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Day of presentations firstly to the Local Authorities technical agency and then a dinner and my speech to the COMPETA trade association each side of computer press interviews on a cold and snowy day as the Chancellor presents a lack-lustre budget with nothing for industry or infrastructure spending
Awake to my morning tea and up quickly in view of my plans for the day. A quick breakfast, wash and dress ready to pack my cases and set off, leaving Diana to look after the birds. By car into London and to the Kensington Town Hall to the seminar arranged by LAMSAC, the local authority technical agency. I sit in on the IBM presentation and then withdraw to welcome Chris Shelton and prepare our own on behalf of the BMMG. I open our session, outlining the strategic reasons for our interest in LAN standards and advocating the open standards alternative to IBM. Chris then takes over and presents the BMMG feasibility study findings. We are well received by up to 100 local authority computer communications and data processing executives and carry forward the case for OSI. Away both and me to Marble Arch car park and then the hotel. Some fuss there as all of London’s hotels are fully booked and fellow guests trying to check in were panicking over the rooms not being ready. Eventually, after a coffee-shop snack, to my room and to check my telephone message machine and make phone calls to Isherwood’s, Owles Hall and Computer Weekly before settling down with the television to listen to, and watch, the budget speech. After a few quick calls with Computer Weekly, a quick shower and shave, and then off by taxi to the Institute of Directors and the COMPETA dinner.
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By 1st class rail to London’s Millbank Tower for the BOTMA press conference before off to a seedy-looking Fulham to see Martin Isherwood on BMMG publicity business before planning for tomorrow’s London stay as the economy recovers a little but the Gulf War escalates with cross border Iran/Iraq incursions with Jordon and Egypt trying to mediate and a British oil tanker captain is seriously injured by Exocet missile attack at Kharg Island
Up early today and, foregoing my normal long time with the daily paper, I had an early breakfast, washed my hair, shaved and dressed. Out to feed the doves, who were a bit surprised by my early start, and then to feed the ducks. Another ten eggs today. To the office and time to type a chasing letter to the Kimbers and phone to arrange Chris Shelton’s help with tomorrow’s LAMSAC presentation. Off to Stevenage by car and on to Kings Cross by first class train fare. These days the second class passengers invariably include a number who have to stand. I read today’s Guardian on the train and then take the tube to Victoria and a taxi from there to the Millbank Tower. On time at 11.00am for the BOTMA Press Conference. A fairly weak affair, with only about 8 journalists and a rather low key presentation. I speak second and pump a little life into it and hope for some mentions. A buffet lunch and then to meet as a steering group. We agree to produce the catalogue of British Office Products by June.
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Treating Diana to morning coffee in bed and to a lunch out on Mothering Sunday and catching up on a host of reading before working outside and welcoming Daniel back home with the Tomblins as Iraq and Iran hostilities grow worse and Israel withdraw from the Lebanon but the main news is of the 100,000 Belgians demonstrating against Cruise missile deployment
Awake early enough, but Diana quite rightly layed doggo and insisted on being brought her morning drink as it was Mothering Sunday. Down to put on the kettle and to see Debbie already watching ‘Rubadubdub’ on the television. I retrieve the Mother’s Day cards, fake Daniel’s signature and get Debbie to do hers. She also had one that looked like a book-mark from school. Then the last signed by me for Daniella and I and up with the drinks. A pleasant chat together before Di up to fry the Sunday breakfast and me to sit in bed reading The Economist until finished. Up to breakfast and back to bed with The Sunday Times, which takes until 11.00am to read. I see out of the window the doves getting restless and I hope the brooding pair are not letting their eggs get cold. Up to the girl’s bath and to shave and dress and then out to take my time feeding the doves. Broken cloud and sunshine, but a bitter northerly wind chills all before it. Across to let out the ducks and feed them – 10 eggs again and this morning the usual egg customer cleared most of them out. I then stay out to empty the duck house of soiled straw and fill it up with fresh before erecting a 2 foot wire mesh fence at the edge of our plot to keep Marilyn’s ducks out. Her excess drakes are harrying our ducks and even seem to be damaging her own. I take the bow saw and trim the Hawthorne trees in our new plot so that we have a much improved view of the river from the house. I need the ladder for some of the lopping. In at lunchtime and changed into better clothes. Diana is quite rightly insisting on a Mother’s Day lunch out and I take the girls to the St Neots riverside park restaurant where we have coq au vin and Debbie gets an opportunity to play on the climbing frame to let off steam and then we drive over to Eaton Socon garden centre.
Read more: Sunday 17th March 1985 – Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s Day
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Cold and snowy weather today catching everybody by surprise as I work on my industry and financial affairs this morning before visiting the Tomblins near St Albans before back to our ducks and doves as another bishop attacks the government for divisive policies, Ollerton miners march and Syrian troops move against Christian Militia in the Lebanon
Awake early and to persuade Diana to get the morning tea. I catch up on the reading from my brief case and then The Financial Times arrives. Breakfast and then to finish the paper when the morning post brings me the Investor’s Chronicle, The Economist, a £40,000 cheque from de Zoete and Bevan and some PITCOM papers. The minutes of the last PITCOM Council Meeting are kind in the interpretation of the very one-sided exchanges over my proposal. Down for a shower and up for a wash and shave. Dressed, and then out to the doves in the cold morning’s air. A firm frost last night freezes the doves’ water, but morning sun makes up for it. All five doves feed well and so do the ducks, who provide 9 eggs this morning. A coffee and then to the office to read the morning mail.