Full day working on the restoration of The Lady, walking to the Little Paxton School Fete before organising a riverside barbecue and opening up and closing The Hayling View beforehand and afterwards only to find that Diana had left her windows open and lights on watching TV as the gnats invaded! An almighty row before I heard the news revealing that Thatcher had nominated the hated Ian McGregor coal and steel industry butcher for his knighthood, along with many other of her cronies. More troubles and a huge car bomb in South Africa make her stance on sanctions ever more unpopular, for she now lags 9% behind Labour in the opinion polls
Awake to a warm and sunny day and, even at 7.00am, the temperature had risen appreciably. Showered, shaved, dressed and went down to unlock the house, open wide all of the French Windows, and then put out the garden furniture by the river. The family having already eaten by then, I took out my wheat flakes and milk and ate under the oblong parasol. Then I read my Financial Times and reviewed all of the saving information, as I will soon be making a few investment decisions. As I sat, two cuckoos flew across the meadow opposite, between willow trees and one called as they went. Di brought the post down for me to read, but nothing very important to act on. Then I resumed work on The Lady, paring away more and more rotten wood and getting more and more depressed about it. I had hoped to let it dry out this morning, but time dragged on and on. As lunchtime approached, I took a plunge in the pool to cool off (the temperature was 83degF inside and out) and then, when Di returned from shopping, we walked over to Little Paxton School for the Fete.
The weather was perfect for it and they had worked hard to make it a great success. We had a ploughman’s lunch and then walked round the field visiting all of the stalls. The sun was high and hot and I got too much sun and so walked home to lie down in the relative cool of my bedroom and then under the parasol in a refreshing breeze by the river. It was some time before I could resume work on The Lady, but I did eventually, managing to fashion a marine ply filler for the canopy side. Then the girls returned and we all went swimming in the heat, which was most refreshing. Out and to prepare a barbeque tea by the river, which was nice. This time the visiting wildlife was a Kestrel that swooped through the riverside gardens after a bird and frightened the doves. After, I resumed work and by dusk had screwed and glued most of the new sections into the cockpit roof and was pleased with the result. As darkness fell, I ran round putting the garden furniture away, feeding and putting away the doves, watering the flower baskets and locking up and I was annoyed to find house doors open with the lights on (we have fearful gnats by the river) and Di’s car still out as she watched TV. I came in and we had a steaming row over it and we went our separate ways, she sleeping in the box room after. A rather bad-tempered end to an otherwise perfect day. News today is of the troubles in South Africa. A huge car bomb, near the sea front in Durban, killed at least 2 white women. Another 15 were wounded in the blast, which also damaged buildings, luxury flats and 50 vehicles. 4 blacks have also died in another incident, but censorship hides the details. Thatcher’s stand on sanctions has been attacked by the leaders of the Labour, SDP and Liberal parties and she is also deep in controversy over todays Queen’s Birthday Honours. She has given a Knighthood to Ian McGregor for his help in closing down much of the steel and coal industries. There are also the normal tribe of political loyalists, Thatcher has been quite single-minded in the use of the honours system, amongst the more worthy notables. An opinion poll by Harris in tomorrow’s Observer puts Labour with 40%, Tories 31% and Alliance 25% and a majority interviewed support the idea of sanctions against South Africa. Mark Thatcher is in difficulty with his Texas accommodation again, as his new apartment neighbours put pressure on him to move for fear of terrorist attack. Another fine day forecast for tomorrow, but with a cooler easterly wind rising.