Sales de-briefing, desk-work, company and commission scheme completion and legal advice but no time for The Lady as evenings shorten. Street riots in Belfast as youth shot dead

A warm day, again dry so that the lawns are beginning to look parched. A morning working mostly on paperwork but first to brief David Fear on the events during his absence before his sales meeting. I complete the company administration, most of the terms for Geoff Lynch’s profit based commission scheme, and attend to a lot of correspondence and calls.

After lunch I interview Peter Harris, Xitan’s potential sales executive, who proves O.K. provided that he undergoes the correct induction and training on arrival. I dictate a report of the interview. Next to brief John Short, my Industrial Relations lawyer on the details of the Bob Robinson case at great length. We agree to undertake via ACAS to pay Bob’s severance pay tax free and if that is not accepted we are into another Industrial Tribunal exercise. I stay late at the office, planning our requirements for the new premises to brief Derek Morgan for his meeting with the developers tomorrow.

Home quite late and, with the evenings getting ever shorter, no time to work on the boat. Today the dollar strengthens further against the pound sterling. Street riots in Belfast dominate the news with cars aflame after a soldier shoots dead a youth.