Enjoying the nature whilst working on The Lady on a blissful morning before watching a dramatic film about Sobibor Nazi extermination camp, hearing of fighting at a London Sikh temple and of the mass demonstrations in West Belfast over the SAS killings but also of a better outcome for a record entry of some 20,000 runners in the London Marathon
Awoke early for this day of the week and shaved and dressed, having wanted to make an early start. It was sunny and bright, without much moisture or dew and the boat was calling. Di made me my fried breakfast quickly and I was out at 8.00am. Parts of the boat decks were damp and others dry and so I continued picking out the edges of the rear cabin roof and then had the two cabins ready for the main coat by coffee break. By lunch, I had completed this task, leaving the decking still to do. A nice chicken lunch (which both Debbie and Della ate all up) and then an agony of conscience as I decided that this afternoon I would do this work instead of us visiting my mother and father. No arrangements had been made anyway and we shall try to see them next weekend. It had been a blissful morning. The light breeze was still cool, but the warm sun, peace and sound of the bird song was delightful. Across the river, a sedge warbler, blackbirds everywhere and blue tits and sparrows making the most noise. Terns dived into the river for fish, cuckoos called and flew from tree to tree, and a crow and pigeons added their occasional calls. I think that I shall learn the calls of all the local birds to take most from these situations.
Back to it this afternoon. By tea I had outlined and fitted in the starboard side, but there was not much time after to do the other – but I was determined to do it whilst I could. Debbie had been at church this morning. It is a pity that we do not go to the local parish church of St James – the bells are ringing so nicely in the morning and evening on Sundays. Daniel was still at his friend Gary’s, but was collected by Di this afternoon and then spent time cleaning his boat. I got both him and David to move their boats to the new camp shedding, so that Mr Larkin can get at the downstream moorings this coming week. David’s son, Ben, is a nice little boy. They say he is a bit of a tearaway, but I find him OK if he is handled right. He spends some Sundays with David and today was one – a child of a split marriage, which is sad. Inside at dusk to lock and alarm the house and then wrote my diary whilst watching a moving, dramatic film, about the Nazi extermination camp in Poland, Sobibor, and the escape of 300 Jews. The news today was of fighting at a Sikh temple in Belvedere, South East London, when six people were hurt and three seriously. Northern Ireland police say that guns found at the scene of yesterday’s digger bomb attack were those used for seven previous murders and other attempted murders. In West Belfast, several thousand republican supporters staged an illegal march in what was to be a demonstration in commemoration of the 10 that died in 1981 hunger strike, but was instead used as a memorial to the 8 killed yesterday. After the Chequers meeting today, Thatcher seems set to call a June 11th Election, but will not yet comment on their decision. The London Marathon was run this morning, with a record 21,000 starters. 19,710 finished the 26 miles 385 yard course around the City and St John’s Ambulance Brigade treated 5, 600 in difficulty.