As Suzanne's parents were holidaying abroad at the end of July (and taking her younger brother with them) Suzanne suggested we arranged with Rob and Kev for them to spend a weekend with us at her home.
A number of changes had already occurred. My six month contract with the Inland Revenue had ended at the beginning of March. Since then, I'd worked on a casual contract basis as a Receptionist for Manpower Services in Liverpool City centre for a number of months.
The Tax Inspector who'd offered me my first (though temporary) employment had also contacted me in April. As budgets were tight and new posts within the Revenue non-existent, he informed me of short term contracts available within another Government Dept by recommending I apply to the Office of Population, Censuses & Surveys (OPCS) during the census that year. I started working for the OPCS as a Clerical Assistant at their temporary headquarters, in St. John's House, which had taken me back to working in Bootle by the end of June 1981.
While at the OPCS, I had responsibility for collecting all data produced from several offices, who input details extracted from census forms onto their computers, within the department. I arranged and organised the storage systems and transferred hard copy data files (tapes) to another office by despatch and the corresponding printed material by facsimile. All cutting edge technology at the time.
'Hole in the wall' banking had just been introduced. Data Protection laws and new employment policies were being drafted. Margaret Thatcher was the Prime Minister and her influence was becoming noticeable by the amount of adverse comments regarding her new government policies and stance. Liverpool was particularly associated with socialist views and there was a general vocal opposition to the Conservative party in the area throughout her Government.
Arthur Scargill, as president of the National Union of Mineworkers was becoming a well known name and character through frequently being mentioned in national news items and his appearances on television. The 'Troubles' of Northern Ireland continued and spilt across to mainland of England. Daily life was influenced with heightened security and the various implications of stages of 'alert'.
Liverpool Football Club were the pride of Merseyside with the greatest manager of it's history - Shanks. Oft quoted, and without whom, Liverpool FC would not be the celebrated team they are today:- Never forget Shanks - Liverpool Legend.
