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The day attending to domestic Comart Company management issues as a political furore rages about the US invasion of Grenada with counter claims and denials and lots more administration as I find time to watch the film, ‘Raise the Titanic’
Early to the office and first to tour the factory meeting the managers and overseeing the arrivals of the workforce. Some are late but overall not too bad on adherence to timekeeping. A day full of paperwork and moving the mail. Also signing the payroll and actioning some outstanding correspondence. This morning to help Ian with a customer problem with MPSL BOS that lead to a complete reassessment of the intercompany working relationship and channels of communication. This afternoon a couple of hours with David Fear discussing reviews, job offers and several key account problems. Late this afternoon to brief Derek Morgan and Carlton Lowe on the decisions of Tuesday’s Comart Board Meeting and the Comart name changes. Late home bringing a fair amount of company administration to complete.
This evening to watch an extended TV film entitled ‘Raise the Titanic,’ a most incredible tale. News today of American victory in Grenada but only after significant reinforcement and a greater than expected commitment of time and resource. The Whitehouse is claiming that the Grenadian Governor-General begged for US and British armed intervention. In the House of Commons, Margaret Thatcher came close to supporting the US action and was better received after yesterday’s rough ride of the Foreign Secretary Dennis Howe. The palace is denying that the Governor-General requested military assistance. In Beirut, the four-nation peacekeeping force has agreed to stay in position but, apart from the US, the numbers will not be increased.
On time to bed tired over recent exertions.
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Off to London and Westminster after two hours in the office to hatch up IBA plans for Hi-tech companies and then to the House to hear the Grenada debate but the queues were too long!
A little late to the office for two hours of desk work and sorting of the papers from yesterday. Also to create the deeds of floating charge between Comart Ltd and Comart Computers Ltd and review the mail as usual. Then to the car and Stevenage Station and by train to Kings Cross. On time at 12.30 to Sachville Street to meet Nicholas Owen, senior partner of Heming Son and Daw and on to a superb lunch of potted shrimps and smoked trout at a nearby restaurant. Together to hatch up a plan for a coordinated lobby of government on the I.B.A. (Industrial Building Allowance) and a plan to equalise its application to properties in favour of encouraging hi-tech building development.
On by taxi to the House of Commons but delayed 3 hours queuing and could only enter the Strangers Gallery in time to hear the results of the division at the end of the emergency debate on Grenada. By all accounts, a heated debate and an embarrassed Tory government, powerless to restrain the U.S. invasion.
Home by taxi, train and car in time for the 9.00pm news and on time to bed. Debbie was sick this morning but has been OK later today.
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All day Comart Group meeting, approving the new structure and accepting government grants. Confirmation of my personal entitlement to a Grant of Arms ‘with banner and badge) from the ‘Rouge Dragon’ but also of a US invasion of Grenada, which is poorer news!
Early to the office, beating Derek W. to the first Director’s parking place to his and my surprise. Then to work on slides and notes for the presentation to today’s Board Meeting and to gather up all the necessary comments to changes of Directorships and acquisition of Comart Companies Ltd. A tough all-day meeting starting with the formal business that from today makes Comart Ltd the proud owner of the new company to which all business activity will be transferred from January 1st next year. Also to approve, subject to obtaining the CAD DTI grant, a £70,000 capital investment in computer aided design. In all a full board meeting that lasted until early evening with implications and changes that will take some time to implement.
Dramatic news today of a U.S. invasion of Grenada which had taken place without British support. This in spite of its Commonwealth , with a Queen’s Governor-General in position. Opposition politicians have taken the opportunity to draw the comparison with European two-key control with the U.S. on nuclear weapons. On the island are already present Cuban and Russian advisors.
Good news today from The Royal College of Arms and in the person of the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant. It seems that I might well be granted arms as a gentleman with the distinction of a heraldic Badge and Standard, awarded only to grantees ‘with a large following.’ I am resolved to petition for such a grant even though the costs will be over £1000. This, as I am getting hints from ‘those that be’ that I might be considered for an honour shortly due to my computer industry contributions! Tired and slightly late to bed after a long day.
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Back to work on a very cold and possibly frosty morning with The Lady under her snug cover and to the usual mail pile and preparations for the Comart Review Meeting as the aftermath of the Lebanese bomb confirms 227 dead
Early to the office and first to return a kettle that I had confiscated from its owner last week! Then to longish meetings with Carlton, Ian and John to review my comments on their management reports. The fact of getting the reports prior to the weekend has been such a boon in providing opportunity for considered analysis and comment. Then to the huge Monday mail and soon after the second post which makes us wonder as to the eventual changes needed to deal with it.
After lunch to sort my papers and later to catch up on my correspondence, but I am left with much important work delayed. Also I experience continued trouble in trying to contact the BMMG Membership Officer and Secretary.
Tonight Lebanon reports that 186 Americans and 41 Frenchmen are dead and public opinion turns fast against a continued presence. President Mitterrand visits the wreckage at an hours’ notice to lend moral support. In North Carolina, the bereaved relatives of the US troops have a delay in being told of the fate of their sons because of lost personnel records and “dog-tags” separated from the victims as they were sleeping.
The weather today has been very cold with home and office heating systems struggling to keep us warm. With a full moon on a clear sky this evening, I suspect a heavy frost and am glad that The Lady is snugly under its cover. Today Diana had trouble with the British Leyland dealer, who not only misdiagnosed her metro’s exhaust fault, but added delay and overcharging to its ineptitudes.
Bed early tonight with keen anticipation towards tomorrow’s meeting.
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Morning reading before calls with John Lamb on Comart matters and then a riverside park outing as The Lady’s winter cover is put on and with it put to an end the season’s boating. Bombs in the Lebanon kill 170+ people but two stranded Russian spacemen get more food and water and Geoff Boycott gets his Yorkshire CC meeting called.
A good night’s sleep and lay in on the morning that the clocks are put back an hour for winter time. After a cooked breakfast (including the first and single duck egg we have had laid for the last three days) a morning in bed reading the Economist and Sunday Times. In late morning a call from John Lamb to compare notes on the board papers before a run to the Riverside Park in St Neots with the family for a walk and exercise on the new climbing frame there.
Back in time for lunch and after to fit the winter cover to The Lady. A three hour exercise with Daniel’s help but in the end a good job as we tie down all parts of this custom-made cover very securely. We have now removed all duck food from the riverside workshops to help cure the large infestation of rats. They have chewed large holes in many parts. Tea from our trolley in front of the television.
News today of bombs in Lebanon at the Beirut bases of the United States and French peacekeeping forces. Dead are numbered at 140 + Americans and 30 + French in the two explosions caused by suicide mission lorries packed with high explosives – estimated as equivalent to 2000 tons of TNT. Iran are suspected as being behind the bombings. HMS Antrim is steaming to Grenada to take off foreign nationals if needed. The two Russian cosmonauts, stranded in the USSR Soyez space vehicle have now been relieved by food and fuel supplies. There is still no way down for them, however, without repairs to their craft. Geoffrey Boycott’s supporters had collected the 240 + signatures from members to force a general meeting of the Yorkshire Cricket Club.
The weather today fine and sunny but the chain of anticyclones bringing chilly weather in the clear evenings. Later tonight writing up Comart’s Quality meeting minutes and Q. Assurance policy which I am very pleased with.