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Well-received speech at The World Trade Centre with the CRA electing Peter of The Byte Shop as Vice Chairman as I planned and then home to the family before an evening production plan meeting as the weather is icily cold
A cold and early start and, after a panic, just in time to catch the 8.05am train to London from St Neots Station. On the train to write up my speech and to Kings Cross Station Bistro to finish the notes. On by taxi (£3.10) to the World Trade Centre and there to deliver the speech to the Association in the Board Room and by all accounts pretty well received. After a complementary drink and lunch off to the Stamp Office by tube to settle some deeds and share transfers, dropping off my hire suit into Moss Bros after. By taxi to the financial consultants but did not join the seminar due to its seedy premises which I am sure is a poor front for insurance salesmanship.
Home by train and then to spend the evening with Di before a meeting with Carlton and David at 39 Gordon Road to agree the production plan. After catching up on my journal these last two days to bed with a rising cold. Tonight I managed to get the ducks fed and put away which I am resolved to do more often.
Today there was a massive rail crash at Euston Station but thankfully nobody serious hurt. The Geneva US/USSR arms talks have ended with Russia walking out. The weather icily cold and I have concern for The Lady which has not yet been properly laid up. (Tonight the CRA retained its name with Peter King elected as vice-chairman as I planned).
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Comart Company Board meeting with product issues to the fore as sales falter and then the payroll and to write my speech for tomorrow to the CRA
Early to the office and to clear the morning mail before the Comart Board meeting. On time to the meeting and a long day wrestling with the poor sales performance and doubtful marketing mix. Though well ahead year to date on profits this will be transformed for the worse in Nov/Dec before public sector contracts can work through. Recruitment vital in the development and service functions to improve the value of our offerings in both product and service terms. An end to the meeting before 5.00pm to sign the field payroll and home after a late evening clearing the day’s work.
There to console an ill Diana and make a few notes for my speech tomorrow to the Computer Retailers Association. I have had long conversations today with CRA officers Paul Rayner and Ian Dunkley and mutual assurances made with respect to the heading off of a trade association conflict. And then to bed
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Quality meetings at Comart and lunch at Tempsford before away by car to The House of Lords for a PITCOM reception and many industry political figures engaged before listening to the Lord Chancellor’s contribution to the Matrimonial Proceedings Bill
Early up and to the office to dictate all manner of correspondence before the arrival of Mike East of MEPR. Then to discuss the publicity arrangements for the Comdex exhibition which should be a good job though done at a late hour. Then to a Quality Steering Committee meeting with Carlton, Ian and later joined by consultant from the QAAS division of PERA. With them to describe Comart’s plans for quality and obtain approval for 15 days free consultancy aimed at establishing the company’s structure and communication systems for Quality Assurance. Encouragement to apply within 1 year for BS5750 P&1 which may not be such a difficult task as previously assumed. Lunch with our visitors at The Anchor in Tempsford.
An afternoon continuing with a meeting with John and David to try in too short a time to further encourage closeness of cooperation and communication. Arising from last week’s sales meeting were some mounting concerns about product competitiveness and product marketing and support policy. Quickly away by car to London and by tube to The House of Lords for a PITCOM reception. An informal occasion and good opportunity to meet above a half dozen of the multitude who I knew. An exchange of news with the MD of Tandy UK over computer stores, with Dr Tim Keen about the CRA, with Doug Eyions and Alison Newall of the CSA about Alvey and Export initiatives in a joint approach. Miss talking to Ferranti’s Bill Robinson of UKITO due to limit of time but heard from Philip Virgo of NCC that the Comart Communicator was a first choice from the Federation of Microsystems Centres but they say that Comart did not respond to a tender request – which subject I am resolved to investigate as I believe it to be untrue.
At 8.00pm at the reception’s end to be taken with much company to the private South East Gallery of the House to hear their Lordships debating the Matrimonial Proceedings Bill. Many good (and less good) speakers arrange in predetermined order with brief contributions rendered in high civility. All except the final response to the debate from Lord Hailsham the Lord Chancellor, whose Bill it was, castigating the Church of England for late and critical input to it. The second reading was passed quickly without division and I know not whether the House could divide on such a cross-bench subject
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Recovery day fighting my cold and catching up with the news with children ill-clad after Diana’s illness as conflict continues in Ulster and The Lebanon
Late to rise and a pedestrian morning after an exhausting week. Tea in bed to start but then to prepare breakfast for the family. Time enough to read the Sunday Times and Economist to catch up on current affairs. Not much cause for good concern or celebration. After to wash, dress and take the family off to The Happy Eater for lunch. We would have eaten at the Riverside Park Restaurant but I was embarrassed by the sad and sorry state of them: Badly dressed and dishevelled in the circumstances of Diana’s ill health, we could not risk being seen by my Comart employees and colleagues and could not have relaxed.
A late afternoon and evening reading papers and working on company matters that could only have been tackled away from the office. Today three people were killed by gunfire during a Sunday evening service in Northern Ireland. The congregation were sprayed by bullets fired by terrorists after the three men who were welcoming the worshipers were shot dead. In Lebanon, an Israeli jet was shot down by Syrian artillery whilst in Tripoli more shell and rocket barrages are exchanged by Palestinian adversaries. The news is of the sextuplets born to a couple after taking a fertility drug.
The weather today continuing colder with northerly winds working down the country to foretell a night of frost if the weatherman is to be believed. Off to bed with much preparation for the morning left undone. I hope that the family will be reasonably self-sufficient in the morning and the onset of my cold no worse.