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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
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Very long day of preparing a very early family breakfast, travelling to London for PR consultants breakfast, a visit to our three stands at Compec and then industry BMMG lunch prior to meeting Brian Oakley of Alvey and then via a Xitan dealers seminar tohost a Byte Shop MD’s dinner before bed!
Early to rise with Diana still very sick and to prepare breakfast for myself and the children at an ungodly hour. Hastily to pack my suitcase with belongings and afterwards to hurry by car to Stevenage station to meet John Lamb and David Slinn. To Kings Cross by train and on by taxi to the Royal Kensington Hotel for breakfast with Mike East of our new P.R. consultancy, MEPR.
Plans hatched for the use of recent news of government orders of Comart Communicators for the Youth Training Scheme to create leaked stories for coverage in Computer Weekly and The Times. After to the Compec ’83 exhibition to our usual stand. We have been at Compec now for 7 years but this is the first time that Comart, The Byte Shop and Xitan each had their own stands. A hectic morning with the press meetings accomplished and many industry contacts made. At lunchtime by prior arrangement a meeting with Nigel Smith and Ian Fitzpatrick to decide strategy and after a journey to meet Brian Oakley of the Alvey Directorate. Brian is a scholarly man, lean of pretence but strikingly naïve of the real needs of the IT industry. He has been susceptible to the close influence of a few personalities which have unfortunately not included micro manufacturers. A good meeting, however, with action items agreed to foster closer cooperation and increased communication pledged.
By taxi to return to Olympia in time for the end of the first exhibition day. A poor day of only about 4000 visitors to the show. This evening to walk over to the Prince Rupert room of the Royal Kensington Hotel where Xitan successfully hosted a dealer meeting of about 40 guests and with speeches presented by the UK Managing Directors of Ashton Tate, Digital Research and Microsoft amongst other UK software suppliers. After to congratulate Geoff and Jane Dards on the arrangements before taking Peter King and the six Byte Shop Managers (Gordon Coventry, Jim Attfield, David Slater, Russel Jacques, Robin Pimlott and Russ Wilmott) to a Greek restaurant. Back to the hotel late and tired to bed.
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Bitterly cold wintry weather arrives for my Comart Group Audit discussions as protests greet the Cruise Missiles arriving at Greenham Common before preparing for government meetings and serving fish, sausage and chips
Today the first cruise missiles arrived in Greenham Common and Heseltine announced their arrival in the House of Commons. A starlifter U.S. transport brought the weapons in and taxied to the missile silos to the tune of protest songs from the women’s peace movement. Later 17 people were arrested in a protest at Greenham with a further 8 arrested in Parliament Square. Parliament is divided over the issue with a Dual-Key safeguard increasingly popular amongst the neutral MP’s. The opposition is pledged to remove the weapons when next in power.
This morning to rise early and provide breakfast for Daniel and Debbie until Daniel left for school. Di managed to rise later and look after Debbie who was already in bed when I returned tonight.
To the office and to clear the mail and urgent correspondence before by car with Derek Weatherby to the Auditors. There to discuss the results of the Audit process which was preoccupied with the problems at London at year end. Even so I anticipate an overall clear audit report for Comart and Xitan with the small company/close company qualification for the Byte Shop Group. Perhaps also a more severely qualified audit for London. A lunch in the old ‘Sun’ public house opposite our old council offices in Huntingdon Street and back to the office afterwards to sign job offers and prepare for my forthcoming meetings with the BMMG and Alvey Directorate.
Late at the office sorting out secretarial papers for the Bank etc. and home with fish, sausage and chips for tea with Daniel. Early to go up and prepare for the morning and my stay away tomorrow night.
The weather today bitterly cold to make both home and office uncomfortably chilly in spite of the day’s sunshine. A sharp frost forecast for the night ahead.
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Diana still suffering her morning sickness badly as I look after the children and ducks, watching the Whitehall cenotaph service on TV and checking annual report papers
A lay in this morning, having slept the night without Diana; she having lay downstairs with her nausea all night. She also returned to bed and was quite ill all day, I having to prepare the meals and fend for the children. An unproductive day, therefore, but I did manage to clean out the ducks and this evening check through the typed Annual Reports and Accounts against the auditor’s meeting tomorrow.
A much colder day but still dry.
News today of a US build-up of its fleet off the Lebanon coast, and a strike by force is expected as the western air flights are cancelled to Beirut. The Syrian army is already on alert with reservists called up. President Reagan is visiting Korea with practiced publicity. Remembrance Sunday was marked as usual by the ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall with its two-minutes silence at 11.00am. I watched with Debbie and Daniel on television the full ceremony and it was very touching as over 6000 ex-servicemen marched past.
In Ireland, the northern Republicans elected Gerry Adams as their President but the violence will continue alongside the political initiative. The latest of three Cessna light aircraft crashes today killing its pilot.
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Resting and reading news stories of Middle East conflict and records of Arms before lunch with the family and an even of catching up with work papers and watching the remembrance service as Diana suffers
A fair lay in this morning and after breakfast to return to bed and read many Comart papers on the annual accounts for all group companies. Also to scan the daily paper and start on the weekly economist. The year’s company results an obvious improvement on last year but some concern on the standard of administration and anticipated Audit Report. The world full still of news of the Middle East. Today, though, I do not see it, the Lord Mayor’s Show; this remembrance weekend.
In late morning with Diana and Debbie to St Neots and the library where I scan several peerage and knighthood books. There do not seem to be any BROAD honours, past or present. After to collect Daniel from Kimbolton and on to the Happy Eater, a family treat for lunch. Back home this afternoon and to read a good book on The Great Ouse. A phone call and visit from one of Marilyn’s friends and I catch and present him with the lone Aylesbury Drake that has recently joined our Campbell flock.
Tonight to sort out my briefcase papers and catch up on all manner of reading to leave the day tomorrow for comments on the accounts format. Diana is even the worse for her hormonal depression and weepiness of the first months of pregnancy but I am not worried. This evening also to watch the pageantry of the remembrance service displays of the British Legion in the Royal Albert Hall. A television coverage of some mix of sadness and splendour.