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Day travelling to Southampton and fighting Xitan staff problems and counselling Geoff Lynch on how to avoid them before home to get Diana out for a while, as the current political problem is security leaks with the Official Secrets Act being criticised for its gagging effect.
A remarkable day at Xitan with Geoff Lynch. Each contact is a revelation and adds at least a month to my age! An early start, just catching the 6.57am train from St Neots to London. On this journey good progress in making up the CCL 3 year plan as regards development policy. Then across London by tube and by a slowish train to Southampton. On by taxi and to meet the Xitan staff at about 10.30. First a few pleasantries with Geoff Lynch and relaxation over coffee and the next hour and a half meeting each member of staff and hearing what they now do and listening to their comments and work patterns.
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Very productive day at the office arranging meetings and things as a huge Gypsy funeral takes place in the cemetery next door and we have a demonstration of our new CAD system
Up on time and soon to get ready because of my previous night’s bath and hair wash. My usual breakfast of toast, marmalade and fruit juice and then a little early to the office and to start the day. My having spent little time this weekend on office work, first to spend time ordering my existing papers and reviewing outstanding actions – a process added to and reinforced by the arrival of the normally large Monday morning mail. Unfortunately June’s assistant Helen still has the annoying habit of reading the mail slowly and with obvious interest rather than quickly processing it for efficiency which always delays things. Soon David Fear has arrived, bringing our guest client from the airport, Granite Chips, and asking particularly for my involvement.
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Day of long walks investigating Paxton and Diddington pits and disagreements with Diana before tending my ducks and bonfire and resting this evening
Awake late after a heavy night’s sleep and Diana disappointed at my inability to serve her coffee in bed as I pledged on Friday – but she is already up of course. Down to a fine cooked breakfast of fried egg, bacon, mushrooms and bread and, after a quick wash and shave, out to let the ducks out of ‘duck city’. I decided that the space near the duck hutch needed cleaning up and so I created two areas for decompostable materials and rubbish for burning.
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Taking The Lady to Buckden with Daniel before he leaves for his Kimbolton narrow boat holiday before taking Debbie on a long walk over St Neots Common and back by taxi as Thatcher’s police have had their numbers and rewards increased ahead of all of the strikes and demonstrations
A poor night’s sleep, hot from the late and heavy meal last night and the lack of arranged ventilation in my room. Slow to breakfast and to wash but then with Daniel down to The Lady to remove her winter cover. The job entails crawling around the shroud in confined spaces, undoing the searing ties; a task Daniel hates because of the claustrophobic aspect but one that he does under protest. Eventually to successfully start the engine, stow the cover and move off. A day of spring, because the weather is not so bitterly cold (10-11DegC by day) and daffodils are breaking out for the first time. We crew The Lady downstream and Daniel takes the helm to allow me to secure the fenders, ropes and replace the cabins side panels.