A day basking in the glow of my anti IBM/BT Jove success and celebrating with a shopping trip to Cambridge for Diana as the Pits Overmen & Deputies announce a supportive strike, Tebbit’s wife’s recovery is of concern to Norman and the BMA start its anti-tobacco campaign
Up on time and to see the printed confirmation in The Financial Times of the BT/IBM licence rejection. I also popped to the local newsagent to get a Guardian and Times and all carried the story supportively, but did not include any of my personal interviewed comments. One aspect of not being thus reported will be the positive reinforcement of the fact that the opposition was very widespread, even if it did need to be mobilised. After breakfast, an hour or two to return telephone calls and contact Computer Weekly and Informatics. Also to talk to John Lamb and bring him up-to-date as well. Then to collect Diana before off to Bedford and to Debenhams to buy a coat, two slips and a new dressing gown for her birthday tomorrow. A rather poor lunch in the restaurant as Debenhams appeared to be very disorganised; serving haddock instead of the plaice that Di ordered. We stop in at Willington Garden Centre on the way back home to see if they had any books on doves (which they didn’t) and note the special offers on garden furniture. A few hours’ work back at the office, after our tea break, where I managed to write to Freda over her loan and also to write up and type the minutes from the recent DTI/BMMG LAN meeting. After tea to spend time with Daniel’s homework as I had to make him repeat sections of it.
Then an evening of television. News tonight of the NACODS (Union of Pit Overmen and Deputies) decision to strike from Thursday week on completion of safety work. Without their services the pits would have to close. McGregor unwisely expressed the opinion that the Deputies will not come out totally which can only enforce the opinions against. The TUC will now hold weekly coordination meetings to marshal support of other unions for the miners. In a Yorkshire mining town, Grimethorpe, a policewoman was attacked before being released by moderate voices. In the city, and on the foreign exchanges, the pound sterling fell below $1.20 and to its lowest level against the balanced basket of currencies for over 8 years. The stock index also fell by 14 points and both of these events followed the end of coal negotiations and the Dutch decision to reduce North Sea Oil prices. In hospital Norman Tebbit is interviewed for the first time and is still very affected and obviously worried about his wife Margaret; who at least is starting to have some slight feeling in her legs. The Nobel Peace Prize committee awarded its prize this day to Bishop Tutu of South Africa who has led resistance to apartheid. Today also the BMA call for the end of all tobacco advertising, sports sponsorship and the printing of more realistic health warnings. The weather today was sunny, fine and mild as the high pressure continues. A call tonight from Mum and Dad to announce that they will be visiting.