A canal barge.

The company chairman has decked out his 60ft boat with computers so he run his business while drifting along Cheshire's canals.

"Once I am on the boat, time slows down," he said.

He stays in touch with his colleagues at Plumley-based JPD Group via the Internet.

If there's a crisis, there is little chance his £45,000 boat, which a top speed of 4mph, can get him back to the office in time.

But at the flick of a few buttons he can sort out the problems with little difficulty.

"It is difficult to break into a sweat because you feel as if you have all the time in the world," he said.

John was introduced to canal boating while he was at school in the sixties, but he didn't buy his first boat until 10 years ago.

The businessman has named his barge Bilbo Baggins after the character in the The Hobbit, and it will run for three weeks on £30 of fuel.

But despite its leisurely pace the mobile home has become the perfect pad to entertain high-flying clients.

"They value being able to stay in touch with their own head offices while staying as my guests," said John.

Last week Swedish IBM executive Lennart Johannson and his wife Eva were guests aboard Bilbo Baggins.

And they were impressed.

"The canal side pubs make it a perfect venue for business meetings," said Mr Johannson.

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