Christmas Eve St Neots market shopping and a Little Chef lunch before off to Papworth with Dad to see mum and to hear of her forthcoming heart operation as news of terrorists and the Indian election murder taints the start to Christmas
A fair lay in and then breakfast as usual. Out to the birds and to find the doves hungry gain as the weather chills and a cool breeze prevails. The ducks have not laid again. Diana had gone to St Neots for a shopping expedition and found the town its most congested ever – the special Christmas Eve market had led to horrendous parking and traffic problems. Daniella had a wakeful time, but I just managed to keep her happy until Diana returned, made the coffee, and let me get off to the office with Daniel. We assemble the rear suspension to the chassis of the Kyoshi Progress with the front suspension and ready the basic model for the first fitting of the radio control servos.
By 12.15pm, we collected the others from home and leave together for the Little Paxton Little Chef. An enjoyable meal for the five of us. Back and then Dad and I to Papworth to see Mum. She looks in good spirits and tells of two conversations with her doctors. First Dr Fleming, accompanied by his juniors, Jones and Gooding, tell of a good look at the films. They defer to the surgeon, Terence English, but confirm that she will be operated on for a mitral valve. Then Mr English visited her and referred to some sketches he had taken from the films as he confirmed there were several problems. She obviously needed a new valve and flow was reduced to a pinhole. Also the left coronary artery was blocked and the right restricted and these feed the heart itself. Mum will stay the week and the operation will take place in January. News tonight of a life sentence for Dominic McGlinchey after extradition from Ireland as the most wanted terrorist. In Italy 17 people have died from the terrorist train tunnel bomb and six more are seriously injured. Peter Lawford and Ian Hendry, famous film actors, died today. The state funeral of the Russian Defence Minister took place today, but President Cherenko could not attend, ‘because of the cold weather.’ The Indian general election takes place to the accompaniment of the normal army of skulduggery, including intimidation and the murder of at least one candidate. The weather turning colder tonight with a widespread frost expected. In preparation for tomorrow we set out the stockings and take some video film of the room before and after Father Christmas.