Visit of John Lamb and lunch at The Southoe Bell listening to his disillusionment with Kode and declining to join him on a new business venture as The Hayling View kitchen fitters progress well on another very cold day and The House of Commons are on the verge of welcoming TV cameras for the first time
A sound night, but a very cold morning as the cold air from the open bedroom upstairs chilled the house. I turned up the radiators as I reckoned that the concrete had cured by now, but I still left the boiler temperature low, just in case. Breakfast rather late at 8.00am as Diana’s progress had been held back by the cold and, after a quick shave and bath, I only just managed to get the videos of the kitchen progress before the workmen arrived. Out to feed the ducks and doves. The new doves still look bedraggled and also no duck eggs recently. If the weather cheers up, I will let the former out and change the ducks straw for encouragement. A cold and drizzly morning with rain in the air, but not the same frost as of late. In for a morning coffee and then to light the log fire and stock up with logs from the garage. Then some time working in the lounge, catching up on reading and returning a few phone calls. Up to change before first the St Neots Carpet Company man came to finalise quotations for our cushioned vinyl floor and the last two carpet orders, and then John Lamb arrived. I showed him around and he was impressed by the magnitude of the works. But as I have often said to others – you either do the job properly and undertake fundamental changes to both house, or just connect them up simply and be left with two houses joined together, rather than a large house. Off then to the Southoe Bell for lunch at John’s invitation and to hear of his concerns.
It seems that he has had enough of Kode and Peter Smith and is leaving soon. His two alternatives are either to head up a Racal subsidiary with the new venture of Intelligent Knowledge Based Systems, or join DRI as Marketing Director. He really wants to go into business again and was sounding me out on both the prospects for Artificial Intelligence and whether I am ready to go back into the industry. I could not say that I was (as I am quite happy with my other pursuits and the economic, industrial and political climate is most adverse at the moment) and I also cautioned him that it was not an ideal time to branch out. Peter Smith’s days might also be numbered. We parted with some feelings on my part that John had not done very well out of the circumstances and that I had again landed on my feet. But I was under no obligations, had given my old colleagues the best succession arrangement I could find, and was always fighting them before to do things as I desired. So I have no conscience in the matter. John had improved his skill, knowledge and career under my wing and he has to make his own way not. I think the DRI job would suit him best, but I am sure he will choose the other! Back home and, after a couple of pints, quite friendly towards the kitchen fitters talking about the supply and use of oak for kitchen units. We both dislike the modern tendency to lime oak to a light grey colour, as it hides the grain and lacks the natural smell. They tell me of the way Smallbone obtain antique pine from churches etc. and recycle it, but we both agree on the preferable hardness of oak hardwood. I tell them of my forestry interests and plans as well. Afternoon tea and then the circuit of doves, ducks and the locking up of the premises. The kitchen fitters get the cooker hood into place and more of the wall cabinets up. Tomorrow they will start fixing on the Formica, which will be quite an improvement. Not so much progress from the builders. They knocked out the archway from No6 to the link building, opening us to the elements even more, but we really need the carpenter to box in the balconies and get the doors on the link building to keep the weather out. Once Daniel was home, we ate our prepared tea of rolls and butter, mince pies and chocolate cup-cakes, and then did his prep. Later I let him play on his computer as a reward as I updated today’s journal. TV news tonight of a possible deal in Geneva as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev have dinner after two days of talks and may be able to agree a joint communique. Tension has eased considerably and hopes are high, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Northern Ireland Secretary, Tom King, was attacked by protesting Unionists and jostled today, with Ian Paisley telling him to keep out of the Province. The House of Commons is debating the proposal to allow TV cameras tonight and the outcome is not yet decided as the antis try a last minute rally to reject it. A week after the Colombian volcano eruption, the mud is hardening and chances of further survivors recedes. Today 7 more were found, including a Nun. Unrest continues in South Africa, but the news censorship prevents much news from filtering out. A new devise allows wheelchair victims to stand again. The electronically driven braces allow people paralysed from the waist down to become mobile again, but the aids are not available on the NHS.