Some fun in the swimming pool on a warm and sunny day with Daniel and friends before and after a trip to Bedford where I was researching Little Paxton history and after which I worked outside on the dove cote and repaired some light switches. The Queen Mum has recovered but British climber Mrs Julie Tullis is discovered to have died three days after reaching the K” summit and all but two are missing from the seven man team
A long lay in, until woken with my drink and slower still to get up. Last night Daniel’s friend Steve stayed with us and so there was one extra to breakfast – and I was the only one that was not dressed. Out to the pool and decided a swim would get me going and so shaved and then jumped in; the children joining me as well. I played a game with the boys – ducking them and being ducked and we are well matched now, particularly after Gary joined us in the pool.
Then dressed and took Daniella out to do the ducks and doves, as she was a bit bored. I took her to the tree swing and swung her high, whilst feeding the doves. All of them, except the young blue bar, came to the table and they seem well. Then on to the ducks and Della helped me to gather the eggs after letting them out and feeding them. In to get ready for our shopping trip to Bedford. There were too many for one car and so I took Daniel and his friends in my Jaguar and Diana took the girls in the Escort Estate. We rendezvoused in the coffee shop and then I took the boys to Peacocks to see the auction, but nothing of interest there. Then I left them to look round the electrical shops, whilst I took another look in the Bedford Reference Library. They keep a good selection of books on neighbouring counties and I looked at the Kelly guides on Huntingdonshire to establish Lordships of Little Paxton Manor as recently as the 1940s, which is interesting. Back to the car park and then on to Tempsford with the boys, where we all met for a nice lunch at the Happy Eater. How much better behaved the children seem to be out of the hotel environment. Home after, dropping into St Neots on the way for some electrical fittings and some fuel in cans for the boats. This afternoon the boys went cruising and I mounted a ladder and cleaned out the wall-cote; also painting it with creosote to protect the wood and kill the insects that were infecting it. Later, after afternoon tea, I went swimming again with the boys, renewing our ducking battle with honours even. Tea, and then I just about had enough energy to renew the light switches that had been sticking on lately (the photo cell versions have not lasted at all) and look at the garage photo cell light that is also mortally stricken. Then I collapsed in the lounge to watch the old film ‘Man from Laramie’ before updating my journal. From the teletext, the news is first of the Queen Mother leaving hospital and returning to the Castle of Mey in Caithness, after her ‘throat spasm’ turned out to be all right. She is now 86 and probably the most popular member of the Royal Family. In the K2 tragedy, British climber Mrs Julie Tullis, is discovered to have died 3 days after reaching the summit and becoming the first woman ever to climb K2. At that altitude the body dies slowly and the weather had hemmed in the 7 man team, two of whom struggled back and the rest are feared perished. More news of violent attacks and rapes too tedious to repeat. After the sunshine and warmth of today, the clear night will be cold, but tomorrow is forecast fine and warm once more.