To Bedford for house accessories as the builders work on a much nicer day and then back for a later walk around the garden with Della before a builders meeting to organise more work as several news items talk of domestic and international failures of organisations and South Africa extends the State of Emergency to Cape Town and rounds up scores of anti-apartheid opponents
Diana & I started the night together, and both being the warmer and more relaxed for it on a cold night, we slept well for the night afterwards. Awake to morning tea and then to sit out of bed and read today’s paper before breakfast. Showered, shaved and dressed and then out to the birds alone this morning, as Della was a bit irritable with her cold. I fed the doves and also the ducks, who were very hungry as I had not put them away and fed them last night. A much sunnier morning today after the persistent and sopping wet of yesterday, and a full complement of builders are already at work. Then to get ready for a trip to Bedford with Diana and we finally set off at 9.30am. Straight to the multi-storey car park today, before morning coffee together and a short walk to the builders merchants. Diana chose our taps for the kitchen, and we bought a Monobloc mixer and a separate single cold water tap of the same design for unsoftened drinking water. Now we have ordered all of the kitchen items for which we are responsible and hope the builders and Smallbone fulfil their part of the bargain.
On to Marks and Spencer, where we buy some items for tea and also a £30 voucher for my Father’s birthday next week. I dropped these items off to the car and then, as Di did some more shopping, I strode off to Peacocks auction rooms to see the lots for tomorrow’s sale. Not much of interest, but I noted a George III games table in oak with box hollowed casters that I would have bid for if I were there tomorrow. No folding chairs, however, and so no need to change our plans. After a good look round I hurried to Debenhams and met Diana for lunch. Plaice and chips for both of us and Della ate a few of the chips as well. Back to Diana’s car stopping only to buy some extra keys. We had taken Di’s car as it was boxing mine into the garage (we are letting the builders use the other garage for their materials) and we don’t need the air conditioning in the autumn. Home via St Neots, where we pick up some money and pay in the Ladbrokes dividend cheque at the building society. Once home, and whilst waiting for Mr Cheeseborough to call round, I took Della for a walk round the gardens and we sat watching the doves for some time. The early afternoon is the warmest time on these sunny autumn days. From our position we could see the builders working. By now they had finished both the front and rear walls of the downstairs link building, built the new chimney up beyond the roof level and further prepared the interior for plastering and decoration next week. We also walked over to the ducks and fed them again and Della was so pleased. Then Mr Cheeseborough arrived and we rescheduled the carpet fitting for a week later, and I phoned Brittains and St Neots Carpet Company accordingly. Then tea and to sit quietly and read afterwards. News today of the acquittal of two more of the Cyprus secrets trial servicemen and two more await their verdicts. The trial has cost over £3M and is the longest of its kind ever. Another aircraft has crashed – a helicopter in Northern Ireland. Alf Parish, the Chief Constable of Derbyshire, who spent £28,000 on his office without authorisation, has been ordered to retire early by the Home Office. Cortonwood colliery closed today – its planned closure ignited the miners’ strike, and the men have accepted its closure and the strike outcome was a defeat. The school was recently closed and now the pit. Ford motor unions have rejected a 5-10% pay offer. Argentinian President Alfonsin has declared an emergency after bomb attacks in the run up to a general election. South African police have rounded up 80+ anti-apartheid opponents and extended the state of emergency to Cape Town.