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Morning catching up on current affairs on a cold and wet day as Autumn arrives and sensing sluggish economic growth as I hear news from Freda of trouble between Mum and Dad and we are eventually told that the Russian military has shot down the South Korean jet for taking a short cut across Russian territory
A very cold and wet day, the summer having broken sharply and the daylight hours are ever shorter. We lay in bed much later than in recent days. Indeed I do not personally rise until lunchtime, spending the entire morning in bed reading The Sunday Times, The Economist and Management Today, and other papers to bring me up to date after our boating holiday. The undercurrent of business and management affairs is that we are to expect little growth in manufacturing industry and the economy in general. The world’s stock exchanges are near the top with inflation low but this is to start rising soon. Employment will remain at present levels or grow slowly and the 3 million plus out of work will remain wasted. I read a good industrial and business survey of Scotland, from which I learn a lot of the efforts to regenerate industry and the economy. The S. Korean jetliner seems now to have been taking a short cut across the Soviet territory and the Russians were unable to identify it as a civilian airliner.
Yesterday my sister, Freda, telephoned me concerned about my Mother’s condition and Father’s circumstances. She had received several calls recently from Mum wanting to get away from Dad and seizing on a suggestion to visit and stay with Freda. Because of her physical condition and Freda’s circumstance and remoteness the idea is patently ludicrous. In a call yesterday I put the suggestion to Dad that I arrange a convalescent home for Mum for two weeks and they were to consider it. Today when I phoned, Dad explained that there was a letter in the post pointing out why they couldn’t accept and I suspect that Mum is against the idea.
A call from John tonight suggesting discussions on collaboration with Wyse Technology on workstation design. Tomorrow I welcome our new Manufacturing Manager and I have prepared his office accordingly.
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Daniel’s first Saturday morning at school as I work on household accounts and income tax and then lunch with the family before shopping in Bedford and planning winter holidays and the news of last night’s meeting of Cram just beating Ovett last night in the 1500m
Another early start – Daniel is off to school again today and Diana takes him to the St Neots bus stop to catch his bus that will carry him every day from now on. A leisurely breakfast and morning. I let out the ducks and then tackle some domestic paperwork. I make up my personal accounts for the last few weeks and pay over a cheque for £650 to Diana that represents £500 monthly allowance and the balance of reimbursements for the cleaner, gardener etc. Then to complete the information for my accountant to fill my 1982/3 Income Tax declaration.
Coffee with Diana and then off with Di and Debbie to Kimbolton to collect Daniel. The day which had been cool but sunny until then, turned into gusty squall of rain and the rest of the day remained wet. We drive to the Happy Eater in Sandy for lunch and then to Bedford, parking in the Moat House car park. The walk over the bridge and through the Saturday Market is wet but we are well protected. After a pleasant afternoon’s shopping we meet at Debenhams for afternoon tea and then drive home via Harry Kitcheners for a marine catalogue.
A quiet evening listening to the stereo Hi Fi and reading holiday catalogues for a possible fortnight in the Caribbean next Christmas. News today of the full press conference staged by the Russian Military where they admit shooting down the S. Korean airline but are not apologetic, they still maintain, with no evidence to support it, that it was a spy plane. Great excitement last night when Steve Cram and Steve Ovett met in the 1500 metres race at the end of an excellent athletics season. Cram just won it in an excellent hard running contest and the crowd went wild with excitement. The football season is well underway with a full programme today as the last fixtures of the cricket season are completed.
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Daniel starts Kimbolton School in his new uniform and I will miss him at home tomorrow, as I have an office day liaising with government, dismissing a London engineer and spending time with Dan this evening
A cool and wet day, with showers and little wind. The recent gales destroyed large quantities of the local pear, apple and plum harvest and arguments continue on the effects of the stubble and straw burning on the community. The fall–out of smut particles has interfered with paintwork on cars and boats, domestic washing, and industrial processes.
Daniel’s first day at Kimbolton School today. Diana takes him in the car and he soon settles into his class and his own ‘gang’ of pupils. His green sports jacket, purple trousers, grey shirt and dual colour tie make him look smart. In his first lessons are his first French words and in chemistry he learns how a Bunsen burner works. Tomorrow comes his first woodworking lessons and English.
An office day busy with paperwork. Replies to the NEDC Tariffs working party on Duty and a dismissal of a London Service engineer. Group sales performance is looking good. This evening to put the ducks away with Daniel and watch the last of a four-part expansion of The Godfather film on TV. A very late night and slight sadness that Daniel will not be home in the morning.
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Busy day on Comart Computer departmental issues, approving expenses and planning for branch review meetings before home for the family tea for a rare and pleasurable change
I rise early and wash my hair and enjoy my normal slimmer’s breakfast of two slices of toast and marmalade and apple juice to wash it down. Another fine sunny but cool start to the day. To the office and first to complete my business expenses for August and then sign the expense claims for the whole group. As usual there are half a dozen or so who have not completed the forms correctly but this time I write notes and insist they amend their ways – my patience has run out.
Soon the mail arrives and then whilst scanning it John Lamb comes in with all sorts of commercial problems to resolve. The Sales Department are selling component parts as well as finished computers and normally these go through the service department where they are better able to specify and test them. This resolved, I finish off the mail and attend urgently to the arrangements for next weeks. First an announcement about Carlton Howe’s arrival on Monday; next the agenda for next Thursday’s Southampton Review Meetings and alterations of plan so that I can make two meetings in Manchester at the end of the month.
This afternoon to tie up with Derek Weatherby for well over an hour on a wide range of financial issues. Then to Derek Morgan to liaise for the last time before his two week holiday. The architects have taken our last instructions on the new building and most other matters should be in hand. Last to discuss service and personnel issues with John, gathering up my papers to take home for an unusually early evening.
Home by 6.30 pm and in time for a family tea for the first time in months. Debbie is dispatched to clear up her toys and put her pyjamas on and Daniel to put away the ducks and clear up a mess of duck food. The weather turned to rain later today, and whilst I have not seen the TV news, this morning’s papers were still full of E/W confrontation on the S Korean airline, speculation about a new royal baby, and Arthur Scargill’s condemnation of Solidarity in Poland.