Back to work on a very cold and possibly frosty morning with The Lady under her snug cover and to the usual mail pile and preparations for the Comart Review Meeting as the aftermath of the Lebanese bomb confirms 227 dead

Early to the office and first to return a kettle that I had confiscated from its owner last week! Then to longish meetings with Carlton, Ian and John to review my comments on their management reports. The fact of getting the reports prior to the weekend has been such a boon in providing opportunity for considered analysis and comment. Then to the huge Monday mail and soon after the second post which makes us wonder as to the eventual changes needed to deal with it.

After lunch to sort my papers and later to catch up on my correspondence, but I am left with much important work delayed. Also I experience continued trouble in trying to contact the BMMG Membership Officer and Secretary.

Tonight Lebanon reports that 186 Americans and 41 Frenchmen are dead and public opinion turns fast against a continued presence. President Mitterrand visits the wreckage at an hours’ notice to lend moral support. In North Carolina, the bereaved relatives of the US troops have a delay in being told of the fate of their sons because of lost personnel records and “dog-tags” separated from the victims as they were sleeping.

The weather today has been very cold with home and office heating systems struggling to keep us warm. With a full moon on a clear sky this evening, I suspect a heavy frost and am glad that The Lady is snugly under its cover. Today Diana had trouble with the British Leyland dealer, who not only misdiagnosed her metro’s exhaust fault, but added delay and overcharging to its ineptitudes.

Bed early tonight with keen anticipation towards tomorrow’s meeting.