Annoying start to the week having to chivvy along my executives for poor timekeeping on a very cold and frosty morning and then much time re-organising the Sales Department for the Director before off to the London Metropole Hotel to make preparations for my Export IT conference as Soviet politician Chirenko takes over.

Early to the office and immediately upset that on this very cold and frosty morning, nobody had bothered to walk outside their own portakabins and switch the heating on. This fact plus the late arrivals of my management team meant a poor start to the week. A frantic day in common with most Mondays but time spent with David Fear particularly on the Sales Department re-organisation and new earnings formulae for himself and his team. Meetings also with John Lamb, Ian Nickson and Peter King on matters of the moment. Ian briefed me on excellent design progress last week but I had to pull him up for departmental timekeeping and housekeeping. After an afternoons work off by car to London and to check into the London Metropole Hotel for a room service dinner. Time before a late retirement to prepare my Chairman’s introductory comments for tomorrow. News today that the senior Soviet politician Mr Chirenko has taken over in an unambitious collective decision for safety. Very impressive television programmes tonight on the Inca terraces and reclamation and also the reflections of Tommy Farr.