Missing you already

Ah, Sir Michael Lyons, king of process, model of urbanity, arbiter of "quality".  It's always hard to find efficiencies at the BBC, but in his last six months as Chairman of the Trust, he's delivered.  His expenses are down to £11,566.73, compared with £12,403 for the previous half year.  Strangely, house magazine Ariel prefers the year on year comparison (down from £16,043).

How did he drive costs down over the year ?  Well, fewer rail trips to Totnes, presumably handy for the Lyons holiday getaway; no £20 taxis from the station; and no tickets for Lady Lyons.  Staff who don't normally claim for holiday travel or spouse tickets will be pleased.

On hotels, Sir Michael has moved down from around £180 on average per night, closer to a licence-fee. This will please BBC staff who are asked to aim at £75 a night.   Sir Michael and his staff have clearly tried, but still managed one three night stay at £251.33 a night...

Dining ?   Four meals at Villandry compared with, er, four the first half of the year. But the Cinnamon Club (2), Orso, The Wolsely and Sartoria don't feature. And what's this ? "Lunch with external contact and Trust Unit staff, Horse and Groom - 9 December 2010 - £60.00".

The Horse and Groom on Great Portland Street is perhaps the least exotic of Mr Sam Smith's palaces of recreation and restauration in London W1.   If there was just two at the table for lunch, then Sir Michael would be hard pressed to make £60, unless he shared a bottle of one of Mr Smith's interesting table wines.  Is it possible, given the impending festive period, the Chairman stood a round ? A few pints of Old Brewery, some Alpine, strangely known as "Man In A Box", perhaps a "Natural Lager" or two, and some chilli nuts - not hard to race to the larger notes, even in this value-for-money establishment. But where is that in the guidelines ?