Good news for Comart Computer orders offset by other Industry set-backs as I work on with my cold on Comart and BMMG matters and the pro-GCHQ strikes still go-ahead tomorrow

Up early and time to bath before breakfast. I drop Daniel off at the bus stop this morning only to find later that his school term does not start until tomorrow! A morning writing up meeting minutes and notes, dictating correspondence, and reviewing the morning mail. Good news today is that public sector orders pour in and also that Anglia Regional Health Authority are spending over £100K urgently with us. Bad news is that we have failed to make the short list for the DHSS contract and that Den Willis of UKITO telephoned today to say that tomorrow’s talks are cancelled. We seek an early debriefing meeting on the first but the second is due to the large company’s fear that their interests will be overwhelmed by the small companies!

This afternoon sorting out BMMG papers, signing job offers and receiving visits and phone calls. Time to review matters with John Lamb and to brief Derek Morgan and Carlton Lowe on the board meeting. Home early to tea and to find the fireplace complete and Diana in bed tired from yesterday. News tonight of the escalating conflict over the GCHQ unions and the planned half day strike tomorrow. Also of the last stages of campaigning for the Chesterfield By-election where Tony Benn is the leading candidate. An evening of watching television documentaries on Electricity Tariff Rises and fuel poverty in England and of parasitic diseases in Africa. To bed still suffering from my cough and cold on an evening which continues cold day after day.