- Details
Staring a much milder day by reading Pepys and then the papers before taking the family to lunch after which Daniel helps me collect The Lady and bring it home in the rain before I play with Debbie and Daniella as there are more South African killings in the Eastern Cape, Thatcher’s government is losing the support of the British public and little Ben Harwick dies after his failed liver transplant
Awake to morning tea on a much milder morning and then to read a little of 1666 Samuel Pepys for the first time in a while. Down to a breakfast of boiled duck egg and then a couple of hours in bed reading the FT, the Investors Chronicle and The Economist, which meant that I didn’t shower, wash, shave and dress until after 10.30am. Out to feed the doves, who were not too hungry this morning now that they are getting larger seeds and that the temperature is milder. On to the ducks and a full dozen eggs this morning. To the office to check the mail. Nothing in Datalink, but a few letters, including one from Parry Mitchell of the SDP. All to the car after a coffee and into town to do some shopping and collect Daniel from his school bus. I bought a St Neots town trail and local history guide, and some prawns and cockles for tea. After we met Daniel, all off to the Happy Eater and a nice lunch. Daniella is sitting in high chairs these days and tasting anything going, but poor Diana has painful breasts from attempts to wean her onto bottled milk and other foods although I do not see why she cannot carry on feeding her the old fashioned way. Home to change and then to Buckden Marina. Daniel and I collect The Lady and the girls drive off to the last day of a fair on St Neots common. We start up the heating and the engine and go astern from the moorings, turning to cruise out of Buckden Marina as the rain starts to fall. We see a heron flap from the Ouse bank and we cruise to Offord Lock, which is set in our direction. Gingerly through, because of our new varnish, as the rain falls heavier, and then the steady cruise back. Daniel takes the helm as I wash down the decks and check out all of the systems and we moor safely after an hour or so.
- Details
A day of organising the industry and looking after the family ending up with a game of draughts with Debbie as there is universal outrage at the way the South African government shot the demonstrators and only a little less at the Israelis shooting up the Lebanon in apparent revenge
Awake early on a milder morning and some time before the paper arrived. Breakfast of a single slice of toast as usual and then back to study the FT in depth. Tom Dalzell’s Sintrom is launched on the stock exchange by offer today and the prospectus is interesting, but at 21x times earnings the price seems too high by far to me. Tom Fitzpatrick’s CPU results are out today and show break even, which is a big collapse of profits. To the bathroom at 8.30am to hear the report of Yesterday in Parliament on the radio as I washed. A rough ride for the Tory government, who are under pressure from all sides over their economic policy. I rush out at 9.00am and drive into town for a dentist’s appointment with Dr Osborne, somewhat late. I became even later as my original Comart cleaner, Mrs Radley, stops me for a chat. She is aging and not very well, but holds up even so. I cannot help noticing her old pushchair for shopping and value her concern for Comart and our mutual acquaintances. On to the dentist and a clean bill of health, which is a relief. I am now evidently cleaning my teeth a lot better. Back home and a variety of calls set off by an enquiry from Ferranti for BMMG membership and LAN participation. I speak to Owles Hall, Bill Unsworth and Chris Shelton until the mail arrives at its lately time of 11.00am. A few mentions in Electronics Weekly on BOTMA and my IT speech to the IDPM.
- Details
The day starting with me tending the birds which seem to have been neglected whilst I was away and then a raft of phone calls to colleagues and journalists as I also liaise with the DTI to retain their support as more South African demonstrators are shot dead and Israel also massacre people in the Lebanon
Up and awake early and regretted leaving the hall window open last night, as it was bitterly cold everywhere this morning. I read the paper and take breakfast, getting ready to go out to the birds earlier than usual. All five doves came down to feed this morning, allowing me to put the ladder to the dovecote and examine the two eggs. One has been dented and both seem rather cool to be properly incubating in this freezing weather. The ducks seem very hungry, which makes me wonder how well they have fed these last few days. Early to the office and a busy morning. Phone calls first to the BMMG, Isherwood and Chris Shelton and also to talk to Nine Tiles computer systems and ICL as two parties with views on the LAN initiative. Our meetings with the DTI have been arranged, but I relayed a list of three comments from Dr Di Davies of the DTI, which we shall have to take account of if we are to continue to receive their support. Peter Kimber manages to speak to me at the second attempt and voices his worries over the planning approval process delaying the exchange of contracts. I assure him that if, by that time, the planning officer is still optimistic about formal approval being given, we will take the calculated risk and exchange contracts anyway so that he can secure his dream house.
- Details
To our BMMG LAN meeting at Chris Shelton’s after my hotel stay and then home for lunch and to catch up with calls and news and then feed the ducks and doves before reading some poetry to Debbie and writing my journal as Francis Pym comes out against the Government austerity and interest rates rise to 13 ½ % whilst US Savings and loans institutions collapse and Iran turns nasty
Awake at 7.00m and with my morning call, but had to wait 10/15 mins for my continental breakfast to arrive and so did not tip the waiter. A cold morning and slow start to the day, but eventually washed, dressed and packed so as to check out. A long walk via the pedestrian underpasses to the car on a bitterly cold morning. Lots of down-and-outs shuffling around, as many of them use the Marble Arch benches to sleep rough. Eventually to the car and across London to the Angel area and to park off of White Lion Street. A quarter hour late for the BMMG LAN participants meeting at Shelton’s premises, but the meeting was already in full throw and a good few hours’ discussion. Digital Microsystems, Shelton and LDR Systems will thrash out the specification; a programme was agreed in stages with rough costs; and meetings with the DTI suggested to press the argument. The meeting finishes by 12.00noon and I use Chris’s phone to check for messages and call back the Engineer Magazine, before calling Cahner’s, the exhibition people, to cancel my afternoon appointment to save hanging around for a few hours. Off by car and home by 2.00pm for a sandwich and tea lunch, which was refreshing, and then to the office to check the numerous messages and open a fairly thin mail.