Attempting to sell one of my ‘world’s best ferry designs’ in the 1990s to a local but prominent ferry company, the unhappy manager, known as GF, eyed me suspiciously. ‘You were here before trying to sell me a ferry design, weren’t you?’

I nodded, ‘Yes, twice before, but our designs are even better now, not only will they make better profits, but they will protect your company from any competitor,’ I declared happily.