Day briefing Roger Brittain and meeting Stephen Day of Kode and satisfying them both on Company administration and the Acquisition Check List for the forthcoming Peat Marwick review and then satisfying John Head of Brammer and doing the deal on Grove House
Up early and, after getting my journal up to date, to breakfast and then to St Neots, giving Daniel a lift on the way. He seems quite content these days and beginning to enjoy certain aspects of his school work. I spend an hour with Roger Brittain, briefing him on the acquisition and the plans for the week ahead. He is quite happy to cooperate fully, grateful for the explanation at an early stage and complementary on the negotiated outcome which is felt to be a good deal. Then to the office, the mail, to return a few phone calls before the arrival of Stephen Day of Kode for lunch and an afternoon of discussions. We cover the forthcoming Peat Marwick Michel Review and arrangements for them to meet Whitmarsh Sterland. Also to look at the Acquisition Check List which yielded few surprises. I also show Stephen the group business plans with which he is very impressed and the standard of company administration and secretarial practice which he rightly recognises as superb. He leaves more than happy and I use the last hour to process paperwork and touch base with the passage of events.
I heard from John Head of Brammer today, anticipating our meeting in the morning and needing up-to-date Byte Shop financial information I express posted the broad details but stayed late to prepare a more convincing case for him to dispose of his option tomorrow. I also this morning negotiated with David Barford over Grove House finally offering £200,000 for outright purchase or a rent of £20K/year rising to £25K after the first review in five years’ time. The lease would also have a purchase option on the house at £225,000 in one year.
Home earlier than normal and an evening’s relaxation, television and journal writing. Though a warm day today it ended up raining for the first time in a while and this will be appreciated by a parched soil. News recently of Tottenham Hotspur fans being stabbed and shot in Holland, the coal strike continuing and food parcels and charity for the miners most affected by the hardship.