Software applications are purchased including those for accountancy, web design and bar code labels.
British Telecom issue us with an 0845 number. Charges to 0845 numbers are charged at local rate no matter where in the U.K. the phone call is made.
3rd November 2005
We renew the domain names; donkeyalane.co.uk and donkeyalane.com. The company we do this through is 1 & 1 who have registered almost 9 million domain names so far. 1 & 1 is a hosting company who register names on behalf of Schlund & Partner AGwho are part of United Internet AG.
8th November 2005
The Co-operative Group hold a board meeting to discuss the Co-operative challenge. They phone us at the meeting and leave a message on our telephone system. They forget to hang up.The meeting was aired to our offices and recorded on our telephone exchange. The Directors are clearly shaken and threaten us with an injunction:- "Prego, prego." "What you doin with that prego stuff?" "Its in Italian ain't it?" "It could even be Spanish." "No, its defo Italian." "No way that Portuguese, hmmm maybe Italian I dunno." "Well it aint Russian is it?" "Its Spanish I'm tellin ya its Spanish." "Italian." "Spanish." "Italian." "Read the letter again, whats he saying." "I mean check that out. Go figure." "Go figure, lets go figure." "What ya on bout go figure, anyway shut up I'll leave a message." "Mr XXXXX, its Mr XXXXX here, its late in the afternoon. I would be grateful if you could get back to me on my direct telephone number." "He wont, he's playing with us. He's gettin a buzz Marko. Marko, Marko can't you see its a game." "Unless you get him in for a meeting you'll never know, will you" "Whoever it is got nothin better to do, chasing up our sound sourcing policy, waste of time spending all day doing this." "Hey lets get an injunction." "Donna think we can do that." "No way canny do dat." "Are we allowed to do that, we might get way wid it." "No way, we can't do that can we, can we?" "Oh bugger, the phone" From the conversation recorded above its hard to realise we were dealing with a professional billion pound corporation.
14th Novemeber 2005
Our Annual Return (form363) is sent to Companies House. By law we must complete an Annual Return every year. It is a criminal offence not to deliver an Annual Return on time. The Annual Return is a form which asks for details of the company. Including Company Registered Office, details of Officers of the Company, Total Issued Share Capital, Current Shareholder details and former Shareholder details. A Director or Secretary of the company must sign the return Declaration.
16th Novemeber 2005
The Co-operative Group challenge is over. The Co-operative decide to back down and publish a sound sourcing policy in their 'Society' magazine. However, we will never get to know if the suppliers are asked outright if they use child labour, forced labour or similar poor working practices. We presume from the lack of information, and the threat of an injunction, that these questions are omitted from any questionnaires. We have proven that it is very difficult for customers and shareholders to obtain such information and that corporations are willing to go to court to protect this so called 'business sensitive information.' From this day we have been unable to attend any Co-operative society meetings, regrettably informing us 'no places left.'
20th Novemeber 2005
Lingerie sourcing has begun. Including suppliers of hoisery and nightwear.
