To Oxford for a meeting with Research Machines MD, Mike O’Reagan who treated me to lunch and asked about management and decision-making before I fell to purchases more silver from silversmiths in Oxford High Street and then home to call Nigel as the embattled Education Minister, Keith Joseph, government emphasises Maths teaching with 27,000 teachers striking in Scotland and the US and USSR row over the shot Major in East Germany
Awake at the normal time and morning tea to awake gently before down to breakfast with the family. No time to read the paper, but washed and dressed afterwards, ready to leave for Oxford by car by 8 o’clock. A long 2 hour journey across country through Bedford, Buckingham, Bicester until, finally, Oxford is in sight. A bright, sunny day, with a cool wind, but the traffic was reasonable. At Oxford I bought a street map before parking at my appointments premises, Research Machines, and went in for my appointment with Mike O’Regan. An interesting session and we talked for two hours about RML’s progress, the BMMG LAN, government purchasing and sales opportunities, and other topics of interest. Then they treated me to lunch and asked advice on management and the decision making process – they value my advice and I hope it will be of assistance to them. Afterwards, dropped off at Oxford High Street and I visit a couple of silversmiths and buy two more TH/DC dinner forks to match my others. By taxi back to my car and then to drive home. Home in time for tea and then to feed and put away the ducks before coming in to sort out my silver. I phone Nigel Smith and offer him my surplus items so that I can concentrate on completing my chosen sets.
Then to my journal and the evening news. News dominated tonight by educational issues. Keith Joseph, looking as elderly as ever, is implementing a new policy of updating the teaching of mathematics from pure to applied emphasis. Meanwhile 20,000 teachers were today striking in Scotland and examinations are threatened for the first time. Neal Kinnock and Norman Willis criticise and condemn a ‘pupil strike’ called for tomorrow as “daft”. East-West relations are deteriorating again with the US and USSR rowing over the shot Major in East Germany and diplomats being expelled in a UK-USSR row over spying allegations. In Lebanon the Israeli second stage of withdrawal is complete as they leave the Bekaa Valley.