Taking The Lady to Buckden with Daniel before he leaves for his Kimbolton narrow boat holiday before taking Debbie on a long walk over St Neots Common and back by taxi as Thatcher’s police have had their numbers and rewards increased ahead of all of the strikes and demonstrations

A poor night’s sleep, hot from the late and heavy meal last night and the lack of arranged ventilation in my room. Slow to breakfast and to wash but then with Daniel down to The Lady to remove her winter cover. The job entails crawling around the shroud in confined spaces, undoing the searing ties; a task Daniel hates because of the claustrophobic aspect but one that he does under protest. Eventually to successfully start the engine, stow the cover and move off. A day of spring, because the weather is not so bitterly cold (10-11DegC by day) and daffodils are breaking out for the first time. We crew The Lady downstream and Daniel takes the helm to allow me to secure the fenders, ropes and replace the cabins side panels.

There has been some limited damage to the varnish over winter but not much and I should be able to progress its condition again this year. The river is quiet and full of wildfowl – mallard particularly but also a gaggle of wild geese alight in an adjacent field. Plenty of moorhens and coot, of course, as normal, but no herons yet in sight – hopefully attending their Heronries at this time of year. Eventually through Offord Lock and into Buckden Marina where we secure The Lady and are collected by Diana and Debbie in the Rover. A drive back home and through the ancient village of Buckden with its disused High Street (the motorway having been re-routed) and its ancient Palace which I must observe more closely one day. After half an hour for coffee, rest and a change of clothes we load Daniel’s belongings and take off to Kimbolton. We see him onto his minibus with 12 other friends as they set off for their Yorkshire narrow boat holiday. Debbie embarrasses Daniel in front of his friends as she wants to kiss and cuddle him and is upset at his leaving her behind. Then, after waving goodbye, to The Happy Eater and home. This afternoon I take Debbie for a long walk over St Neots common away from the road across the open fields. A muddy trek amongst the cowpats and skylarks and a much larger space I see it to be than seems from a fast car. We walk right to town and through it by the priory footpath and over the bridge to the riverside park and refreshments of tea and orangeade and Smarties. Debbie enjoys a go on the climbing frames before we go back to town, the shops and then home by taxi. After a prawn salad tea I go out to get the ducks in and find 12 instead of 13. Out in the dinghy with outboard motor and, after getting in my neighbours three Aylesbury ducks, I eventually find the 13th pecking around a hatch of nymphs near the lock island. A late evening reading and then, after television, to bed for a sound night’s sleep after my exertions. News today of continued hassle over the miners strikes with over £30M extra costs to the other UK industries having to burn oil. A day of further protests and demonstrations on all the issues of cruise, GLC and strikes when the police must again be fully stretched; but the government had increased both their numerical strength and pay ahead of these confrontations.