Who’s a clever little integrated, multifunctional,   network-linked,public-data, desk communication  Terminal, then! STC advertising slogan 1984
Who’s a clever little integrated, multifunctional, network-linked,public-data, desk communication Terminal, then! STC advertising slogan 1984

A better day as the rain falls and ends the heat and I work in setting up my new office communications and sorting my files out as new life is helped by a baby’s heart transplant and a breakthrough is claimed in Hong Kong

Awake and feeling rather better at 7.00am with Diana bringing me my morning tea. The night had seen the first rain for some time although it was hardly enough to wet the soil. I take another two paracetamol as I want to be sure of being able to do a few things. Breakfast and then to wash, Diana leaving with Debbie to go into town. I was interrupted by first the STC Executel being delivered, by TNT and then Di returning after trouble starting her car. I finish washing, dress and then use my jump leads to start Di’s car and she sets off for Bedford and her shopping expedition. Myself off to Barclays Bank after telephoning Roger Brittain and getting advice on my investments. I meet Bryan George and his assistant ‘Bunny’ who deals with securities.

I discuss my investment of nearly £900K in gilt edged funds and they take my instructions and get them on order via a stockbroker. They also help me to apply for 25,000 Jaguar shares each for Diana and I and advise me generally. Home to my new office at 39 Gordon Road where I power on the Executel and start loading the memory with my phone numbers whilst waiting for the GPO Engineer. Home for a salad lunch at 1.00pm and then back to continue. The BT/GPO Engineer arrives and fits the sockets, wires and connections to the local telephone distribution pole, but cannot connect our line thereafter. After he has gone, Daniel and I put the Executel on as an extension to the other line in the house and try it out – it was fine.

A happy late afternoon and evening sorting out my files and contact names before home for a bedtime drink and to watch the TV news. Neil Kinnock and Mrs Thatcher set to in the Commons over the Government’s Economic Record on the rowdiest debate of the session. The inquests are started over yesterday’s Scottish train crash and a public enquiry is started over the reasons for a cow being able to derail the diesel engine train and the policy of putting the engine at the rear and using the older and more vulnerable Mark II carriages. The smallest ever heart transplant is accomplished on a baby called Holly. In Hong Kong, the Chinese claim a breakthrough in talks with Geoffrey Howe over the colony’s future.