CREDIT CRUNCH GUIDING

Cash flow problems always seemto come in the spring when work restarts rather than in the winter when things are quiet. There is always money - and the odd job - coming in up to Christmas and I usually get a tour around new year but then the credit card bills from Christmas arrive with the Inland revenue hard on their heels and suddenly the bank account empties and you are waiting for some work and some cash to replenish funds. Car needs replacing this year and I have jsut lost my two lodgers so things are tight. Thank God I have a regular supply of work touring and a reasonably steady income from that. For the first time ever, I think, I had no guiding work at all over Easter, having turned down a job in Oxford rather foolishly and the supply of tudent work from my agency drying up. One of the first things people economise on when times are hard is a holiday, obviously, and so many savings having gone south, they are not booking this year. enough work in May but slightly worrying gaps in June, usually v busy...