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Restful day reading the Sunday Times before clipping duck wings with Daniel and then a sad family afternoon emptying 39 Gordon Road as The Lebanese government resigns to try and aid peace
A long lie in until 7.30am asleep – the most that I have managed in recent times and with it a well appreciated rest. Then to enjoy the Sunday Times again from cover to cover it being more full than usual with news and features after its recent suspension. Then to clip the ducks wings with Daniel which took a while and after to clean the ducks out and wash the car. Us all to 39 Gordon Road and up to the attic to remove our baby things which have been in storage until now – baths, cots, clothes and all sorts. A fine lunch of pork and rosé wine and an afternoon starting to order my papers before reviewing them completely this evening in preparation for the week. A slow day and dreamt twice of times hard and full which was painful for body and soul. News today of outright civil war in Lebanon and the government’s resignation to help calm things down. The weather coldish of wind but generally mild and showery.
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Family history research at the Red Lion in Watford and then home to watch the English Rugby Union and Cricket teams fail badly
Up on time and decided at breakfast to set off soon after to Watford in search of my ancestors. Just had time, however, to read The Times which was published for the first time today after the recent union dispute. With haste to Watford and first went to check out the Hart Spring Road Aldenham Red Lion only to find it replaced with a new Pub/Hotel and no longer there. In confusing one-way traffic to the town centre via an old road and there in Vicarage Road found an old Red Lion Pub right opposite the Watford Football ground. Looked around North Watford Cemetery next door until it opened at 12.00am and then went in for a pint of shandy and two cheese rolls to see what it was like. Being a football day, the entrance to the Saloon was locked and all visitors to the Public Bar had to pass a screening bouncer. The pub is certainly quite old – whether it goes back to 1820 has yet to be established.
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A morning of Pepys and factory heating traumas before a better day organising the Export IT symposium and UKITO Conference. Then an evening with Daniel as I hear of the government struggles with GCHQ traumas, inappropriate MOD and Hungarian visits, but at least the tobacco manufacturers take a hit at last.
Up on time and half an hour reading Pepys before breakfast as usual. Slightly early to the office to find the office heating controls tampered with and so a busy ten minutes rectifying them to keep people happy. Several interesting trade journals to read and more tales of industry bankruptcies and failures. It seems that the time is ripe for competition to take its toll and the shake out is taking many quite good companies with it. All my speakers for Export IT, apart from Bill Unsworth, will be attending my speakers conference and I was able to satisfy the Export IT Chairman today that my choice of speakers was sound. Also the arrangements for the UKITO conference are well advanced and so things are progressing well.
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Progress on my house renovations and family duck husbandry as The Byte Shop gets its first three-year plan and Comart wins government contracts. General retailers abort micro-retailing and more British manufacturers go bust whilst Thatcher hammers the unions and unemployment tops 3.3m
Up on time and, after my normal breakfast, to the office to see June and advise her on the day’s secretarial interviews. News that UKITO have agreed my place and date for discussions. A morning’s paperwork and discussions with John Lamb and Peter King as I start to draft the organisation’s first 3 year Business Plan. After lunch to the Dentist for the first of three fillings. St Neots is in full swing for market day but I manage to park quite easily and walk through the St Neots Arcade which Les Hamilton claims is facing extinction. After the Dentist, to the bookshop to buy a fine book on the sites of London with splendid photography and a book on model making for Daniel to use in future years. Home early to play with an exuberant Debbie and help Daniel put away the hungry ducks.