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BMMG Council Meeting in Buntingford and conversations with John Lamb as we travel together about the problems at Comart before comparing notes with ICL executives about blocking the IBM/BT standards plans as the Dock Strike ends and sterling falls to an all-time low and the Political Party season underway with the SDP/Liberal alliance under pressure.
Up on time, the paper, and then a cereal breakfast before checking in the office to see what messages there might be. Time to update my banking records of treasury deposits before leaving by car for Comart to collect John Lamb. I drive John to Owles Hall, Buntingford, for a BMMG meeting and on the way hear chapter and verse of his problems and stresses running Comart. The normal things – Company Car Policy, Kode administration, difficulty of the senior executives to follow set procedures; and it seems that the sales performance is still suspect, even with a very large team. I report to John the clashes for accommodation in the company house between John Beasley and the Lowes and also the poor habits of David Fear and Beazley for late attendance at the office after late night drinking. He is looking for a new Marketing Director and I suggest Daniel Shear and Peter McHugh of FTS. A slightly tense start to our BMMG Council Meeting at Owles Hall, but Councillors kept arriving until, in the end, we managed to number about 9, which is the very best attendance we have managed yet. A good meeting kept short until 12.00 by other commitments, which was a pity. Lots of action items for us all, which I hope will get done.
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Day of domestic security arrangements and investment planning before preparing for tomorrow’s BMMG council meeting
Awake after a sound night’s sleep and Diana manages to scramble Daniel and Deborah off for school. I settle down to the office for some paperwork and receive two visitors today. This morning a locksmith and security consultant advises me on replacing the locks on both houses and securing 6 Willow Close against burglary. This afternoon Bill Tee of Barclays Insurance sells me a maximum return Unicorn plan to present high rates of income without tax. I manage to spend the late afternoon phoning around and checking on arrangements for tomorrow’s BMMG Council Meeting, which seem reasonable. Also to talk more to the Computing journalists which have given me a lot of coverage so far, including the majority of last week’s front page by all accounts. Time before dark to clean out the ducks and put them away before taking a walk around Little Paxton and noting the poor state of road and footpath maintenance.
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Family trip to Alton Towers on a dry if cloudy day
A fair lay in before our morning drinks eventually at 9.00am. a wait for breakfast as I read The Sunday Times without spotting any trace of my Friday interview with Computer Correspondent, Jane Bird, on the IBM/BT telecom licence issue. A fine cooked breakfast when we discuss the day ahead and resolve (with great reluctance and lack of enthusiasm on the part of all else) to go to Alton Towers. This is a large Disney-style amusement park near Alton, Staffordshire, set on the top of a hill on the site of an old castle. Daniel is upset at not being able to play with his friend Paul, but he soon cheers up when we agree the destination. Eventually off at 11.00am with a well packed Jaguar and video equipment in tow. Averaging 100mph on the motorways, the Jaguar eats up the miles and we finally stop at the M6 service area nearest to Alton for a fine hamburger lunch. The Towers are at the back of beyond and we finally arrive after 2.00pm, making the family more than a little impatient to get started as I prepare to film the home movie.
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Domestic day with the family as Prince Harry is born to Charles and Diana and minder’s rallies are held in Glasgow and Barnsley and Electronic Weekly features my campaign
Awake to a chilly morning with the rain continuing. Diana finishes feeding the baby and then brings me my morning tea and the paper arrives. News with it of a strong stock market, a weak pound and Kode Int put on a further 20p up to 250odd again, with brokers circular recommending a buy. Soon also the post and with it The Economist. I didn’t really find much news or features in each of interest. Up for breakfast of a single slice of toast and some apple juice, now that our diets start to work. Out to release the ducks and drop by the office to collect my business mail. My first back magazine copies – Computertalks – arrived today with a host of bank slips and Informatics newsletters. Back home for coffee and all out together to Biggleswade where we buy two half hundredweight sacks of poultry pellets and go on into the town for the Saturday market. We buy seafood, vegetables and some strawberries for tea. Also some current bread and cakes at my favourite bakers.