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Long and tedious day away from home on Daniel’s birthday, driving in heavy traffic, arriving first in Twickenham to agree a special exhibition deal and then late for the BMMG AGM which proceeded all right in the end. On with colleagues to the DTI to secure support for our £250,000 LAN grant, subject to application, as passions aroused in the House at the prospect of the BBC accepting advertising
Awake at 6.00am and, after 15 minutes to wake up and drink a cup of tea, quickly up, washed and dressed and a slice of toast and apple juice. By 6.45am I had set off by car towards London, stopping on the way for petrol. More and more traffic as I went on, which was to be the basis for my day. Out for 12 hours, I spent more than 7 behind the wheel of my Jaguar. Eventually at 8.50am I arrived in Twickenham and met Mike Rusbridge, Managing Director of Cahners Exhibitions. We talked about the BMMG and our recently high publicity profile and plans to increase membership and finally agreed to negotiate terms for BMMG members to exhibit on a favourable basis. Off by car across London and, two hours late, to arrive at the Tower Hotel half an hour late for the BMMG AGM. A fuss over the existence of a quorum but, assuming some proxies, business proceeded after all. The council elected, secretariat and membership fees increased and a good discussion on policies and plans held. Afterwards, a brief lunch and agreement on a plan to hold the next BMMG meeting by arrangement with Systime in Leeds. After, by taxi with Nigel Smith, Dr Chris Shelton and Graham Clifton and on to the Dept Trade and Industry in Bressenden Place, Victoria.
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Driving to Birmingham to meet ACT MD Brian Androlia to recruit them to the BMMG after checking press comment on the end to the SfI Moratorium and then back for phone calls and messages and agreeing the purchase of another river plot as police in South Africa arrest 200 people for marching peacefully and Thatcher shows little sympathy during the visit of 25 jobless youths from Liverpool
Awake to my morning tea after a good night’s sleep. My thumb of the left hand still sore with a broken blister on its tip from all that insertion of hooks and eyes putting up the curtain rails yesterday! Debbie comes in and chats to me before my paper arrives and then I study it in detail. The DTI story on reorganisation of support for innovation is covered in three separate articles in the FT and is also the lead opinion theme. Breakfast and then to quickly get washed, shaved and dressed whilst listening to ‘Yesterday in Parliament’ on Radio 4. A quick opportunity to feed the doves and ducks and then away by car to Birmingham for a 90 min journey. I arrive only a few minutes late and start a good meeting with ACT Managing Director, Brian Androlia, which extends to and includes lunch. I listen to their progress, policies and plans; update Brian on the BMMG’s progress and my efforts; and then discuss the LAN initiative, its background and present status. By the end, Brian had agreed to propose to his colleagues that ACT joins the BMMG and its LAN initiative, which is good news.
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A sunny start to the day, ending in torrential rain as we collect another 10 duck eggs and sell the backlog of eight dozen! The Lady has her new curtains and is deemed waterproof after the renovations on a day that is dominated by industry and press phone calls and Ted Heath and Jim Prior’s opposition to Thatcher’s austerity and news of a US major being shot dead by a Russian in east Germany for taking photos
Awake a little early and to read the paper until breakfast. I help Diana clear away the breakfast things and get Debbie to tidy the toys away from the lounge and bedroom. She is still emulating the baby from jealousy and needs a firm hand. To the bathroom for a quick wash and shave and then out to the doves on a sunny morning. They fed well and seem to enjoy the mixed seed that I have been giving them lately. Ten more eggs from the ducks, but Diana managed to sell our backlog of eight dozen this morning to net over £5. To the office and to clear my desk of papers before trying to contact several BMMG officers on the phone. Eventually to get through to Owles Hall and update myself on the council nominations for the AGM. A call also from Martin Isherwood on the DTI press statement due today. An early lunch and then ¾ hour working on The Lady putting up more curtain rails. Back to the office at 2.00pm and, after talking to Geoff Knight of the DTI and their press office, I complete telephone interviews with Computing, Electronics Weekly and Computer Weekly over the announcements. Relief, mainly, at the end to this wretched moratorium. Later to talk to the BMMG Treasurer over Martin Isherwood’s invoice and the Secretary over his invitation to next Wednesdays AGM. Also to Nigel about completing arrangements. I finished at 5.00pm, backed my briefcase for tomorrow, and went out to finish putting up new curtain rails in The Lady.
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Another morning reading as Jane Bird, of the Sunday Times, uses my material without acknowledging me(!) but then some time managing my boat, doves and ducks before watching Norwich beat Sunderland in the Milk Cup final as the protest marches and funerals are allowed to proceed without attack in South Africa and two more oli tankers are attacked at Karg Island
Slept well and Diana awoke me with my morning tea. The Sunday Times was late and so I read a few days of 1666 Pepys. Eventually it comes and I notice that Computer Correspondent, Jane Bird, has done it again! Reported on my views and background to the moratorium, but not mentioned me or the BMMG. Naughty girl! Down to breakfast a little early, having smelt the fried food cooking to near readiness. A fine meal and well appreciated, before up to wash, shave and dress without bothering to read all of the paper. Out to the doves, which are flying further to their bird table these days, as I move it steadily into the garden plot. Then the ducks, who have laid 11 eggs.