Visiting Mum at Papworth Heart Hospital with the family after a shopping trip as my NEDO frustrations continue and Thatcher attends the Hong Kong handover ceremony
A poor night wrestling with yesterday’s NEDO events and we awake early to the sound of the central heating. I catch up on yesterday’s journal until it’s time for breakfast and my normal routine. At the office at 9.30 and I try to contact Nigel Smith and then the NEDO Secretaries to explain my dilemma. Also to put £80,000 of the children’s money back on deposit for a month at 9% and talk to the Selwyn Press who claim a quality result to the printing, but apologise that it will not be finished to the New Year. Lastly, to phone Papworth Hospital and then Dad. Mum is being transferred there this morning and we can visit her this afternoon.
After 12.00 midday we all leave the house together and, after a quick foray in St Neots to transfer building society money to Barclays, we set off for Cambridge. Lunch at The Little Chef and on to Cambridge and we find a parking place on the outskirts and walk in. A few hours shopping and browsing to no significant effect and then to rendezvous at 4.00pm in The Lion Yard. A full pram with Daniel’s upgraded computer and Diana’s voluminous purchases. Then to leave for Papworth which, after a search, we found by the Caxton Gibbet turn off. Mum, sharing room 42 with one other, is in fine spirits and has travelled well. She is pleased to see us and appreciates the magazines and flowers. Home to light the fire and then long conversations to first brief Dad, who will be coming over tomorrow, and then to brief Freda and also to discuss Stacey’s house with her. I offer to lend up to £7,000, depending on what the bank will provide, and am pleased that both Stacey and Freda are resigned to it. I settle to the fire and the news and word that, whilst Thatcher attends the Hong Kong handover ceremonials with China, the Commons give Patrick Jenkin another battering. The Home Office report a 10% increase in crime this year compared with last, with many police on the picket lines – more of an increase for burglaries. Nigel Smith calls tonight and I explain my problems with NEDO. He agrees that I was right to voice my criticisms, that they were either disorganised or disrespectful over the chairmanship of the two committees, and that we should either limit the collaboration group under Frankel to cover public procurement and the catalogue, or seek a different structure to address wider trade association convergence. My PITCOM paper is received well and the Chairman is circulating it to the Council.