After all I had been a cub and a scout in my youth and was constantly prepared. You had to promise to do your duty to God and the Queen and to be prepared. I think it involved carrying a penknife and lacing your shoes in a special way. Nothing ever happened, but I was prepared. So you can see that the fine and noble art of preparation is in my blood, and it's a kissing cousin of the allied skill of making lists.
Proper preparation calls for a list.
This is a family trait because I come from a long line of list-makers. I think my Pa listed for Britain. This brings me back to last year's events. Old Thingy rang about a terrific conference. European business leaders were meeting in a beautiful and probably haunted stately home set amid rolling countryside, and I seem to recall a babbling brook was part of the deal.