Warnings for Salesman Ken Goddard as I field the press and prepare for the Minister’s meeting as the temperature keeps rising

A hot sunny day and a struggle to prevent the factory temperatures rising above 80degF. First to let out the ducks and then to the office for a day policing the activities of the Sales Department. Ken Goddard with his Tecmar sales needing constant supervision to ensure the clients were being given accurate and reliable information. Many clients are upset by his inability to give a straight story and meet commitments, although I realise the acute pressure he is under.

This morning to check and sign the payroll, deal with all manner of mail and then return to Tecmar by lunchtime. To my horror, Ken left for lunch without returning some phone calls and arrived back late with Peter Barlow, Wendy Armson and the Receptionist leaving the entire sales department in the charge of a temporary secretary for 10 minutes and nobody to man the reception desk and switchboard. Ken has now received a written personnel warning which is not his first and has this evening expressed his discontent to others.

Today I received a number of calls from journalists including Robert Parry of Computer Weekly and Peter Large of the Financial Times, all enquiring about the Press Release of the meeting with Kenneth Baker. The coverage in Computing from the pre-release on Friday is sparse but my article takes a full page in Computer Weekly today with a large but not too flattering photograph.

Tonight I use the new hedge trimmer to good effect on the riverside land. Also I prune the espalier fruit trees which were becoming most overgrown. I tease Marilyn, out for a walk, and she is quite unable to see my pulling her leg. The original blonde; sexy earnest and a little dim.