Return to work, overviewing satisfactory Comart and Byte Shop progress until late as British Leyland shop stewards concede

We awake today to the first rain for some time – a good soaking spell that will restore greenness to the gardens and freshness and colour to the flowers. Overnight temperatures, however, only fell to 61degF and rose today to a maximum 76degF, the day being very muggy and close. The pressure surprisingly rose to 1019 and the future weather is awaited with interest.

First day back in the office and a full day starting early with the in-tray and mail, continuing with morning and afternoon meetings with Peter King each side of a full Byte Shop Group Board Meeting. Tonight, late at the office completing all manner of work until dusk. The Byte Shop results are ahead of budget for July and similarly forecast for August. Peter is well into the task of closer branch supervision and is proving every bit the positive influence I had anticipated. He has the rare combination of commercial acumen and financial control that sustains a creative businessman to longer term achievement. Plenty of problems but well in hand. Tonight resuming his search for local property. Bob Robinson has settled his case with us via ACAS on much the original terms, David Fear has the arrangements for Tecmar termination well in hand, and John Lamb is well advanced with Cromemco. To cap it all Peter appears to have sorted reasonable trading accounts for all Byte Shops with Acorn direct.

Tonight more news of young child molestations which preoccupy the media, of Botham’s return to form in cup cricket and of Steve Crams low key homecoming from the Helsinki World Championships. Shop stewards concede the case of the dismissed British Leyland workers who had infiltrated the company after filling in application forms falsely. Tomorrow another day and preoccupation on Xitan Systems with Geoff Lynch.