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Geoff of Xitan struggles as Peter of the Byte Shops forges ahead and the Korean Jumbo crisis settled down
A bright, cool but dry day. To the office for another intensive day of paperwork and internal activity. Long phone conversations with Geoff Lynch and Peter King. Geoff has still to get to grips with Xitan’s new premises and staff and is impeded by holidays and sickness. He has a reputation for success, however, and sales figures still underpin profitability. Peter is walking on air with another successful Byte Shop Manager’s sales meeting today. August sales are over £360K and well above budget. Gordon Coventry’s Glasgow Byte Shop is leading the pack after two months which is a heartening turn round on past fortunes. Overall more work than can easily be managed and it will be a few days before I have reasonably caught up.
News today of direct political interchanges between the USSR and USA foreign ministers, the British Airline Pilot Association has instated a ban on flights to Moscow and a mass meeting in South Korea is held as a requiem and demonstration.
The family in good mood today and Daniel seems not to be worried about starting his school on Friday.
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Optimistic Comart Computers Sales Meeting and valuable conversations with D of I’s Tony Keston on contracts for British micros as the Jumbo downing row smoulders on
Another fine but cool day, though I hardly venture out during the daylight hours. An exception to this was first thing when I help Daniel to release the ducks on a beautiful morning by the river. The ducks are moulting and only laying 2 eggs per day. We now retain six adult ducks with one returning to the flock, but now only 10 juveniles remain. They are all eating far too much and the youngsters are now due to start laying.
To the office and another large post which I leave to join the Comart Sales Meeting. This meeting, under David Fear’s guidance, brings together the volume sales executives and reports forecasts of future business, reviewing product problems and opportunities along the way. Prospects look good for a £1M first quarter – well ahead of the forecast and budget for the slack season. Then to my desk and the mail of 1st and 2nd posts whilst snatching a snack of water and sandwiches.
After to return phone calls of a venture capitalist who seeks a meeting on capital for the micro industry and Tony Keston of the D of I to exchange interesting views on the NEDO Tariff’s working party report and computerisation of the DHSS’s benefit office. Concerted effort is needed to ensure that the mammoth application for 2600 microcomputers is landed by British microcomputer companies. I press for a publicity initiative on the Doctors micro scheme which by my judgement has been a great success. Also lobby for consideration of BMDS’s claims on investment in any forthcoming Dentists scheme.
News today of the admission by the USSR of actually shooting down the South Korean airliner. Also the US release tape recordings of the intercepted voice communications between the Soviet pilots and their control. The International Pilots Association has banned members flying services in and out of Moscow for 60 days. In the Lebanon, the fighting by artillery shells with the US positions on the receiving end. At the TUC, the unions vote by 2 to 1 to maintain a dialogue with the government on union reform.
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Back to work and to many personnel and other issues as June has prepared my desk with care and efficiency as Debbie and Daniel play with Rebecca and David Tomblin for the last time
A cool but fine day with only a breeze and no rain. Early up and to the office after a rather sleepy return to my work schedule. There to find again my backlog of work neatly arranged in sections for action, reading etc. plus a typed report on the status of personnel matters and other important work. Many messages to return calls but highest of all needs to talk to Peter King about personnel issues. Soon to follow the mail in large quantity and the rest of the morning sorting the workload and reviewing the status of vacancies, offers outstanding and accepted.
Lunchtime for a drink with John Lamb and David Fear. Business is looking good with SDL OEM orders for £30K of Communicator modules and government contracts coming on stream. A Comart sales meeting due tomorrow will see good backlogs of orders for a solid September. An afternoon reviewing press comment and reading material, passing on the bottlenecks of work to my subordinates. I note that Mrs Little has had a letter published on me in Informatic Magazine and conducts a dialogue via the media as one is not possible direct! By the end of the day, work under control but much to do in the rest of the week.
News today of another coach crash, this time in the Scottish Highlands. Also more interchanges on the S. Korean incident, now that Russian news reports are becoming more detailed. But still they are short of an apology and reparations which is the minimum the western nations would settle for. Israel’s withdrawal from Beirut and Begin’s retirement leaves power vacuums in both countries.
At home Diana is in bed tonight with a headache. The children have played with Rebecca and David Tomblin today and will miss them tomorrow. A late evening for me watching the first of four episodes of ‘The Godfather’ epic, which will make me quite tired by the end of the week.
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Back home from cruising on a windy day and a goodbye drink and snacks with our favourite friends and neighbours before I help a stranded boat and then catch up with work papers and go into the office to prepare for the week
The day started quiet but the wind gradually increased all day. Fortunately there was no rain apart from a slight trace in the air at times. We awoke after a good night in Godmanchester and let the children play in the climbing frame and on the swings. We set off without shopping and make good way against the breeze, recharging the battery well as we go. We are soon through the two locks at Houghton and Offord and home before lunch.
Daniel is sent to retrieve the shed keys from our neighbours who have been looking after the ducks, but John and Brenda Tomblin call us in as they were having drinks and snacks to say goodbye to the neighbours. They are leaving the district next Tuesday to move to an address in Sandridge near St Albans and our children will miss two good friends in David and Rebecca. Then to lunch and after to reading all manner of post and papers that have come to the house during our absence. This process interrupted by the arrival of a small cruiser at the bottom of our garden which had broken down. The crew had hired it from Kelpie Marine and were not operating it correctly.
I make the adjustments, give them a trial run and send them on their way and return to find lunchtime over and my food in the oven. After completing my private papers this afternoon, I drive to the office and both look round and ready my in-tray. As far as I can see, business has been progressing but the finished goods store is too full for my liking. There is an agenda round for a sales meeting on Tuesday that will be of interest. My trays have no matters of critical note but many personnel issues for solution. I suspect that I will soon have to consider a Personnel Manager to take these over. I will look in detail at these papers this evening and so be ready for the day tomorrow when I will not only be just returned but also without my secretary June Hamilton.
The papers today are still full of the Russian incident, with the Americans keeping up the pressure. It seems that certain parties on both sides do not see the wisdom or need for reconciliation. Only 5 adult ducks still in our flock of Khaki Campbells but all 11 juveniles still with us. These will soon be taking over the egg-laying which will be well received. The gardener does not seem to have recently called and Diana is not very pleased with him.