Father’s Day – Diana brought me morning tea as a conciliatory gesture on Father’s Day before I took Debbie to the St Neots Evangelical Church and then I work on The Lady as the children enjoy the poll on another fine day which saw many boats on the river. Last gasp South African talks are sponsored by Archbishop Tutu as Zimbabwe’s president Mugabe calls for a black army to fight the whites as Danish Power Boat racer, Jorgen Askgaard, dies in a spectacular crash and explosion in the London Docks during a world championship race
A little lay in after another late night and then up to shave and shower. Di brought in a cup of tea as a conciliatory gesture and I finished it off before getting dressed. Around the house unlocking all of the balcony doors and drawing the curtains, before settling down to a nice fried breakfast. For father’s day, the children each gave me a nice card and some sweets, which was thoughtful of Di. I must say, though, that I still think that ‘Father’s Day’ as a recent innovation has yet to be a truly followed and significant event in the celebration calendar. Out to The Lady and today I managed to complete the repair to the cockpit roof, starting off by trimming the new wood and shaping a piece of marine ply and supporting rib.
At 11.15am I had to take Debbie to the Evangelical Church where, with some trepidation, I left her to go in on her own. Her friend Amy and family are on a seaside holiday for two weeks and so she does not have her normal church transport. Back and forth to collect her again and she was quite alright. I worked on as the children swam in the pool and we all came in for some nice roast pork for lunch. This afternoon I put on the first coat of Blue Peter light enamel varnish, thinned by 25% of white spirit, to soak into the wood. Then to let it dry and glue the trakmark back on before bedding the trimmings back on with sealastic. Tea with the family in the back garden and with the weather still sun and temperature in the 80s, I opted for the shade. Daniel had Gary and Steve all day today and they were in the pool again before and after tea. The long process of clearing up again tonight, which only finished with the home locked up at 10.00pm. Today the baby doves were quite active, with the Indigo one up on the roofs. They should be able to fend for themselves quite soon, but are still being fed by their parents for now. Plenty of boats on the river, as one would expect for the summer’s first anticyclone, but I wish they would slow down and stop eroding the banks with their wash. News today is of the latest situation in South Africa. Bishop Tutu is appealing desperately for last-ditch concerted action by the West, but Mugabe, Premier of Zimbabwe, has given up thoughts of moderation and calls for a Black Army to fight the ‘Boers’. The UK rail system was put in disarray today by a fire in the Clapham Junction signal box, putting Waterloo out of action. Reagan has proposed a new meeting with Gorbachev, with the two countries Secretaries of State (Foreign Ministers) meeting first to pave the way. Dramatic sports news today with Danish Power Boat racer, Jorgen Askgaard, dying in a spectacular crash and explosion in the London Docks during a world championship race. Nigel Mansell, Britain’s top racing driver, wins the Canadian Grand Prix in his Williams car and ending within a couple of points of the championship lead. Another fine day is forecast for tomorrow, but some thunderstorms may be coming before much longer.