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Annoying start to the week having to chivvy along my executives for poor timekeeping on a very cold and frosty morning and then much time re-organising the Sales Department for the Director before off to the London Metropole Hotel to make preparations for my Export IT conference as Soviet politician Chirenko takes over.
Early to the office and immediately upset that on this very cold and frosty morning, nobody had bothered to walk outside their own portakabins and switch the heating on. This fact plus the late arrivals of my management team meant a poor start to the week. A frantic day in common with most Mondays but time spent with David Fear particularly on the Sales Department re-organisation and new earnings formulae for himself and his team. Meetings also with John Lamb, Ian Nickson and Peter King on matters of the moment. Ian briefed me on excellent design progress last week but I had to pull him up for departmental timekeeping and housekeeping. After an afternoons work off by car to London and to check into the London Metropole Hotel for a room service dinner. Time before a late retirement to prepare my Chairman’s introductory comments for tomorrow. News today that the senior Soviet politician Mr Chirenko has taken over in an unambitious collective decision for safety. Very impressive television programmes tonight on the Inca terraces and reclamation and also the reflections of Tommy Farr.
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Domestic day spent reading and tarrying with Diana in bed and then some concern about our ducks before unwelcome time having to be spent to organise my working week.
An even longer lay in after a good night’s sleep. Diana last night took exception to my antics in bed wanting to be more involved – she doesn’t seem to be too pregnant to be past it yet, which had been a wrong assumption of mine! I read the Sunday Times in bed before a fine fried English breakfast and then to take a bath when the children had finished. I let the ducks out and find five eggs which is not bad. Only nine ducks were in last night and one of them has some fine fishing line in tow – which I think could well kill it eventually. Inside and up to my desk to order my domestic papers and sort out my latest journal entries. A problem today to prepare a wide variety of work for urgent business activities and this is a process I find most dispiriting.
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Day of leisure reading current affairs, window shopping and lunching with the family as the ducks lay well, but The Queen awards a US microcomputer company a Royal Warrant which is demotivating enough for me to consider an offer by Kode positively
A good lay in before I had to wake Diana to avoid Daniel being late to school. A slow breakfast and subsequent reading of the Saturday Times, Economist and other matter. Out to liberate the ducks and clean out the duck house where I find 6 eggs at last. A morning coffee and then off by car to St Neots with Diana and Deborah to do some shopping. I bought two pairs of fine shoes but couldn’t pay money into the bank for the want of a pen. Then to meet Daniel arrived back from Kimbolton and off towards Cambridge, stopping at the Little Chef on the way for a pleasant family lunch – the first I have had for three weeks. In Cambridge, we park in the centre and separate. I call in Heffers and several department stores but not impressed with goods I saw. Off by car to the Cambridge United Football Club for the match against Chelsea but found the ground already full and crowds being turned away. Back to town and parked alongside Jesus Green Lock and walked back across the field for more window shopping.
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Morning on my Export IT arrangements and BMMG annual report as the new TV arrives at home and the builders are building the new garden wall and chimney stack but Russia’s President Andropov dies and an IRA rocket hits a Belfast school
On time to the office and first to work on Export IT arrangements. A day where, because of the exertions of the week, I was a bit too tired to accomplish very much, but this afternoon I wrote my BMMG Annual Chairman’s Report. This will also double as an election address and insight for the UKITO team into my past work at the BMMG. Our new television has arrived and the family have great fun with the hand-held remote control unit and the teletext services. The builders are now completing the rear garden wall and the chimney stack has risen shoulder high. The Russian Premier Andropov died today after a year’s illness and treatment on an artificial kidney machine.