Management guru Tony Hope told a nice story at IMI conference about an accountant from Manchester who took in a museum on a trip to Stockholm. Viewing a Viking long-boat, he asked the curator how old it was. "1,009 years," was the reply. "Exactly 1,009", he asked, "how can you be sure?"

"I'm absolutely sure," said the curator. "I joined here nine years ago and back then it was 1,000 years old."