Rest and work in equal measure on a fine day with sunny spells as a visit to the factory displeases me and Thatcher has her problems too..
Late to lie in bed resting and catching up sleep on the hectic and tiring week past. At 8.00am to be woken with Newspaper and morning tea and an hour’s pleasant relaxation absorbing both. After a breakfast of fried egg, bacon and bread to the office to plan the complicated process of the commencement of Comart Computers Limited and the transfer of shares between Geoff Lynch, Xitan and Comart Limited. All done by evening but not before a second visit to the office after lunch and many hours work. As I stroll around the factory I am troubled by the perversity of human nature that leads to the pinning up of ritual “workers ode’s” in upsetting tribal tones of resignation. Thought to be funny, I do not find them so.
Also, since starting the tradition of unitary status and common use of the coffee machines, to be troubled also by the recent growth of coffee percolators and cups to have the Directors served their refreshment at the expense of secretarial time and housekeeping inefficiency. I know not whether to forbid the practice to stop it spreading and preserve the ethos or allow it to avoid the demotivation of the change. If only the managers themselves could see the overall view they would not subject me to their minor aggravations.
A fine day today with no rain and sunny spells alternating with cloud in a fresh wind. News today preoccupied still with the tragedy of Cecil Parkinson and even more background on the circumstances behind the affair. He owed both his position and future to his wife Anne and Thatcher was prominent in counselling him to stay with her. The worst possible news of Norman Tebbit taking over the DTI when a number of bright junior ministers could have been promoted. The government grows less popular and looks increasingly mortal with critical speeches from James Prior and Norman St John Stevens.
Relaxation tonight with television, book and journal as the week ahead promises to be busy again.