Diafade has always been based in Hertfordshire. We started in The Maltings in Stanstead Abbots (which at the time was not nearly as delightful as it sounds). Around 1980 we moved to the centre of the county town of Hertford, and in 1988 settled in the small market town of Buntingford, with offices in a nice Georgian building in the High Street. We've been here ever since.

Herts is one of those counties that seem to exist in no-man's land. People from other parts of England often have no idea where it is. Just to the north of London, it certainly doesn't belong to London - in terms of culture, TV channels or weather forecasts. The TV companies group it with East Anglia, yet never report from it. Other groups link it with the East Midlands.

Yet Hertfordshire is an important and diverse county. In the west are towns like Watford, St. Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and Stevenage. The county contains busy sections of the M1 and M25 motorways, and the A1(M). The main rail routes to the north pass through it.

The east and north is prime agricultural land. Hertford is in the southern part of this area, while the north east quarter of the county - where we are now - is dotted with small towns and villages. Fly over it from nearby Stansted airport (as too many people do) and you'll see nothing but fields.

It's a good place to work. A relaxed atmosphere, views of the countryside and places to walk and think. Cambridge, Stevenage and Hertford are within easy reach. Although there's almost no useful public transport (Government please note!) we can drive to a train station in 20 minutes and to Stansted Airport in 30. The centre of London is an hour and a half away.

Most important in recent years has been the growth of the Internet, and, we must say, a change in the type of work we do. Over the years we've worked for clients all over England - in Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Northants, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London, Kent... as well as for clients in Germany, Switzerland and the USA.

It's great when we have a chance to meet you all. But - being realistic - the ability to share information electronically has undoubtedly simplified routine communication and improved efficiency.