Non-Stop Day

[alt_lucius]

The whole week has been ridiculously hectic, in fact. The only luck so far has been that court was especially brief - a testament to Our Lord's efficiency.

Executive Session ran over-long, meaning there was no time at all to follow-up with the Minister prior to Court. Hoped to schedule an additional half-hour Thursday but am told Fudge has a divisional meeting with Fleet prior to our usual time and I have an appointment at Obscurus directly following same. Suspect the infrastructure planning for next fiscal year is taking Fleet longer than it ought owing to the flood of requests for additional magical engineers all over the country. The enhancements to New London are desired elsewhere and the subsequent demand for improved Floo grates has been increasing steadily over the last two quarters, an attempt, I believe, to attract New Londoners to other communities just as much as to convenience travel to our capitol. Discussed at length at yesterday's Muggle Labour Committee meeting, in fact.


Barty - I did receive your owl regarding a time when Narcissa and I may both stop in to MLE, though I am not certain it can be this week. For my part, Ned can work something out with Crispin. (If, that is, Crispin can be bothered. Of late I have but to cross the threshold of the door before I hear the distinct sound of a clerk hastily chivvying someone off the Floo and shuffling parchment to appear otherwise occupied. Particularly in the wake of Fleet's solicitous questions regarding him so recently, am less than impressed with this apparent comfort in his position of advantage. Time for a reminder of my expectations - if I were not so over-occupied this week, I should have undertaken it already!) In any case - a week and Thursday appears free for me; not sure if Narcissa is available then. Do I correctly surmise this regards to her recent complaint? If so then surely that is soon enough to meet us both. If it is more urgent, then I am sure we can re-arrange ourselves as needed.


Cannot believe it is already time to assemble invitation lists for our holiday party. Draco, if you would like to invite anyone on your own behalf, be sure to let us know; we shall not simply repeat last year's list, in the assumption that you shall choose to be more selective.

Comments

[alt_percy]

I have noted a 'talking up' of the career path of magical engineer the past couple of years during career discussions with our Hogwarts advisors, more brochures available, etcetera, with a resultant uptick of interest in our senior students. Presumably the word is filtering down that there is a crying need for the job, and so it's definitely a career focus that is being rather more heavily promoted. I realise it doesn't help the labour crunch now, but hopefully it will result in more talent being available in a couple of years or so.

(I do hope all is well with Mr Crispin, I hope you don't mind my saying, as I remain sincerely grateful for all the assistance he rendered me during my internship this past summer.)

[alt_lucius]

Indeed, yes. The Ministry have been placing more emphasis on municipal planning and in particular re-ordering communities with a greater sensitivity to the practicalities of wizards' lives. To say nothing of ridding the whole country, and not just New London, of the eyesores the modern muggles had inflicted on us.

However, such industry is not without its drawbacks. I presume you will have read the recent spate of articles encouraging wizards to continue regular exercise programmes and behave sensibly in the matter of maintaining physical health? There have been an alarming number of new businesses applying for licence to operate within New London and elsewhere - 15 new applications for Monday's Magical Commerce meeting, for example - with what I should consider a dubious benefit to the public. On the other hand, there seem to be just as many industries determined to capitalise on our country's tendencies to indolence. Though to my way of thinking they promise quick solutions with no particular indication of lasting effects. Still, both sides of the trade do serve to circulate the economy - so it seems not to matter whether they feed off each other or contribute to each other's successes.

I am glad to hear that the Governors' recent directive to align Hogwarts' careers advice with the growing and changing needs of Ministerial opportunities has been communicated to you and your yearmates.

As for Crispin, I am sure that his inattentiveness of late is an indication not of his past exceptional service but of his complacence in my satisfaction with him. Your brief time within the household must have driven home the importance of my position and the necessary support I require in order that I accomplish all I do in Our Lord's glorious name with the greatest ease and a minimum of disruption. Crispin knows what I expect and the penalty for failing to meet those terms. And he knows how he can remedy the situation if it continues.

[alt_percy]

I have indeed been following with great interest the articles in the Prophet concerning the urban renewal projects. Some of the photographs have been quite stunningly impressive. New London is truly shaping up to be the city it always should have been by rights, and I'm sure the country as a whole will continue to benefit in the same way under Our Lord's wise leadership.

It's fortunate that we have a Magical Commerce meeting, to weed out businesses of dubious merit then, I think. I suppose it would be inevitable that some are impossible to accurately assess as to their benefit to the public unless they've been operating for awhile...but surely that is one reason that businesses must periodically be re-licensed?

Yes, indeed, the Hogwarts career counseling has increased in its usefulness the past couple of years, I think. And I have been equally impressed with some of the guest speakers who have been made available through the YPL programme to speak to student about their jobs. That has been quite an inspired way to help our students visualise what a typical day in various professions might be like.

(I am sure that all who work for you must make it their object to please you. I am confident Mr Crispin knows that as well as anybody.)

[alt_crouch_jr]

Lucius.

No, the matter of Narcissa's complaint has been dealt with and should cause no further concern. This is a new development in another quarter, if you take my meaning. I'd like you to hear reports collected by a handful of separate teams.

I'll have Pennifold follow up with Crispin and Mariposa to find a time.

[alt_narcissa]

We can both be there at 9:00 tomorrow, Barty.

[alt_lucius]

No, I've

Yes, of course, my dear. The meeting at the Prophet can be re-scheduled.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Good. I'll see that everyone's assembled in the conference chamber at 9:00, then.

Private Message to Virgil Crispin

[alt_lucius]

If this is what I suspect, better cancel my 10 and warn Witch Weekly Mrs Malfoy shan't be in to-morrow.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Excellent.