Rescuing a drenched Daniel and ordering the riverside plots ready for an expected Great Ouse flood and then to the office as £100K orders ‘flood’ in and all hell breaks loose in the Lebanon and Kashmir

Up on time to return things to their proper place and have a hair wash and bath. A little late to a breakfast of boiled egg and then quickly to dress and shave to be ready to leave at 8.00am. Poor Daniel had left earlier and a great squall and rainstorm which had him crying on the kiosk telephone for help. I drove over to collect him and provided a dry coat and pair of trousers before putting him on the bus to resume his journey. A wild windy and wet day today and on returning home this evening I hear of a leak at 39 Gordon Road and see the river rising. I check the riverside workshop and remove a lawnmower, checking that a bale of straw and many things besides are lifted up off the floor in case the shed is flooded. This morning at the office in a series of one-to-one review meetings with my main executives reviewing their priorities and actions. Then the normal burgeoning Monday mail which included over £100K of purchase orders which was very welcome.

A quick bite to eat of my cheese and pickle sandwiches and then on to Barford and Co to meet Conollies the builders (in the person of Mr Smith) to review plans for our new building. Two alternative schemes involve either a financial institution funding it or our own plans by way of tax saving and a self-administered fund. At the moment we would be pleased if either would come off as the space constraints are becoming acute. Later at the office clearing my desk and sealing the new replacement shares for Xitan Limited. News tonight of an even greater deterioration in Lebanese affairs as Beirut becomes a real battlefield. Each side, Christian and Moslem, shelling each other and a complete 24hour curfew announced under threat of being shot to death. In Ireland, and after a gap of one year, the owners of the Shergar syndicate reveal that the great horse was kidnapped by the IRA and was slaughtered when the ransom of £2M was not paid. Much concern today also as the Kashmiri diplomat was found dead, murdered in political conflict over the Indian occupation of Kashmir. To bed on time tonight after much concern about the work I have to do in preparation for my Wednesday meetings.