Here are my notes from 1994
1994 Sunday 7th August
The Kingdom Ward Tibet/Nepal is off. Like a magnetic attraction removed, I can continue with my trajectory of living, and find space to make plans. Sad to forsake such an adventure with plant collectors. The decision revolved around Bob, although other peripherals, such as money and setting up a business with Conrad. Yes that’s all new. Conrad wants an equal partnership with me, who know so little. My unique assets – which we listed the other evening, as a preliminary to setting this business up – included having a car and an ability to juggle.
An excellent few days spent with Conrad, packing up his mountain of published work in Manchester as the beginning of the wedge to begin his tax and VAT return. I drove a Bedford van, and loved every minute of it, the pur of diesel, the high seat.
Saturday 20 November 1994
Smoking again. Blar! Driven this time, not by an ’emotional upset’ but erratic nerves at giving a talk. At the age of 36 I have had my first taste of public speaking. Lessons leant= if I did this again, I will talk for 10 minutes if asked to talk for 20. In fact I talked for 30, 20 minutes too long. And only one good joke. It was an introduction to the Internet – the buzz thing at the moment in the UK. “Like Leonardo da Vinci, the Internet, was nurtured by a military establishment, the Department of Defence”. I came away feeling empty, and dissatisfied that all I am good at is talking of the past. Conrads presentation on the Web was excellent, and James’ provocative questions at the end woke everyone up. But, it was uplifting as a speaker to break barriers and have a small throng of people coming up to discuss it with me at the end – I enjoyed that part!
Conrad in Linden gardens, with Robert – are we singing opera careoke?
Kalikellett 