This was always a 5 hour 30 minute drive so I have no clue why it is now recommended at a 6 hour 40 minute drive. Trucks do this in a little over 8 hours to give you an idea of how slow anything over 6 hours is.
On Thursday we are travelling down to Durban due to the need to have various meetings for the business. I say need otherwise I would not be doing this as I do not like the 6 hour drive knowing the state of the roads and standard of driving skills you have to navigate. The last time I drove this route must be over 5 years ago now or may be even longer. If it was just myself I would be flying, but there are 5 of us and that cost versus a car drive plus hotels is out of budget.
We could make it cheaper and stay with "family" which would make it a less fruitful trip due to the short time and the family planning things that you do not have time for. Been there and got the medals to prove it so we would rather pop in and say hello than treat this as a holiday break which it is clearly not.
Thursday evening is the only free time available as we drive back on Sunday morning. This was meant to be on Saturday checking out the hotel but we have an appointment on Saturday now and I know drinking is involved with this one so no chance of an early escape.
I have mentioned in the past about having to find a better accountant that fights your corner and knows or is experienced enough to get a better deal for you. We were told to find an Indian/Muslim or a Jewish accountant because they are apparently the sharpest and we were recommended one who we will see on Friday morning. He is a friend of the family even though we have never met him, but know of what he has made possible. The one relative literally pays very little having a large portion of his bond/mortgage paid monthly plus a whole host of other expenses covered.
The current accountant we have is what I would call a text book accountant doing everything by the book which is fine when profits and taxes are low. We clash heads these days as I do not see any benefits and the business is about to move into a different mode and why the change needs to happen now. I cannot go into detail, but lets say the business has changed over the last 6 weeks and the extras being made cannot all go to taxes. A dream type scenario and this means the current accountant is of no use and needs to go.
We need clarity along with guidance and professional advice on exactly what and how to change things which I have no confidence in the knowledge and experience of our current accountant. It is clear this is the right move and we have 3 weeks to get this done by the end of March. After March things will get messy and more complicated so there is a time urgency.
The other two meetings are important with one being with my packaging business partner on Friday evening. Again this business is about to grow very fast and I need plenty of samples in order to land new clients. With only a handful of clients currently another 20 clients over the next 3 months would make life far easier and what is the target.
Saturday is all about budgets with our main client with some twists which are good twists and why it is an all day affair. Nothing is ever straight forward and the falling into the trap of drinking before the figures are agreed will not be happening as I know this person very well and this is how they prefer do business. An important meeting to conclude what should be a productive 2 days with what should be accompanied by terrible humidity and warm weather so not a pleasurable visit.