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Cold and slightly snowy day working outside on the gate and ducks and also accompany the family on a Cambridge shopping trip as we have lunch put, buy a large new TV and I read and research local history
Up reasonably early for a Saturday and noticed a very slight covering of snow following the odd flurry yesterday. Laid in bed reading The Times and then The Economist when it arrived. They are unfair, in my view, on the response to Mr Edward Heath’s speeches in the House and elsewhere on the government’s Rate Capping Bill and Budgetary Policy – taking him as being jealous when I believe his comments were never truer. Up to a toast and fruit juice breakfast and quickly washed and dressed. Down to the river plot and to catch a large duck that has joined our flock these last few days. Diana has been helpless to stop it feeding on our grain, bullying the others, and entering the hutch when we put them away.
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Very cold day catching up and preparing for Comart Board Meeting as the bank assures us of their every attention and Wyse agrees to visit before an evening on my family tree as an armed gang steals jewels from Christies and 22,000 job losses are the main political issue
On time to the office on a very cold morning. Temperatures had dropped down to zero degrees Fahrenheit in some places in the UK last night. A troubled morning, first clearing the mail and effects of two days out of the office, and then dealing with today’s mail and problems of the moment. Then to prepare the agenda for Thursday’s Comart Board Meeting, the Personnel Department’s Report and Absence Returns before finishing the morning with instructions to collate the results of all Department’s Reports into a total briefing.
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Day in Greater London and Hertfordshire successfully researching my ancestry and also visiting my City Solicitor for advice on selling The Comart Group
Up on time and to breakfast but after to play a while with Debbie before setting off for Watford. This morning I had set myself the task of trying to advance my work on my ancestors and I details below what I discovered. Fun over, and late for my next appointment, I sped off down the A10 to London but was stopped by an unmarked police car at 2.00pm and booked for speeding, “At speeds over a half mile from 85 to 103 mph.” This unfortunate incident over I drive to park at Finsbury Circus and walk to Richard James of Ashurst Morris and Crisp to arrive even later than planned. I update Richard on my plans and advises me on the options and implications of my forthcoming plans to sell Comart or buy Branmer’s Option. Even later after this to Graham Clifton of Transam and the evening planning the merger with UKITO and the process of events for the Export IT seminar.
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Successful bank meeting as Barclays Manager and his assistant visit and agree to our demands before a have a lunchtime Byte Shop review meeting with Peter King and a difficult afternoon review and appraisal with Ian Nickson. Thatcher is now seeking to close the Scott Lithgo shipyard!
On time to the office and a fair job clearing the paperwork from yesterday. Early word that the Bank Manager and Assistant Manager wished to see me in mid-morning at the office which I agree to but first make preparations and clear the morning mail. When they arrive I keep them waiting a while to study reception copies of our Annual Report and Times Feature before inviting them up. Brian George, The Manager, straight to the point and concedes the securities issue, which will mean certain difficulty for them but less for us.
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Awake to see the article and profile of me featured me as the personality profile within The Times Newspaper but no time to waste as I rush to the Birmingham NEC for the Which Computer Show where we dominate with both Comart and Byte Shop stands. Lobbying Barclays Directors as our Byte Shop Group tops £560K for the month!
Awoken with tea in bed as usual and I see The Times personality profile which features me today! I am quite pleased with the result which is a fine friendly picture and a helpful text. I wonder how many of my old university friends and acquaintances would have noticed. Breakfast as usual and then off to the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre by car, arriving before the start of the Which Computer Show at 10.00am. A quick briefing from John Lamb and MEPC, our publicity agents, and then a few conversations with representatives of the press. I admire a super Comart Computers stand, the best yet with inviting layout, appealing colour scheme, and attractively housed equipment. Also the Byte Shops stand is larger than before and less cluttered. Most interested by the Barclays Bank stand where I chat to Ian Duffell, the High Technology Manager, and Matthew Bullock the Corporate Finance Director. They could both prove useful allies if the local region continues to give me difficulty.