Fickle hand of fate hinders the Italian job

Even the best laid plans can be upset by outside factors, as Italian chair manufacturer Segis discovered last weekend.

A visit to the company’s factory in Tuscany by a host of international guests was planned with military precision. And, while the Italian military is generally one of the least precise ever seen, things were expected to go without a hitch.

Then fate took a hand. London flights were cancelled because of a stricken Virgin Airbus on the runway. Trains from Milan were cancelled by striking drivers. The clouds hovering over Italy burst.

Despite all this a valiant Segis lorry struggled on, making sure that when bedraggled guests finally arrived at a new destination there were shiny new chairs waiting for them.