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Daniel misses the bus as the family suffer from colds and I start a full paperwork day and note Comart’s good August as thousands of jobs are cut in the health service
A fine sunny day – cool but dry. Unfortunately I was at work in the office all day and did not get time to walk out. This morning a fine fuss as Daniel watches the bus go by not realising it was his own to St Neots! Only just in time to the office and a full day of desk work and personnel activity. The payroll information across to accounts, future structure of the service department resolved, Agenda for next Tuesday’s Board meeting circulated, and my own personnel report (including organisational charts and outstanding vacancy summary) produced. Preliminary figures for Comart’s August where we made a modest profit in replacement of budgeted loss.
News today of Health Service cuts of several thousand workers, mainly in the South East Thames area which brings Union protest and political controversy. Also of a successful conference speech by David Steel ending with a standing ovation. An uneasy ceasefire has taken place in Lebanon today but the guns start up again tonight as terms for a national reconciliation seem impossible. British Leyland announce the first half-years trading profit for some time whilst Michael Edwards prepares for his new job as ICL’s chairman. A British attempt on the Land Speed Record at 617 mph is short by 25 mph but they keep trying.
The family is now suffering from our first Autumn colds but we are forecast a warm and sunny day tomorrow.
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Early dewy morning duck and factory survey before conversations on micro-industry finance and trademark issues each side of management problems and company administration; then late home to my journal, reading and bed. Party conference season in full swing as Dunlop leave Birmingham
A fine clear day with rising barometric pressure. An early morning sopping wet with dew as I walk to the moorings and let out the ducks. Three eggs today and still the youngsters have not started to lay.
Early to the office and first to survey the company at 8.45am for late arrivals. I find that the only recipe for reasonable housekeeping and timekeeping is to take a regular interest and let that interest be known. Then to the mornings mail and successive attempts to clear my incoming tray as company information accumulated fast. Eventually before lunch reasonably up to date and a visit from Tony Diment of ‘Investors in Industry’ who came to see me for discussions on financing microcomputer companies. An afternoon fighting the priorities and consulting with the Service Manager over his staff problems. Then to contact my trade mark agent Mr Axe of Williams & Co about my plans to change the group name and concentrate on the existing names of Comart, Xitan and Byte Shop as registered trademarks. Late afternoon preparing documents for stamp duty and the forms for sending to Companies House.
Home late and time to eat a well stewed meal and complete my journal before some reading and then to bed.
News today of French war planes attacking Syrian artillery emplacements for the first time. Cyril Smith was left out in the cold at the Liberal Assembly as the motion for the election of a deputy leader position was lost and he was left complaining of a hatchet job. The Labour Party election for leader and deputy leader seems dependant on the TWGU union vote. Dunlop sells of its Birmingham Tyre operations and Sir Michael Edwards takes over I.C.L. which news is very surprising to me. The yacht Australia II beats the American Victory to level the America’s cup competition at three all.
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Historical reading before a day of company management and family research the City of London as Chrisula loses her baby and England their European qualification
I was called early at 6.30am and first to read a good section of Samuel Pepys 1661. Then to get ready hurriedly and deliver Daniel just in time for the 8.10am bus from St Neots. I arrive at the office at 8.15am and brief June on my purchases of employment books which will help us both to formulate disciplinary procedures and forms for standard practice. To the mail and then to brief Carlton Lowe and Roger Tucker on plans for the new building before attending to a number of matters arising being the only Director in before the later arrival of David Fear.
Off then in haste to London and first to the Stamp Office in Bush House, The Strand. There to find the share transfer forms I brought well out of date (for they have to be filed within 30 days) and also queried for the realistic values and so I will have to submit them again by post. An hour’s chance then to scan the index at Company’s House in City Road to see what companies are using similar names to ours. Also to establish that the name “Group Micro Limited” is free to use if I desire to move quickly. Lastly back to the car in Swiss Cottage and a long time to search the 1861 census returns to find more of my ancestors resident in St Pancras at that time.
Tonight I watch England lose 1-0 at football to the Danes and with it the chance to qualify for a European Final next year.
Today Diana’s brother and sister in law Chrisula lost their 3 month old pregnancy through miscarriage until I do not know what disaster Diana expects to befall her family next. After a day of rain and showers, the barometer is thankfully rising again.
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Helping Daniel to cycle to St Neots and then a Company Secretarial Course in Cambridge before considering the future of this function as John meets Digital Research
I rise a little later than usual and after my normal breakfast of toast and fruit juice, and help Daniel to fasten his belongings to his bicycle. Later today Di bought him some ‘Bungy’ clips as the bumpy ride down the Hayling way and across the common to St Neots has kept shaking his school bag loose. At 8.30 I leave by car for Cambridge and experience trouble in parking the car near my course at “The University Arms Hotel.”
The first day of the course is very useful and covers very comprehensively the statutory requirements and duties of Company Secretary, which I am in all respects but name for the Comart group. It is my intention to skip the course tomorrow on employment law etc. and I therefore collect the notes and give my farewells. There was on the course today the married but very attractive daughter of H C Moss the Histon builder. Her mother is presently company secretary and she wishes her to take over.
Then quickly to Heffers Book Shop and there to charge to the Comart Account good textbooks on Employment Law and Quality Control. I will have to, for the future, decide when to appoint specialist managers for Personnel, Quality and Secretarial duties, as I am concerned about my own time to do these. On the other hand all facilities and resources have to be paid for and we are already developing the management team apace. I speak at length to John tonight who is flying tomorrow to visit the Sicob exhibition. Today John and Ian had a very good session with Digital Research whose operating systems seem to mirror our own hardware developments.
Tonight to put away the ducks in the hutch together and then to read the employment law books until very late.