My Dad Fred with Debbie at our Little Paxton home a year later
My Dad Fred with Debbie at our Little Paxton home a year later

Leisurely day of chores, shopping and meals with my Dad and my family as I become disillusioned with the chances of changing the governments computer industry policy and Ted Heath’s expressed worries about the economy and unemployment combine with Midland’s US subsidiary Crocker Banks $324m loss contradict the overly-optimistic New Years messages! A runaway Soviet cruise missile causes some panic also.

 

Another long sleep until 8.00am after a settled night and awoken with tea and The Financial Times. The stock exchange and Gilts had retreated yesterday and my Kode shares are at a record low of 200p, down from 280p at the time of the deal. Up in time to let the ducks out and feed the doves. The ducks have laid two eggs and the doves needed their utensils thoroughly cleaning and water replenishing. Chores finished, we set off for St Neots where I put my brown shoes in for repair, bought a new pair of black ones, and shuffled money between bank and building societies. I also received interest on 3% transport stocks today by warrant, which is the first of a series of January interest payments I am expecting. Off then to Huntingdon to try and get spares and advice on Futuba radio control equipment, but nothing available. Home in time for a 1.00pm lunch of tomato soup, sesame seed bread and hamburgers with Dad. A leisurely afternoon and evening playing with the models and fitting servos to the Progress.

Horrified to find that the Futuba power supply is a three wire hybrid unit, which does not reconcile with the model’s method of powering the receiver from the main model power pack. Home to a tea of stilton and biscuits and then to watch a long feature film entitled ‘Guns of Navarone’ on the TV. Many thoughts today on the new year’s endeavours on the micro industry. Increasing disillusionment about the overpowering competitive muscle of IBM, the lack of government policy or support for the UK computer industry and the lack of recognition of the industry’s efforts to compete. I am seriously considering giving up the fight and spending my time on other interests. The weather a little milder today, but an early frost and fine drizzle during the day. News today of a further three pits producing coal and 300 new mine workers back to work. This is less than the flood back to work anticipated, but the political PR now ‘expects’ a surge back to work next week. The pound sinks to a new low and takes shares and gilts down with it. Edward Heath warns the government on the opposition to lack of measures on unemployment to counter the confident PM and Chancellor’s New Year messages. The Midland Bank announce that their US subsidiary, Crocker, has lost $324M in bad loan provisions, which will severely impact earnings. A runaway Soviet cruise missile has flown over Norway and Finland and may have crashed into Lapland late last week and this is embarrassing preparations for East/West arms talks. An all-party committee of the House of Commons is recommending £5M expenditure on a wide-band cable and personal computer information system for MP’s in a report issued today.