To London and Birdcage Walk for my lively ESRC debate at the RIPA where I challenge Thatcher’s Chairman advisor before fielding press interviews and catching the boat chandlery auction at Ely to buy lots of fixings etc and seek refreshment at The Cutter Inn before home in the rain
Up early, washed, shaved, dressed and to breakfast with the family. Away by car to the St Neots station and by train to Kings Cross and by tube to St James Station. A short walk (still raining) to No.3 Birdcage Walk, opposite St James Park and the offices of the Royal Institute of Public Affairs. A debating group (the Public Policy group) of the ESRC had organised a seminar on High Technology and Public Affairs, and I was down to respond to Jim Northcote’s speech on ‘Diffusion of Hi-tech Investment’. A lively morning and tasty buffet lunch. Others I knew included Jill Hills and Philip Virgo, who told me that David Fairbairn is now leaving as Director of the NCC, which is a shame.
I had to leave after lunch and catch the train back to St Neots and, after stopping home to change and check for messages (where I found two calls for interviews with journalists), I rushed off to St Neots to pay in Diana’s £100K cheque for Kode share sales to the building society and then drive on quickly to Ely. The chandlery auction was just due to begin at 6.00pm as I arrived and the lots had been set out along a grass bank in the pouring rain. Fortunately, the rain had stopped for the actual auction, but the goods were sodden and the venue somewhat odd. The lots were large and mixed and individual boating enthusiasts could not, therefore, bid very much and so I picked up very good boxes of brass screws, stainless steel screws and bolts, brushes, hoses, varnish, as well as an auxiliary motor bracket and a second hand 2HP motor. I loaded this all into my Jaguar, but couldn’t do anything with some lengths of heavy hardwood, which I left there for future collection. On then to the Cutter Inn for a pint or two of shandy and scampi and chips. Being full, I took a stool by the bar and observed the spectre of the barmaid being courted by the publican. It seems any girl working behind the bar in a pub is seen as ‘fair game,’ which must upset any with objections to harassment. Home to arrive about 10.00pm and find Diana just gone to bed. I put the car away, without trying to unload it, made a bedtime drink and turned in again without time for the news or the journal. The rain poured again all night.