Shopping and sight-seeing with the family in London as the Chancellor tries to justify his economics and Labour calls for more employment
Awake at 7.10am, just a few minutes before the morning drinks arrived by arrangement with room service. A comfortable night, if a bit cold, but the double glazing kept out the noise of the traffic. We notice that they had forgotten Di’s coffee, but a phone call corrects the mistake quickly. We take turns in the bathroom until all ready to go down to breakfast and leave the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door to prevent the maids from disturbing Daniella. A fine breakfast. Daniel chooses scrambled egg, Deborah toast and marmalade and us the choice from a full table of fried foods in a full English breakfast. Off to the underground station to exchange vouchers for Rover tickets and then a 13 bus to Oxford Circus and another to Covent Garden.
We walk the flea market in the crowds, and less than a full representation of stallholders, but it lets the pram prevail and we buy some good items. Bracelet and necklace for Debby, hat for Di and then all to a coffee bar for a rest and warm up. It was raining a fine drizzle. A walk then along the Strand to Charing Cross and, after lunch at McDonalds, the Northern Line tube to Hendon Central. Only then do we find the nearest station to the RAF Museum is Colindale! An interesting visit, but rules against prams spoil Diana’s fun. Back to Swiss Cottage by tube and bus, then McDonalds and swimming for the kids and a nice restaurant buffet for us. News tonight of the Chancellor claiming that new year tax cuts will create jobs, but others doubt it and see the tactics as designed to head off criticism on failure of measures to reduce unemployment. Neil Kinnock asks for a change of policy, pointing out that the £17 billion spent on unemployment benefit each year would be better spend on keeping them in jobs rather than out. Unprecedented security at Sandringham as the Queen and Princess Anne, together with other family members, gather for the traditional welcome of the New Year. Arrests are made following the desecration of the Duke of Beaufort’s grave by hunt saboteurs. The Times celebrates its 200th birthday in the New Year.