This start to April has been the coldest since 1948, some 4degC below normal and we have felt it with our heating problems foremost. Another day on the floor-boarding but a long enough break to successfully bid for more folding chairs at Mr Peacock’s Bedford Auction, who now recognises me as a regular collector. The US attack on Libya seems imminent with consultations in London proceeding.
A sound night and then a slow awakening for an 8.00am mug of warm sweet tea. A shave, hair wash and shower before arriving down at breakfast, dressed and presentable. Now that we have the en-suite, I have taken to getting ready before our first meal of the day, but it does mean that the family is kept waiting. A dull start to the day, but at least the brisk northerly airstream seems to have abated. Meteorologists are saying that April this year has had the coldest start since records were first systematically kept in 1948, with average London daytime temperatures of 5.7degC being a whole 4degC below normal. Later in the day the sun came out for the best afternoon in a long while, but still heavy rain returned later still. Daniel did the ducks and doves this morning (after a fashion) and then, when we were all ready, we set off for Bedford and the Peacocks auction. A morning there and I got my pair of veranda folding chairs for £34 and £17 each. This was less than expected and Mr Peacock remembered me from last year when I bought the mahogany steamer chairs.
He thought today’s pair were teak, not walnut, and I am sure he is right. Off to the Happy Eater for lunch and a good meal, although we only just managed to keep Della happy. She seems to be sickening for something at the moment. This afternoon I resumed my floorboard screwing and managed to do the eastern corridor of the link building and relay the temporary carpets afterwards. Daniel had his friends round to ‘help’ with the boat, but got back into the doghouse by having too many of them and getting their boots all muddy. Tea of peeled shrimps, with ice cream to follow and then I pottered around this evening putting up pictures and cleaning up after, leaving the last floorboards on the west landing until tomorrow, so as not to wake the girls. News tonight is of the US fleet making ready for an attack on Libya and General Walters, a US Envoy, has visited Thatcher in Downing Street. Advisers to President Reagan seem divided on whether to attack or not. In Tripoli, a British engineer, James Abra, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, after being accused of spying. Nothing further is heard from the kidnappers of Mrs Jennifer Guinness, but the family have taken on the services of a London based security consultant and seem ready to pay a ransom if asked. The West Indies have built up a big first innings score of 474 and are now attacking the English opening batsmen. The weather forecast is for rain tomorrow, but very little wind as a consolation.