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Organising the speakers for my EXPORT IT seminar after some domestic and before some business mayhem and then some press calls and photo sessions before one-to-one meetings with my main executives to get everybody working together again as We evacuate Brits from Beirut and the US spaceflight also struggles with technical problems
A little late to the office after a good lay in. Much fuss this morning with Daniel not being particularly keen to follow Diana’s instructions and prepare himself properly for school. Eventually to have breakfast and arrive at the office where a good pile of papers awaited me and occupied half of the morning before I was able to catch up. Then to organise Eddie Bleasdale as an alternative speaker to Howard Sayle of Rair who had dropped out of the FCO conference. I telephone through the changes to Export IT and finalise my arrangements before embarking on a tough afternoon of telephone press interviews, photo sessions and one-to-one meetings with John Lamb, Carlton Lowe, Derek Morgan and David Fear.
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Business disposal meeting in the West End after cake and coffee at Harrods and then on to Kings Cross for a PR agent’s pitch, and after to Millbank Tower to meet up with Nigel to meet the UKITO Council and to propose terms for a merger with the BMMG
Up early and to wash shave and dress before a full English breakfast. After checking out and stowing my luggage in the car, on by tube from Swiss Cottage to Knightsbridge and at the FTS offices, to chair the preparatory speakers meeting for Export IT. A reasonable turnout and passable preparation but still a lot of work to do before the task is complete. On, via Harrods where I stopped for cake and coffee, to the London house of John Head of Branmer. An ageing entrepreneur who is beastly to his staff and not in the least inspiring to talk to. His interest is in the Byte Shop rather than the group and I see him as quite a problem to for the future. On by taxi to Kings Cross and the MEPR publicity meeting.
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Office morning reviewing expenses and other administration before day in London on family history research and an evening hotel stay at Swiss Cottage meeting the CAP MD in the bar for drinks
Up and to the office and there to clear most of this month’s expense claims and, after reviewing the mail, to prepare quickly my briefs for the next day’s out of office meetings. A quick lunchtime sandwich and then by car to Savoy Place and an underground car park. To Bush house at last to stamp all manner of legal documents and then on to St Catherine’s House to look up the records for births in the John Broad Jnr family in the vicinity of 1850. A hard task but at last I found some interesting leads and queued to apply for copy birth certificates. Then, as the office closed at 4.30, back to the car and on to Swiss Cottage where I booked into the Holiday Inn Hotel.
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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.