Family visit to Woburn’s Animal Kingdom/Safari Park on a cold but dry day as slight hopes are raised of Pit Dispute talks
A reasonable start to the day until I have to take over the preparation of the breakfast from Diana who has to spend a time in the loo with a tummy upset. And after, Diana is still suffering and spends most of the morning snoozing in bed, whilst I catch up reading today's Sunday Times and this week’s Economist. Eventually, in late morning, all up and dressed as we make ready and set off for Woburn Safari Park. But first we stop at The Little Chef locally for a nice lunch. A good tour of the animal park passing; elk, camels, tigers, lions, elephants and giraffes, but the children particularly liked the monkey and bear enclosure. There was a large number of tiny babies, born this summer, which was very endearing. Then a chance to play on the range of sideshows, roundabouts – the ghost train, helter skelter, which were Debbie’s favourites. But Daniel was sold on the flying platform arrangement with rotating thrills – he even got me to go on it. Below the link to our video of the day.
After some refreshments and a ride on the steam train, back by car to McDonalds fast food bar in Bedford for tea. Home in the evening to put away the ducks by torchlight and then relax in front of the television. News tonight of agreed but tentative formulae discussed between NACOD and NCB. Joint agreement from both to go to ACAS to attempt a conciliation along the lines of external arbitration on pit closures. In Edinburgh the first bank – the TSB – opens on a Sunday. In the States, Reagan and Mondale debate on television the US election issues and the President is visibly slow and sluggish out of the razzmatazz. Plenty of time for balloons later. The weather a cold wind, but fine and dry.