Things have moved quickly from the theoretical to the practical on the project to launch The Times. It was just a couple of months ago that we were sitting around saying: ‘What if we had a column about being a single mom?’ or ‘So-and-so would make a brilliant X Editor’.

This week was spent finalising the last staff positions, turning dummy pages into real templates, contracting columnists, working out deadlines, and copy flow and production hours for reporters and sub editors. Also on the agenda: Speaking to some influential people in the advertising world, some of whom offered great insights and – MOST IMPORTANTLY – briefing subscription call center operators who are already taking calls from the public about the daily.

Because I have had so many people saying: ‘I’m going to subscribe’ (But I suppose they would say that to me …?) I have included a subscription number in my widget panel