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Exit Report to File David A Broad Monday 7th May 1984
Introduction
It is Comart’s practice that every executive departure from the organisation is subjected to an exit interview. It is also consistent with my own commentary on the passage of events that I note down the circumstances of my departure and, following the history of Comart, it may be of use to the corporate learning curve and study of management that the basic facts be known. I have thought it appropriate, however, to wait a period of at least six months before publishing this document at least into the past personnel record of myself and the possession of whoever is recognised as the Chief Executive of The Comart Group. By this time my departure would have been largely complete and the management team settled into the new regime.
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Bank Holiday Birthday Party for Debbie as I write up my Exit Report for Comart and an evening cruising on the river with Daniel in a dinghy
A slow start to the day and cornflakes for breakfast as a welcome change to toast and fruit juice. Then washed and changed to take Daniel to school with Debbie coming along for the ride. It is Debbie’s birthday and we had already seen her opening all of her presents. Amongst them were a wigwam, tape recorder, jigsaw, colouring pens, cartoon slides, dolls, books, decorations, tee shirt, and a dozen smaller gifts from the birthday guests who were to join her for a breakfast tea. A morning’s paperwork including a letter to the planning department about Paxton Broad until out with Diana and Debbie to Bar Hill to collect Sue to help with the party. We had stopped on the way for lunch at The Little Chef. To see how the roads and restaurant were full on this Bank Holiday with everybody on the move and visiting relatives etc. I went off to the office afterwards to prepare my own exit report and note to file on leaving Comart.
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A nice day building landing stages with Daniel before Debbie pulls the television down on top of her and we relax with evening TV as the TGWU strikes in sympathy with the miners and a Majorcan coach crash kills 9 holiday-makers
Another lay in before and after a nice fried breakfast. Now Daniel eats a full breakfast on Sundays and even Debbie nibbles at fried bread and bacon. I study The Sunday Times mainly and have taken to writing up my journal in the morning so as not to be distracted by the television. Up at 10.00am and, after a wash and shave, out at 10.30am and with Daniel to clean out the duck house. Then to continue our new landing stage at the garden plot and during the course of the day, helped by Daniel, we build a good permanent stage on two levels at a height that is most suitable for sitting, fishing and mooring the small dinghy. As I came in later in the day a huge panic as Diana comes screaming from the house. Debbie had pulled down the television on top of her and it had pinned her by the head to the ground, banging her on the cheek and slightly grazing her on both cheek and hand. After great concern all round we find that Debbie and television are in one piece but she will look a little the worse for wear at her party tomorrow.
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Garden Centre visit after family lunch but Debbie is ill and then an evening walk to Buckden Marina learning a lot about the gravel pits to collect The Lady and cruise her back home
A slow start to the day with my normal Saturday morning period in bed reading The Economist, Times etc, both before and after breakfast. Eventually up and to dress and let the ducks out. Eleven eggs this morning which is about the average. We are selling all we produce at the moment and I wonder whether the price ought to be increased from the 5pence each we are charging. Out, then, by car and first to Arthur Ibbett where we find that they have not secured the cable needed for our hedge trimmer. On to Buckden Marina and with better luck – The Lady’s engine repairs are ready and she is ready for collection. Back to St Neots to do some shopping and await Daniel’s return from Kimbolton. Poor Debbie stays in the car sleeping and is obviously still not well after catching the tummy bug that has stricken others in her new school class. Once Daniel arrives on the country bus we all set off for our Happy Eater ritual and drive back via Eaton Socon factory and garden centre. At the centre we buy ice creams, look at the garden furniture and replenish our stocks of ‘Ant Doom.’ Recently we have been plagued by ants and this powder is poured along the crevices to keep them at bay. We return home to a cup of tea and I settle down to watch the Rugby League cup final on TV between Wigan and Widnes. The Wigan team is full of colonial guest players and I am therefore pleased to see Widnes win. Then to tea of cockles, strawberries and a chocolate éclair cake and after, nobody else wanting to come, I walked 4 ½ miles to Buckden/Offord to get The Lady.