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Arrival of the new furnishings for our boat The Lady before a day spent on computer industry affairs, placating the DTI and negotiating with Rob Wilmot at ICL for mutual support of our initiatives as Thatcher refuses to follow World moves to implement sanctions against South Africa for Apartheid atrocities and ploughs on with plans to privatise the Royal Docks
Awake a little later this morning, but with a splitting headache. Diana too is so affected and we wonder why. Down to a breakfast of cereal, milk and fruit juice and then back up to read today’s Financial Times and last week’s Economist. I sit on our folding bedroom chair with the balcony door open on a very warm and sunny morning. Diana cuts my hair, then I wash it, shower, shave and dress before going out to feed the doves and ducks. The birds are back to their usual routine with the ducks laying reasonably well, but Marilyn tells me today that the ducks were very hungry and pestered her for food last week. As I finish, the boat cushion and curtain upholsterer, Mr Waley, was unloading his van and then fitted the new furnishings. The boat cushions are very good, but the curtains are a poor fit and certain of them were taken away for modifications. To the office rather late and first to return a call to Bill Barrett of the BMMG secretariat and advise him on a few points. Later I also get a call from Geoff Knight at the DTI reacting to computer journalists who have sensed that our BMMG initiative on LANs is losing momentum. We exchange views, he is reassured and galvanised to receive me when back from holiday in a month’s time to hear my news. Also a call from Rob Wilmott, ICL Chairman, who is canvassing my help on lobbying OFTEL/DTI on VAN licence conditions (which I promise) and in return will try to interest his colleagues further in our LAN initiative, which could make a crucial difference. As the afternoon proceeds I type in the amendments to our investment summary and complete it by the end of the day. There were a great deal of changes, but it is more settled now with less equities, more property, and the children have their money invested for the longer term. I also use the sprinkler today to water the turves to keep them moist and avoid shrinkage on a warm day. In tonight to the TV news and details emerging of the 400+ arrests in South Africa under the new emergency regime, which has been condemned by all outside nations. The UK government, however, refuses still to institute economic sanctions to follow those being proposed by the US. Reagan turns out today in a showpiece appearance to welcome the Chinese leader, which is a hideous event so soon after his operation. Heseltine announces the adoption of private management for the Royal Dockyards in spite of the advice of two Commons All-Party Select Committees to the contrary. BNFL are convicted of offences of nuclear pollution today, which is a national scandal. More warm weather is forecast tomorrow – even warmer than today – which means that we will probably have another barbeque tomorrow as tonight’s was very enjoyable.
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Full day working on my industry and financial affairs with Diana taking the children swimming with Debbie managing without arm bands for the first time(!) before I eventually slump from travel fatigue as the South African turmoil draws international condemnation for the repression of the Blacks and the UK resumes the Ethiopian airlift after Kinnock visits to see the atrocities there.
Asleep by 11.00 but awake rather early by 6.00am, which is a pity. A long time reading more of the papers of late – particularly the Investors Chronicles, until breakfast is announced and we all go down. A plate of sugar puffs with milk and fruit juice to drink. Up again after for more reading, but break off at 9.00 to wash and dress. Still behind on today’s paper and the last two week’s Economist newspapers. I also manage to cut my chin badly whilst shaving to round off a good start to the day. To the office where I start to sort my papers and return the phone call messages of the last week. I first phone Bill Unsworth and Helen Gibbons until, deciding on the line to take, am ready to call the journalists about the DTI/LAN initiative. I also talk to my architects and electrical contractors who want to view the houses today. Then to put together financial statements and bills until I have the information to go to St Neots and collect my bank statement and pay in four investment income cheques to the building society. Home before lunch as Diana takes Debbie and Della swimming and I complete my bank account reconciliation.
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Back to the reality of home and its backlog of domestic and vocational chores with Diana tackling the washing and me the piles of mail and messages from journalists etc. and to news of Peter King and Derek Weatherby resigning from Kode and a disastrous school report of Daniel’s progress as The State of Emergency in South Africa fails to halt the Back violence and the grizzly task continues of searching for survivors after the Italian dam burst
Awake groggily from the night’s sleeping problems and Diana makes our morning drinks with the kettle and materials provided. Fun and games packing and getting ready before we go to the restaurant for an English breakfast, where we eat well, before checking out and loading up. The Mendip Lodge Hotel restaurant is called ‘Marmaduke’ after the proprietor’s cat, who is a ginger tom that adorns the place. His portrait is in the hotel and he sits on the reception desk, parades around the bars and generally acts as if he owns the place! Thought I do not approve of animals indoors in such circumstances, for reasons of hygiene, it seems intolerant not to accept him as he is a feature of the place. Away by 9.00am and three hours later we are back in the Happy Eater at Sandy having our lunch before braving our home and the work that there was to do. Nevertheless, we anxiously arrive there and start the process of unpacking and settling back in. Diana embarks upon endless housekeeping and washing as I open stacks of mail and sort it in to piles to read and absorb. Outside, the gardeners have advanced the cause, laying our new front garden with turves and planting the shrub beds, but have not finished due to having to spend time last week on behalf of Gransden Garden Centre at the East of England show. They have worked hard on a job that seems ever more involved; gravel boarding the riverside garden promenade and removing excess flower beds, and the effect is good.
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Last day at The |Grenville Hotel in Bude and the journey towards home firstly via a hotel facing ‘The Barrow Mump’ for lunch and then an overnight stay at a Frome motor Hotel as the Italian dam burst news appalls and the ‘top peoples play’ row deepens
A good night’s sleep as we fall into our routine just in time to leave of course! We awake to our drinks (on time again) and a day even more blustery than yesterday, if that be possible. We are the first down to breakfast and after enjoying our meal I tip the waiter £3. Thought he had made that mistake on the first day, he had tried hard all week to make amends and made a special effort with our guests on Thursday. Up to our room and then, leaving Diana to pack, I looked after the children in the lounge until 9.30am. The old people tolerated the noise and the fun (as we tolerated them) and a few took some pleasure seeing Della tottering about as she learns to walk for the first time. I overhear two scenarios that confirms my belief that this hotel is not best suited to the old-aged parties. In the first, an elderly gentleman has what he thinks is a heart attack on the first floor landing as he staggers upstairs. In the second, another lady fell heavily when walking to the Bude shops. When the nursery opens, I take the girls (and Daniel) to watch some cartoons on the nanny’s video recorder and then step out to buy my paper. To the room and there read the FT until Diana is ready when we pack and close the cases and call the porter up to help us carry them down. I tip the room maid £2, the porter £1 and a further £1 to the nanny, who is sorry to see them leave. We hope there are some more children next week as poor Susie, Debbie’s friend for the holiday, cries as we leave and is inconsolable. Whilst loading, I chat to the manager, tell him we enjoyed our stay and hear his further apology for the morning drinks problem earlier this week – I tell him we were pleased he attended to it and agreed that it is far better to speak out than to harbour grievances. We should return next year when we hope there will be more families and children staying. Off by car and we drive until 11.30am and stop for a snack and drinks at The Oasis. Away again to a nice place where we had lunch at a guesthouse in picturesque scenery about 5 miles west of Glastonbury. The place was named ‘Barrowbridge,’ or something similar, and the most salient feature was a spectacular mound with a derelict church on the top.