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To Northampton to choose our fireplaces and then Daniel home with Gary to play computer games before a more relaxing evening than of late, although I have a sore throat and cold coming on
Tea in bed from Diana and downstairs to help with the breakfast preparation after the best nights rest for many days. After Daniel was sent on his way to school off by car with Diana and Debbie to Northampton and a view of Mr Bell’s fireplaces. A confusing choice because every fireplace seems different and with many variations but eventually to choose a ‘hole in the wall’ design HW5 in bronze with a copper hood. A quote will be raised but we will be pushed to have it installed by Christmas. Back to St Neots to collect my new seal (‘DAB’), Daniel and on to ‘The Happy Eater’ for lunch.
After to complete our St Neots shopping for groceries and sweets and I met Daniel’s friend Gary who we carried home for the afternoon and played computer games with Daniel until after tea. Then to put away the ducks for the first time in a week. This evening Marilyn came round for duck food and joined us for a glass of cherry brandy and a chat. To use my seal for the first time tonight and it worked beautifully.
An evening watching television and a film on the work of President Kennedy. News today of further fighting in Tripoli, and comment in the papers on the mini-budget of Thursday with little of it positive. I also this afternoon watched England beat the New Zealand All Blacks at rugby for the first time in a great many years.
The weather has become colder but remains dry which is the more unfortunate because I have now got a sore throat and cold coming on.
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Diana improves greatly as I spend a day working on Comart quality and support as we gather an unprecedented array of resource to tackle customer satisfaction before stopping off to collect a fish and chip tea for the family before having an early night. There are Commons peace movement protests as Tripoli battles continue
Diana has returned to the task of preparing morning tea and during the day actually started some ironing as a landmark on her way to recovery. To the office for a day of organisation and concern over our ability to sell and make the budgeted target of computers. The production is proceeding well with overtime and outwork making up the total of some 170 systems this month. Sales are well below par against a background of critical comment from the sales team on the performance, past quality and currency of the designs. All of these points display the very competitive nature of today’s marketplace and the way in which standards have risen. Concern also today on the quality of the systems we produce and also on the workshop and internal repair service. Acute shortage of staff and sickness have torpedoed attempts to get the backlog down. On the other hand support have won the services of Robin Adams and, with a suitable internal candidate found for the training instructor job, now have an unprecedented array of expertise to improve customer satisfaction.
Home early and via the fish and chip shop to collect food for the family.
More protests at the House of Commons today from the peace movement, fighting between the PLO factions in Tripoli and, in the US, the FBI report that the previous estimates of USSR defence spending of 5% increase per year was an exaggeration by half.
To bed early with Diana who is much improved.
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Preparing breakfast again before an easier day at the office on Comart company affairs as Diana starts improving and Marilyn helps out. Lawson raises taxes and cuts spending
Up at 6.30 and to prepare breakfast and drinks for the family. I persuaded Diana to take a glass of fresh orange juice before rushing off to the office. A busy day of office work and catching up on the work of the last two days, starting with an interview of the new Purchasing Assistant who is potentially very good. The GPO are in changing the telephones and, with both Helen and June now working their own computers, the corporate office is beginning to hum again. Useful base-touching with John, Ian, Carlton and the two Dereks as the company’s affairs progress. The last months financial results have Comart breaking even and the group reliant on the Byte Shop profits. November is trading slowly with the effect likely similar.
Home early after collecting the Rover from Marshalls who report that the suspension ball joint had nearly fallen apart and that I had just got the car in on time. Diana was a little better this evening. A mid-wife had been in for an hour this morning with sympathy and reassurance. Marilyn and a friend had dropped by and, appalled by the state of Diana and the house, had offered titbits and persuaded Diana to start eating fruit.
By request, off to a fish and chip shop and to return with sausages and chips for all. Surprisingly Diana ate a large plate and was well for the evening. Marilyn is now popping in regularly and was back tonight in her black figure-hugging slacks and jumper (which perked us both up). With the kids helping to clear up all rooms and clear the backlog of washing up during the first time I have had at home for days.
Today a mini-budget by which Chancellor Lawson signals tax rises and further expenditure cuts. The popularity of the conservative government takes a dive. The weather today slightly damp and reasonably mild. To bed at a reasonable time for the first full night’s sleep for a few days
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BMMG breakfast meeting at the Olympia International and then back by train for a black tie ICA dinner at the Cambridge university Arms Hotel before arriving home to a sick Diana and the house on great disarray
Up at 6.30am and to wash, shave and bathe before dressing and waking Peter King in the next room to morning tea and a discussion on personnel matters. Then by house phone call to be joined with Nigel Smith in the hotel lobby for a taxi ride to the Olympia International Hotel for a BMMG breakfast meeting in the International Room. Few members turned up but an excellent meeting that agreed initiatives in respect of I.B.A’s, Alvey projects and others.
To and from Olympia and then by return taxi to Moss Bros where an old taylor fitted me with a black tie dinner suit against this evenings celebration. Late back to the Royal Kensington and an impatient Peter King and quickly to review several Byte Shop executive reviews and decide promotions and pay rises. Back to the exhibition stand to discover with much anguish that John had been so overcome by his consumption of alcohol the night before that he had gone home sick without telling anybody and had thereby missed the opportunity to push forward our publicity.
By taxi to Kings Cross and after a brief snack of sandwiches and tea by train to Stevenage and back to the office by car. There to obtain a briefing on the audit investigation and scan my in-tray before home with brief chance to change into evening dress. Collected by car courtesy of Whitmarsh Sherland and Co and taken to the annual dinner of the Institute of Chartered Accountants held at the University Arms Hotel. A long, 7 course dinner, with three boring speakers dwelling on the introspective issues concerning the I.C.A. Matters including the representation of the membership, the training being restricted to private practices and the National Vice President came closest to presenting the possible creative and constructive role of the Chartered accountant which was not really taken on board by the members. To conclude the speeches a country boy of 60+ from Essex strung together some rather crude jokes which were nevertheless funny and enlightened the proceedings.
Home by car in the company of Barclays Bank and the Auditors. Late again to bed with Diana and the house in gross disarray