of foot-and-mouth disease but Susan and I have just had first-hand experience of the devastation in other parts of the country.

We both love Keswick and try to get up there for at least two weeks each year in March and October. Despite what the Government says, many people go there only to walk the fells. However, we decided that we would still have our week away, and we were pleased that we did. Although the town was much quieter than usual, the locals were just as welcoming and the Jennings was as refreshing as always.

While we were there we took the opportunity to eat out at a couple of places, one being a hotel which changed ownership a couple of years ago. Although well-known nationally, it now appears to be living on its reputation.

In this day and age, how long can you get away without moving forward? Time, and customers, will tell.

JOHN DOWNS is managing director of Lincoln-based Jay-Dees Family Restaurants

Next diary from John Downs: 24 May