Working the anti IBM/BT campaign with a submission to the minister and other industry bodies at the same time as a number of press interviews as talks to end the miners dispute fail again
Up at about 7.30am and awake to my morning tea and The Sunday Times. Short work in disposing of the papers – very little new items or enlightened comment at all. No mention in any of it of the IBM/BT licence. In fact a PR interview between Kenneth Baker and Tony Hearn where the recent NEDO report is discounted and the government given a clean bill of health. The Computer Weekly press are more on the ball and I will gradually build up closer links with the nationals to bring them round. Another single duck eggs during the moult and, considering I also ate one for my normal Sunday breakfast,
I had none to offer to Carlton Lowe when he ordered some today. He has brought his lively daughter up to stay. She starts in Bedford for her ‘A’ levels next week and they are still without a permanent house. A morning working at my word processor, writing to the Export IT Chairman re my council membership and starting to write to all Computer Newspaper Editors to secure regular receipt of the journals. Lunch and I worked most of the day continuing the endeavour and ending up with my final submission to the Minister, Kenneth Baker, with sufficient copies for the Chairman, Secretary, UKITO and ICL. I received two phone calls from Peter Large of the Guardian and was interviewed on the matter in depth. I also put him onto Donald Willis of UKITO and should expect coverage tomorrow. News tonight of a break up after two hours of the first NUM/NCB talks for two months. Also of a private ballet on London docks that would indicate a return to work tomorrow. If that took place then Southampton would follow and the docks strike could start to collapse. Diana prepares fully for her admission to hospital tomorrow and I write up these last few days journal which had got behind.