Debbie and Della playing and eating well today
Debbie and Della playing and eating well today

To St Ives for an antique auction before collecting Daniel and having lunch at the Happy Eater with both daughters eating and playing well before the rest of the day surveying and drawing up my grand design for the riverside gardens using my antique drawing set as Thatcher smarts over her Brecon and Radnor defeat

A very poor night. The air was very warm and humid and, when still restless, the telephone rang at 12.30am, but to no purpose when answered. Eventually, early to wake and drank my morning tea with more than usual thanks. Down to a breakfast of cereal and top of the milk and then up to read The Financial Times. The main news was yesterday’s “humiliating” defeat for Thatcher but, in the City, a stronger pound eased interest rates and let the gilt and equity markets recover a little. Kode are still at £1.85 and have missed the worst of the electronics rumours, but must still be vulnerable at the time of their half year results in September. The mail was then brought up and, seeing that direct private mail is swelled by the deliveries of PO Box 7 here now, it is quite a lot. Delayed in bed until 9.30am getting through that lot and then quickly washed, dressed and out thereafter. Only six eggs from the ducks after yesterday’s games with the ornamentals, but the doves still incubating two eggs, which makes it 15 days so far. I check my records and establish that the previous two incubations took 22 and 18 days respectively and so, given the warm weather in the last few days, they should hatch any day now. Quickly out to the car with Diana and the girls, and then off to St Ives for the Saturday general auction and antiques viewing.

We arrived at 10.30am as the first started, but nothing much of interest. A modern folding table was grouped with all sorts of other things and a reasonable cake stand was bit too high. Inside for the blonde antique dealer, wearing shorts and loose top and looking very tanned and comfortable in the heat. She always attends with a ‘butch’ looking lady and I begin to think they might be lesbians and that thought only tends to make her more of a distraction. Finished earlier than planned (there were few lots for this summer season) and so off for a choc-ice cream and to find Diana. I bought a 1950s St Neots town guide en route and also popped in to Mr Knight, who only had pole rings, not the curtain poles, which was a great misunderstanding. Back to St Neots to collect Daniel, then on to the Happy Eater. We enjoyed our meal, the service was good and Daniella played with Debbie at the Lego table and then ate nicely from a dish of chips and then ice cream. Home afterwards, but we stopped on the way so that I could buy two tape rules (20m and 30m). Once home I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening surveying the front and riverside gardens and then drawing up a design plan accordingly. A good design, which should serve us well. As I took the measurements, several hundred people passed by from the Round Table butterfly walk. To see them puffing, sweating and groaning on a hot day made me feel quite tired to watch – all those blisters and injuries! I will stick to sponsorship and more productive pursuits. I work until late on my plans, using the antique drawing set to good effect. Time only to discuss it with Diana before my Bournvita drink and bedtime. Today was much fresher, but with a hot sun. the barometer is still rising and we seem set for a hot spell.