Govan Mbeki's release after 23 years imprisonment on Robin Island
Govan Mbeki's release after 23 years imprisonment on Robin Island

Recovering from the plane journey and jet-lag, catching up on phone messages and reading and progressing my history and conservatory projects and then the Priory Park fireworks display  before an early night. US budget negotiations continue without agreement, an Ulster police atrocity and more tit-for-tat raids in the Gulf as ANC’s Mbeki is finally released by the South African government after 23 years in jail!

Slept very soundly last night and, at first, Di and I felt all right this morning. We rushed to get washed and dressed and then the children off to school, but then it hit us in mid-morning, as the time corresponded to the early hours of California’s night time. Could do little this morning, except read the last two day’s Financial Times and open the post, which was quite bulky after a week away. There were also tapes of 20 calls on my answering machine. Di was low as well and so I took her and Della out to lunch at the Little Chef. Della had slept continually from 9.00pm last night until midday today! After lunch, I set about the task of returning the phone calls. Had interesting chats with the owner of Mill House (who I arranged to meet next Thursday evening) and then Charles Frost, the conservatory designer. By this time the children were home from school and they seemed to manage the first day back quite well.

Poor Debbie’s rash persists, but does not seem to bother her. Daniel has an aversion to wearing his big anorak, as it is ‘not cool’, even though in this weather any alternative is freezing! I did not achieve very much today and this evening took the family to the Evangelists firework display in Priory Park, which was a bit loud for Della. Later on, I contented myself with updating my journal and having an early night. The financial markets concern over the Congress/Administration negotiations on the US deficit continues, after 10 negotiating sessions. Now Reagan’s team have proposed a combined expenditure cut and ‘tax’ increase plan, but it is unclear whether the terms are acceptable to Congress. Today both the UK and US stock exchanges closed down by some 20 points. An amazing series of errors by police from the Republic of Ireland allowed a kidnap gang to escape twice from police custody. This after they had been caught in possession of Dentist John O’Grady, whose little fingers from each hand had been cut off in a sadistic attempt to extract ransom from his father-in-law. For the 3rd day running, Iraqi planes strafed Iranian oil tankers and then Iranian armed speedboats attacked an Iraqi oil tanker. British mine sweepers have moved further north in the Gulf to remove mines known to have been laid there by the Iranians. The South African government have released the ANC’s No2 leader, held after 23 years in jail. Govan Mbeki’s release could promptly be followed by that of Nelson Mandela.