Bank Holiday – Back to St Ives for the market and antiques fair after which we viewed All Saints Church and tried unsuccessfully to stop at Brampton Mill on the way back but it was far too busy. There was rioting at The Notting Hill Carnival today with looting and missile-throwing, an acrimonious SDP conference votes for the merger, three men are arrested outside Ulster Secretary Tom King’s farmhouse and 8 more die in the South African mines; making 800 in the last 10 years!
Late to bed watching TV sport. First the athletics and then boxing. Lloyd Honeyghan made mincemeat out of his world title challenger, but Frank Bruno making heavy weather of his over-the-hill opponent. Di brought me morning tea and, when I had drunk it, I dressed and went out fishing, but did not manage to catch anything in the morning sun and breeze. Back in for breakfast, which proved a good way of building up an appetite. Showered and shaved rather belatedly, then got the rest of the family loaded up in the Range Rover for a trip to St Ives.
Got there by 10.00 and parked close to the St Ivo Centre, as the town itself was very busy. Walked first to the Guides Hut for refreshments, then went our own way until 12.00. I walked through the market and then up to the antiques fair at the St Ivo Centre. Not much of interest, but I did buy an interesting post card of St Neots houseboats in the olden days. Just had time for a few minutes at All Saints Church that was having an open morning with the Vicar showing people round. I forewent his assistance and had a brief look. Was particularly impressed by the screen and built in organ and coat of arms that survived the Reformation. All back to the car and home to Little Paxton for lunch at the Little Chef. We had tried to stop at Brampton Mill, but it was hopelessly crowded with Bank Holiday revellers. Di and the girls went to St Neots Carnival this afternoon, but I stayed home and watched the athletics and other sport again on TV. At tea, Daniel had friends Steve and Gary, who had been swimming here this afternoon. Di also took the girls in the pool and Della gets ever closer to swimming unaided. After tea, I went down to the river as the breeze fell and got in an hour’s fishing. A bream and couple of roach on maggots. Was rather upset, as both a succession of Bank Holiday cruisers made waves and Daniel’s friends kept interrupting me. Got the boys away at dusk and then came in and let Daniel watch a space fiction TV before it was time to write up my journal and draw a close to the day. No time to read poor Debbie a Country Companion tonight. The weather stayed fine today, which is two days without rain! A sad end to the Notting Hill Carnival today as rioting breaks out this evening, with looting and police under attack with missiles. Helicopters with search lights overhead and ambulances attending. The last surviving septuplet dies today, leaving the parents and Liverpool maternity team devastated. I am confirmed in my belief that fertility drug use is a bad mistake, as it often seems to lead to multiple pregnancies. At the SDP Conference today, much passion, upset and sadness, as the pro and anti-merger spokesmen sparred in public, against a background of futile appeals for unity. The result was a strong pro-merger vote with a blow to the separatists determined to form an Owenite rump. Confidentiality tonight surrounding an incident yesterday near Ulster Secretary Tom King’s farmhouse, as three men of unknown nationality and identity are held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Another 8 have died (at least) in a South African mine explosion at a gold mine, where 800 people have died in the last 10 years. Iraq hit another Iranian super tanker in the Gulf today and now Iran are threatening to attack centres of population as desperation sets in.