Waking up with baby Della nibbling my FT
Waking up with baby Della nibbling my FT

A morning organising Industry affairs, a family lunch and an afternoon visit to see Mum recovering at Papworth and an evening meeting Nigel to make BMMG decisions as bank base rates rise to 10.5%, Sterling falls to $1.12 and President Kennedy speaks out for the imprisoned Nelson Mandela in South Africa but Ethiopia’s famine continues unassisted

Awake to morning tea, but very tired again. I scanned most of the paper and noted that Kode had gone up 10p again. Overnight news of OECD support for some parts of government economic policy, but criticism for others as the Treasury team prepare for a weekend budget briefing. Up to a usual breakfast and then back to finish the paper and look after Daniella as Diana got Debbie ready for school and takes her along. Della feels my pink paper and keeps wetting it with her mouth! I give up reading and put the baby on the bathroom mat, keeping her amused whilst I wash and shave until Di returns and, rather later than usual, across to the office. I receive the invite today to the Digital Research press conference, which clashes with the NEDO Hobby Micro group meeting, which is a pity. In all I return four phone calls arranging to meet Nigel this evening, setting a date for the Research Machines visit for the end of January, answering a query for Roy Fuscone and briefing an ICL Technical Executive on the BMMG LAN seminar.

Waresley Garden Centre phone with requests to deliver the garden furniture and I go across to see them at noon, getting Peter (the gardener) to unload and pack them away in the summerhouse. I pay the £600 balance by cheque and tip the driver £2 for his trouble in delivering them. Di arrives back and, after coffee, takes us all to The Little Chef for lunch. Dad joins us with Daniel and his friend Gary, who has been invited by Diana for the day. I hear on the car radio that bank base rates have risen by 1% to 10 ½% again and sterling is falling again, which is a shame. Shares and gilts will undoubtedly follow. I set off to Papworth after lunch and find Mum much improved after the two days since I last saw her. She is more alert and reflective, her breathing is easier (though she still catches her breath) her leg bandages are off and limbs much warmer with the increased blood circulation. I leave after Dad arrives and see Mum walk to the toilet and back without much difficulty. Home in falling darkness and time to bring some logs in; feed and put away the ducks before dark. I also chatted to Marilyn, cuddly as usual, and teased her about her Aylesburys. Evidently our Campbells are still eating her duck food. Their house alterations are completed now and the builders have moved on to start an extension next door. To the office for another hour’s work and I talk to Geoff Lynch about the subject of Digital Research’s Friday press conference and Derek Morgan about views on GATT for an Institute of Purchasing and Supply meeting. I also see the extent of the stock exchange movements on Prestel. Home to a tea of chops and peas and ice cream to follow, then I catch up on yesterday’s journal before changing and setting off for Nigel Smith. I arrive just after 7.00pm and we sit in his office and review my Export Activities, the arrangements for the LAN seminar and a few other matters. We agree the D.R. press conference is the better bet for Friday as I am not chairing the NEDO group. Poor Nigel, without much time for the kids and business affairs pressing, reminds me of my Comart days! Home in time for the TV news after parking in a garage sheltering one of our doves wet from the rain again. Further news of the base rate rises with the pound still falling to $1.12 on the American exchanges. The CBI say the base rate rise is ‘unwelcome’ and does not feel the UK economy can stand them. The coal pit deputies are balloting their members on the NCB pay offer, but Walker is predicting an end to the strike soon. In Germany a Pershing missile explodes killing three soldiers and in S. Africa, Kennedy speaks outside Mandela’s prison gates calling for an end to political prisoners. The Ethiopian famine continues with insufficient relief aid arriving in time.