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Exhausting all day Comart board meeting after lunchtime wine and then subsidiary planning with John before the boat engine fails to start this evening
Another warm day with the cloud keeping the day cool in the morning. First to complete signatures on company administration for filing; then to review the mail and touch base with Jaques Samuels on the Manufacturing Manager recruitment. All day to a Comart Board Meeting where the reports and discussions were arduously long and tortured. True we had missed a previous meeting and had twice the business. Also we had important issues to resolve such as the discontinuance of the Tecmar product range. However I cannot but feel that we made heavy weather of it and that lunchtime wine in good measure only served to make us more expansive and hinder progress.
We are disappointed that product development release dates have gone back and that it will take too long to release new operating systems. In the event I break off proceedings at 4.30 for half an hour back in our departments before agreeing to restart at 8.00am in the morning. This evening I establish that the new building negotiations are proceeding well and then home in deep discussion with John Lamb after agreeing subsidiary MD Job specifications and preparing the agenda for our Byte Shop and Xitan Board Meetings.
Tonight, boat preparation falters to the dark evenings progress and the engine refuses to start which is a problem for our weekend trip.
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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.
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Expense approvals , Sales queries and meeting plans on a sunny but windy day as June perks up and Derek Weatherby commits to his new office move
A very windy day with bright sun that would have been very hot if it were not for the wind. Early to the office and first to authorise and check the group expense claims. Then the mail and a number of queries with the sales department in the absence of David Fear. I have now sent off for full written references for Carleton and also arranged a medical examination. I talked to Jacques Samuels today and asked him to obtain other references for the second candidate David, in case my worst fears are founded and Carleton’s references turn against him.
A number of smaller tasks cleared today but still a lot remaining to do. June much more cheerful and regaining some of her lost poise. I have set the agenda for Comart’s Board Meeting on Thursday and also called a Product Introduction Meeting on Friday to urgently consider a change of Drive Supplier. Derek Weatherby is now committed to move his office on Thursday and space planning becomes ever more urgent.
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Problematic day with cars, Tecmar and Ken Goddard as Derek returns from holiday and I have a negative reference for Carleton whilst Peter King returns home via Nottingham and the world goes mad
A cooler breezier day and some fun and games this morning with cars! Diana persuades me at short notice to swap cars and I chunter to work in her small Austin Metro. Then she calls me because the Rover has broken down and back I go. Fortunately the garage manage to start it during the day and its back in action this evening.
This morning Derek Weatherby has returned from holiday and I brief him on all known developments in the group. He, like John Lamb, reports having had his best holiday ever and it is good to see that the sacrifices of recent weeks have been worthwhile. For all that I will not want to see so many executives on coincident holidays in subsequent years. Another session this morning with Ken Goddard sorting out problems of Tecmar and Ken Goddard! A phone call later with Caroline Alport where she promises all items can be delivered in 30 days.
A frustrating day today taking up references for Carleton have, where his principal referee provided a very negative opinion and referred to Carleton as having been dismissed from Ferranti after a late lunch celebration. I am still pursuing other references in the belief that he is still for us but I must say I was taken aback. Peter King completed his journey home today after an exhausting weekend and had to drop by Nottingham on his way back to review the situation.
News today of the second day of The Helsinki World Athletics Championships, of more turmoil in Sri Lanka with the Tamil conflicts and of efforts to tow offshore the wreckage of the oil tanker from the South African coast. I hope for a better day tomorrow.
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Successful day varnishing and re-fitting The Lady before a BBQ lunch with the now-pregnant Chrisula and Chas as Police foil an Irish kidnapping, shocking Hiroshima film is released and the World Athletics Championships open in Helsinki
Another identical day with alternate cloud and hot sun. I have now been fortunate in having a number of dry days consecutively which has been invaluable in completing the varnishing of The Lady’s cabins. An early start and by lunch the flag pole was fitted and varnishing complete. Restored were the navigation lights and, after a good polish, the remaining windows.
Chas and Chris joined us a little late for the barbeque lunch – our riverside garden is getting more popular! Chris announces that she is expecting their first baby and Chas enjoys a demonstration of Daniel’s BBC micro.
Today an Irish kidnaping was foiled in a gun fight with Police. Anti-terrorist police were waiting for a seven-man gang. At the same time the US fundraising organisation NORAD was being welcomed in Belfast. The cameraman who 38 years ago photographed the Hiroshima nuclear bomb aftermath has seen his film released after it has been kept secret. It shows horrific damage and injury to the Japanese people. The games at Helsinki have opened with more countries being represented at athletics than ever before. Then to bed with thoughts of tomorrows hard work to do at the office.