Fine and sunny day working on investments and administration until Diana’s parents visited and then some property deals before Daniel arrived home safe and sound and then evening tea on the veranda as bombs kill 75 people in The Lebanon, two children in Frankfurt and at home Westland Helicopters looks doomed after Bristow takeover falls through
Awake to my morning tea and satisfied myself with the local papers as The Financial Times did not arrive today. Looking at my diary, I noticed that there was an important BOTMA meeting in London yesterday but, not being in my electronic diary, I missed it! Down to breakfast to find Daniel as usual and I made him give me back my front door key that I found missing last night. I also had found a carrier bag packed with goodies and he protests that he is not coming home tonight. A meal of toast and honey and then to read a dull post of stockbroker contract notes and other matters. Washed, dressed, shaved and out to the birds on a warm morning, forecast to turn wet later. 8 eggs, which would have been 10 if two were not trampled before they were let out. The doves seem to be nesting again but, when all came down to feed, I found they had not laid any eggs. To the office and there to check my Homelink Bank of Scotland and building society accounts and found them in order. Then I updated my investment summary with the children’s transactions before breaking off to have morning coffee back at the house. We sat on the renovated steamer and upholstered veranda chairs and ate coffee and biscuits from off of my butlers tray/table, which was very enjoyable in the sunlit front garden, overlooking the river.
Back to work and I start to make out cheques for a number of bills and envelopes to match before lunch. Diana’s parents had come over and we enjoyed an egg pudding lunch with cheesecake to follow. Charles watched the cricket, Norma looked after the baby, and I returned to the office, as Diana spent the afternoon at the local school helping the teacher with a swimming lesson. I finished my bills, wrote letters and made phone calls to let my 39 Gordon Road house to the Americans, organise my telephones move to 7 Willow Close, chase up David Stokes over the detailed plans, which we should get at the end of this week, and complete arrangements for our visit to Broubster on the 6th and 7th July. I paused only to have afternoon tea on the lawn, with Norma this time. I rushed into St Neots before 5.00pm to post my letters (which included my NHI and car licence applications) and drop some information off to my accountants. I looked for Daniel, but he was already at home when I arrived back at 5.15pm. So much for his bid for freedom! Tea of poorly arranged pie and vegetables and doughnuts to follow. I set Daniel to his prep and revision, read a story to Debbie, fed the doves, put the ducks away, and managed also to spend some time on the chairs. I touched up the dining chairs, which now look perfect, filled the worm holes with mahogany filler in the veranda chair, and started to strip the second steamer chair until ran out of time at 8.30pm. The news tonight continued to report the hostage crisis, with a bizarre incident as 5 were brought to a press conference and pandemonium caused. A fractious day, with the terrorists seeming to be arguing amongst themselves. The Americans have reaffirmed that they will not ask Israel to do a deal. In Lebanon, a 275lb car bomb killed 75 people and injured 150, and at Frankfurt airport yesterday a small bomb killed two children aged 2 and 5 and seriously injured their mother and grandmother. Another adult was also killed. More redundancies and cutbacks announced today and some doubt now over the future of Westland Helicopters after Bristow withdrew their takeover offer. The weather has stayed fine, sunny and warm today, but is forecast as rain for tomorrow.