So finally the insurance company started to be nice, hopely we have reached an agreement, the bank if we need it will support us, we found an insurance company to insure us (at a reasonable fee) moving forward.. Everyone at AW has a list of things to sort, and I feel we are gradually as a team making them happen, ticking off the items on our lists one by one. My list is written on a blackboard on the wall by my desk for all to see.. one thing remains un-ticked.. A New Warehouse. And this my friends is the dilemma. 

So it's like this.. Keith our amazing landlord - I can't begin to tell you how supportive he has been - will of course rebuild Block B. It was big, over 30,000 sq ft. but nowhere near big enough. We estimate we really need 50,000 minimum. So it seems now is the time to move to a new location. Especially since it will take maybe 18 months to rebuild it, and we will have to muddle through with temporary warehouses, outside storage and a car park full of rented containers.. not ideal. 

It turns out there are not that many big empty warehouses in the area, you can count them on one hand, so we have maybe two that could work for us. One is mega 96,000 and a huge leap of faith.. 

Yesterday Keith came to see us with his architect who is called Tall Ted, on account of being a lanky 6' 4" - Ted had drawn up beautiful plans.. a bigger, longer, higher warehouse.. now 40,000 sq ft, with offices high on the back of the building that will have spectacular views down Don Valley to the Sheffield wednesday football ground.  Nice. "We want you to stay - we don't want to lose you,'' Kieth said. And he outlined a plan to build temporary buildings, use part of the car park.. all sorts of things to mitigate the pain.  But he also understands we actually need bigger for AW to continue to grow. I also feel a moral obligation to stay.. not least because we have a lease commitment. Sure the building could be re-let in the 18 months, but the question is do we stay or do we go?

In any event a move is not cut and dried, acquiring the mega warehouse is in itself a mountain to climb. We also need it immediately, scrub that we need it - really really need it like yesterday.  

Big Charley the manager of the demolition team came to say goodbye, this gentle giant and his three guys (and some monster machines) have dismantled the building and dumped it in skips in 18 days. A big nasty mess to a big clean empty space. Seems like a monumental task. But that burned out mess, gone for good, hells-bells, feels better. I gave him a Hymalayan salt lamp and some Rose & Ylang Bath Salts as a parting gift.