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Front page stories reporting my anti IBM/BT campaign and plans in progress for ministerial meeting as Comart plans to remember Melvin Grey and the UK struggles with industrial unrest and South Africa its racial riots
Up more slowly this morning and a good time reading The Financial Times in bed with my morning tea. Daniel starts a day of disasters by cycling off to St Neots and forgetting his bicycle lock. Diana manages to go and fit it by car, feed the baby whilst getting Deborah ready for school. I am across in my office by 9.00am and sorting out my mail and filing system. A procession of incoming phone calls as I am interviewed by Jane Bird, Computer Correspondent of The Sunday Times, and Mary Fagan, Computer Correspondent of Electronics Weekly. In both cases the main subject is the IBM/BT story, and I am also told that I am the lead story in Computing with photograph (though non receipt of computer papers still means I cannot personally follow them.) Calls also from Tony Keston of the DTI who confirms the new Minister has received my letter; from NEDO to ascertain some meeting dates; from Barclays to agree the terms and duration of my next treasury deposits; from the locksmith to arrange next Monday for a security survey and lock change, and from a number of others.
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Westminster meetings with NEDO and some local sightseeing before home to some family fun as the country still experiences dock and miners’ strikes and British Steel rejects coal deliver quotas
Up earlier this morning, as I was due to go to London for a NEDO meeting. A hair wash for the first time in days and drive to Huntingdon Station on a very pleasant day – warm but with cool clear air. A train journey swatting up on MSX and then a taxi drive to the Millbank Tower and lifts to the 15th floor for a 10.30am meeting. A difficult meeting with Nigel Searle of Sinclair very reticent on the needs for standards and dismissive of the Japanese threat through use of old technology. Several inputs from the Consumer Electronic Industries and great differences of perspective on the whole issue, which made conclusions tough. Further meetings and a sub-committee would help. I did manage, after the meeting, to get Nigel’s help on my DTI tariff submission – as they did in the end decide to set up manufacture in Korea.
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Time working and a lunch out with Diana as she recovers for Debbie now takes sandwiches to school for lunch as the Miners’ strike talks struggle
A day without appointments and Daniel back to school. The morning struggle to get both Debbie and Daniel off, but, once accomplished, a morning at my desk struggling to achieve anything. First alarmed by the extraordinary antics of Comart Sales Director, David Fear, and his Scottish Sales Executive. They rise at 9.30am and do not leave for the office until 10.30 after, and obviously, late night drinking and talking. Then I try to investigate the door locks of 39 Gordon Road to find keys to fit by changing them and they end up by defeating me. Eventually I opt for an early lunch and take Diana and the baby off to The Little Chef. Now that Deborah is taking packed lunches, we have the day to ourselves.
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Nurturing Diana and catching up with the new IT minister appointments and enjoying a game of croquet with Dan and Debbie before their return to school the next day as the Docks Strike holds and the Miners talks drag on
An unsettled night with my periodic enquiries after Diana’s health actually adding to our disturbance! Then to wake early and I made the morning drinks and found all well. Daniel and Deborah laid the breakfast table and we all had a breakfast of toast and cereal. Deborah was taken to school, Joan arrived to do the housework and I went to the office and drafted a BMMG response to the Cabinet changes, and letters to the outgoing Kenneth Baker and incoming Minister. The first wished him well and thanked him for his past courtesies. The second welcomed Geoffrey Pattie’s arrival to the DTI as IT Minister and sought an early meeting. I called Tony Keston of the DTI and was not able to learn much new about the two Ministers as they were unknown to the staff as well.