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The day of the famous Brinks Matt Gold robbery spent reading our mentions in the press before skating and swimming with Daniel, Gary and friends and walking Debbie to the swings and having a family lunch as Diana still stays mostly in bed and I read local history books.
A slow start to the day as I lay in reading the Economist. In the latter the Byte Shop are mentioned after the journalist’s brief contact with Peter King. Daniel off as usual to school but today went after with Gary and friends to a birthday afternoon of ice skating, swimming and lunch/tea both at McDonalds. In mid- morning I take Debbie for a walk (‘the muddy way’ at her insistence) to the playing field swings and Diana later brings the car to join us. After to St Neots for grocery provisions from KeyMarkets and to the bank to pay in my £1800-odd pay cheque and withdraw £50 cash. Off together then for our normal Saturday lunch at “The Happy Eater” before returning home for an afternoon’s relaxation in front of the television watching a good variety of sport; motor racing, rugby league, snooker and more.
Today £25million worth of gold bars were stolen from a Brinks-Matt security warehouse at Heathrow Trading Estate. A £2million reward has been offered. An NGA stoppage today meant that no newspapers were published today and tomorrows will not be available either.
The day mild but spitting with rain from time to time until this evening turned into quite a drizzle.
This evening reading C. F. Tebbutt’s “St Neots – History of a Huntingdonshire Town” and Dorothy Summers “The Great Ouse – The History of a River Navigation” and watching a television film (“The Survivor”) about a Pilot surviving alone from an air crash and investigating its crashing. The ducks, though being amply fed and husbanded morning and night have still not resumed laying and I am beginning to fear that they will not. Diana is improving slowly but still spends most of the day in bed
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Milder and windy day spent managing Comart company PR and London Byte shop personnel priorities as company computer shipments falter and the Byte shop has to make up Group sales and profitability
A tiring day at the end of a tiring week. First to meet MEMC with John and to review the communications audit that is to take place as a necessary prelude to our Public Relations push. Then a couple of frenetic phone calls with The Times journalist Maggie McLenna to try to get her further information on the Careers Office System Project. Unfortunately our contact at the Depart of Employment denied the contract and rested on the formal position which was too neutral to print and I had to fill in the details. After to deal with the mail and then several phone calls with Peter King and Russel Jacques. The London secretary, Jackie, is leaving and arrangements for her departure had proceeded unsatisfactorily without my approval of the exit interview. I summon them both to the office later and make quite a fuss getting the matter resolved to my satisfaction. Disappointing returns today of a miserable £215K of Comart Computer shipments that equates to a £30K loss for the division on the month at least. Better news of a strong Byte Shop performance and the auditors confirm a clean audit for the consolidated group and I expect the typed accounts for Monday.
A milder day with strong winds later as I put away and feed the ducks again. After four feeding sessions, night and morning, for two days we are expecting the ducks to start laying again. To bed as tired as I have been in recent times, looking forward to the weekends rest
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Comart payroll and then good Byte Shop Board meeting before group updates later and home to dinner as my cold develops and another dangerous Cold war seems to be brewing
Another freezingly-cold morning as I wrap up and go out to feed and let out the ducks. I am presently trying to feed them morning and night to induce them to return to lay.
On time to the office, first clearing the mail and to sign the Comart payroll before collecting my papers and opening the Byte Shop Board Meeting for business. A good meeting today with excellent news of sales and profits as the Byte Shop affairs have progressed. Lunch as a buffet in accordance with recent practice. We finish the meeting at 4.00pm to allow time to clear our desks and, in my case, agree a couple more job offers and write up the minutes. I stay late to complete the task and also hold meetings with John and, by telephone, with Geoff Lynch.
Home to a heated dinner and cup of tea prepared by Daniel. Diana is still ill and indisposed.
News today of the Russian’s decision to cease arms limitation and deploy more SS20’s. This surely marks the beginning of another dangerous era of cold war. The massive swop is completed between the PLO and Israel who trade 6,000 Palestinian prisoners for 6 Israelis.
The day ends a lot milder than of late and I manage to feed the ducks again in the dark and husband them into the hutch. A xxxx late to bed tired and suffering from a good cold.
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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