Frustrating London visit at the hands of uncooperative civil servants as traffic congestion makes things worse but a successful fitting at Huntsman’s of Saville Row as Mum moves to Papworth Hospital and the Government faces increasing criticisms in the Commons
Awake fairly early and time to read the paper before my normal breakfast and morning routine. A frost this morning limiting the muddiness of my bird husbandry. Pleased to find the doves staying close to the dove cote by means of limiting their seed. Across to the office and unable to contact Nigel Smith by phone again. I eventually succeeded in talking to my Saville Row tailors, Huntsmans, and arranging to see them this afternoon, but it will be a struggle to achieve all my aims in London. A morning coffee and, after tracking down the post van at the other end of Gordon Road, I set off by car for Huntingdon and then by train to Kings Cross. Surprising to see how full the trains are these days. It is the discounts and deals that are offered off-peak and many parties make for London for the shopping before Christmas. The second class carriages are almost full with standing not uncommon. From Kings Cross quickly by tube to Holborn and there to buy two printer ribbons from the typewriter shop and also pay in a £3000 Barclays cheque into the Holborn branch of the Nottingham Building Society.
Interesting to see the customer repeater screen as the funds are keyed directly into the Homelink account and pleasing, because the funds will earn interest directly, but will not be debited from my Barclays current account until the cheque clears. Then by taxi to Milbank with only 15 minutes, but the taxi stuck fast in the traffic congestion and the journey took an exasperating 45 minutes almost. The traffic is unbelievably heavy these days and I should go everywhere by tube if I think of it. First, at NEDO, to meet the Secretary of the Consumer Electronics EDC, Roy Fuscone. He delays my presence at the next meeting by apologising again for Stephen Brown’s offer of the MSX/Home Computer Industry Chairmanship and announcing that NEDO procedures ruled out a trade association representative taking the Chair. He then cast around for suggestions in a most confounding way. Eventually, and supressing rising impatience, I made for my next meeting of the Office Equipment EDCs Working Party on company collaboration. Imagine my shock at finding, being late, that another trade association chairman had taken over the chairmanship of that committee in my absence! Also my chagrin at the fact of the BMMA’s increasing dominance of the effort first by multiple representation on the committees, then by adoption of its catalogue style and public procurement (its main priority) as the principal initiative. I kept quiet, but foresee mounting political problems of turning this British Office Equipment Manufacturers Alliance into a formal Trade Association with the controversial Gerald Frankel at the helm. I will take up these matters with the Secretariat tomorrow and either limit BOTMA’s scope under Frankel to the product catalogue and procurement initiative, or withdraw BMMG’s support for BOTMA’s development. Not a very happy afternoon. Off by taxi in increased congestion to Saville Row and kept waiting by my tailor, who eventually conducts the fitting and indicates another in mid-January. I thence miss a fast train and do not get home until late. News tonight of a Commons mauling for Patrick Jenkin, the Environment Secretary, announcing cuts in house building and local government expenditure. One after another, Conservative MP’s get up to openly criticise the government policy and, in the Lords, the Whip has been removed from a former government minister. In committee, the Aviation Bill has also been held up by recalcitrant back benchers unhappy with government airport policy. Also the compulsion plans for youngsters on Youth Training Schemes are running into opposition. Norman Tebbit leaves hospital and plans to be back at the DTI next year, but seems visibly affected by the ordeal of the Brighton bombing. Dad phones me tonight and updates me on plans for Mum. She is being transferred to Papworth by hospital car tomorrow morning for action on Thursday and I invite Dad to join us in Little Paxton for a few days.