January 9 2007, Barry Owen; training.

I had coffee with a real Liverpool success story yesterday. Barry Owen is chairman of the Mason Owen Property Group which has grown into the biggest and most powerful of its type in the North West.

He struck out on his own as a very young chartered surveyor and is now a major employer in Liverpool, Edinburgh, London and Dublin.

I admire people like Barry who have resisted the overtures of investors and the temptation to take the company public. Equally, I admire his insistence that Liverpool always has been, and always will be, head office.

Nick Wainwright at Boodles is another who has stuck with Liverpool through thick and thin. Now for both of them that loyalty is repaying as the city goes from strength to strength.

Barry is a significant and hugely enthusiastic collector of modern art and his firm's offices - a fascinating mix of old and new - are hung liberally with eclectic works.

It was nice to spend time with a man so obviously at peace and so obviously able to marry work and pleasure effectively. A rare thing.

http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/Graduation/82476.htm

www.masonowen.com

Now into second week of training for half marathon. Going ok. Ran three miles-plus on Sunday morning along canal towpath in Birmingham with my brother. Felt fine. Admittedly, I'm a plodder, but I have no goals other than to finish without stopping or walking.

Another three miles tonight then my fantastic trainer Jane is upping the workload.

Boredom is one of my main enemies when I run. Lynne won't lend me her new ipod because she says I'll 'make it sweaty and horrid.' Have dug out old MP3 player and will see if that helps.

Harry and Morgan back to school today. Morgan going up a class and will be pleased to be back after the break. Harry less enthusiastic. Did not envy his mother having to get him out of bed at 7am.