Time with the family today
Time with the family today

The Dentist and time with the family on Daniel’s Maths and Debbie’s bike training despite our illness on a rainy day with a journey to Cambridge to start my family Trusts before planning a new kitchen as the Beirut US embassy car bomb kills more than 20 and the TGWU blocks coal movements to power stations

A poor night with alternative periods of feeling hot and cold and an early awakening. Last night, Diana and Daniella had both been very ill with cold and I had helped to pacify them and joined in the worry. This morning, a brief visit to the office to find not a single item of post or incoming phone call had been received all yesterday, which is a surprise. Still no receipt of the computer journals which is a major irritation. An early visit to Mr Osborne, my dentist, at 9.00am and upset to find that he feels my teeth are not well enough cleaned and also that I need a filling. He gets to do this on the spot and I eventually wriggle free at 10.00am for a walk around the busy town centre on this Thursday market day, with the rain pouring down. I withdraw a hundred pounds of cash and then make my way home for a cup of morning coffee. An hour or two in the office during which time I phoned Freda and then Dad to enquire after their health and suggest a family gathering in London in early November. Freda is recovering very slowly from her operation and this could be the easiest and least demanding means for all parties to meet together after so long apart. The idea seems well received, but all to reflect on it. I take Diana and the baby to St Neots where we undertake the weekly shopping and then to the Little Chef for lunch. After, I drive to Cambridge to meet a solicitor from Vintners who specialises in family trusts and capital transfer tax. He hears my tale of legal incompetence on the part of my previous solicitor and advises me on a course of action.

Afterwards, time to purchase a spare battery for my portable cine-recorder and also Daniel’s new game, Elite, which seems very sophisticated. Home at 4.30pm in time to discuss our kitchen alterations with Diana and our architect. He is preparing some ideas from the briefing and will report. A tiring half hour with Debbie trying to teach her to ride a bicycle and then an hour with Daniel on his maths homework. He is too inclined to rush it and fail to apply himself, but I now have the measure of him! News tonight of another large lorry bomb in Beirut that damages the US Ambassador’s offices; injuring him and killing 20-odd people. Also of the TGWU unions decision to block all coal movements to power stations in support of the miners. The pound sterling and stock exchange both take a hammering in late business. Patrick Jenkins, the Environment Secretary, gets a pasting (with eggs and fruit) over unpopular local government legislation and David Steel’s advice to the Liberal Conference goes unheeded as they vote to exclude all cruise missiles from Britain. Tired, Diana and I struggle into bed as the rain continues.