Setting off for Godmanchester on The Lady after a very hectic office day of one-to-one meetings with senior managers and noting a very welcome and profitable July profit outcome

A warm day with outside temperatures up to 82degF from an overnight low of 56degF. The barometer unchanged again at 1025. A hectic office day today. No formal meetings but lots of activity on a one-to-one basis with John, Derek, Ian and David and Derrick. John to ascertain the agenda for next Thursdays Byte Shop Glasgow Board meeting, Derek to discuss company finance as he met a licensed dealer in securities today, Ian on the job specification for a whole host of development staff, David on plans for disposing of the Byte Shop Tecmar stock and Derrick on our plans for the new customer service building.

This morning we implemented the promotion of a service supervisor and recognised his progress by an audience and discussion. We wish to build up the positive aspects of the department, having accentuated the negative by recent reprimands. Peter King is managing well and is in control of the Byte Shop during my absence. The month of July saw the Comart group totalling nearly £39K profit against a budgeted £9K loss for this off-peak summer month – a splendid start.

Tonight I hurry home and board The Lady for our week’s voyage. Diana tutors Marilyn in the art of duck keeping and, after a hectic last provisioning, we set off round the Paper Mill lock island and downstream to Offord lock. We moor for a chicken salad tea by the lock and then some local boys, urchins really, help us through for twenty pence each. They are real characters – poor but content and very happy with their hobby. On towards Brampton in the fading light until we lock through with searchlight and sidelights blazing and moor close to one of the old mill races in Godmanchester. We read and write the hour away to bedtime started on our boating holiday.

Today I noticed how charming the accounts computer operator and receptionist had become.