Chas and Chris were staying for the weekend
Chas and Chris were staying for the weekend

With Charlie and Chrisula visiting with Catherine, we took them for a walk and on to Little Paxton Playing Field before ice creams at the Post Office stores and home then off to the Croxton Happy Eater with everyone for lunch before we all see Debbie take her ballet test and get a ‘commendation’ for her bronze medal and then see Nigel Mansell win the British Grand Prix as Peter Wright’s MI5 revelations are published in the Sunday Times and Hindus protest about Hertsmere Borough Council closing their temple.

Slept well enough, but the night turned quite cool and I awoke and had to snuggle up to Di to keep warm. Di cooked and prepared breakfast for eight of us and Charlie and Chrisula eventually awoke and came down and so we all ate breakfast at 8.30 and were finished by 9.00am. Out to the ducks and doves, then I persuaded the company to go for a walk to the swings and around Little Paxton. A good walk on a dull, but warm morning, but Daniel kept shooting ahead by pushing Daniella in the push chair and actually tripped over his shoe lace and let her go flying forward once.

We had a good time at the playground. Poor Catherine is a bit sheltered and not normally taken on to slides and other adventurous equipment, but I took her on them anyway. We then had ice creams at the Post Office Stores, then walked back through the churchyard and home. All in the Range Rover after and off to the Croxton Happy Eater for a nice lunch, with good service. It seems that HE have been taken over by Trust House Forte, owners of Little Chef, and the government did not object in line with their Laissez Faire policy. As one of their first moves, they have taken the jugs of water and glasses off the table. Home and time for me to watch the start of the British Grand Prix, with Nelson Piquet heading Nigel Mansell for the first few laps in the two fast Williams cars. Then I took our guests to the Village Hall, where Di had taken Deb earlier to get ready for a ballet dancing test. She did all right and secured a ‘Commended’ for her bronze medal. I brought Debbie home after and took her pictures and the others played on the swings with the youngsters. Once back, I watched Mansell win the motor race in an exciting chase and finish. Piquet had opted to do without a pit stop for tyres, Mansell did stop and with the new tyres, just caught his teammate and won the race. He was mobbed by the crowd of fans and Piquet was as ‘sick as a parrot’. I then got the company to go swimming, getting Catherine to get over her nervousness and Charlie his inertia.* They had tea, had a further turn on the swings and then eventually left for home. Some watering of this year’s shrubs and my lawn seed beds, then in to lock up and alarm the house. News today is of the publication of further Peter Wright MI5 revelations in the Sunday Times, as extracts from his book. Attorney General, Sir Patrick Mayhew, has publicised his intentions of starting Contempt of Court proceedings against the paper tomorrow, but the previous injunctions did not apply to them and I am sure the prosecution will be unsuccessful. Neil Kinnock, the Labour Party leader, has allocated the positions in his Shadow Cabinet and denies stories of rancour in his team and jockeying for position. A young French girl, 15 years old, has gone missing in Knightsbridge whilst out jogging, having only been in the country a day or two. She speaks little English and knows nobody in London and there are reports that she was followed by a man in a car. Hindus marched in their thousands today in protest at attempts by Hertsmere Borough Council to close their largest temple in Britain. This temple in Watford contains their only college in Britain for training Hindu priests and teachers. More fine weather forecast for the next few days, but there will be showers for my trip to the Scottish Highlands. A latish end to a busy and distracted weekend, where I did not achieve a great deal, other than entertain our guests. Relatives they may be, but pretty dull company to boot – the worst we experience. * Further content with-held until 2037