Volcanus incinerating Agent Orange
Volcanus incinerating Agent Orange

Visit of Charles and Norma after Di’s birthday and then time for some work on recent history interviews as more storms and torrential rain affects hundreds of homes in Wales with 2ins of rain in 24hrs whilst 300,000 homes nationwide are still affected by the Great Storm. Incinerator ship, Volcanus II, is harried by Danish fishing vessels

A restful night and was asleep when Di brought my morning tea, on another breezy, if dry, day. Up to shower, shave and dress in time for breakfast with the family and, in fact, with 10 minutes to spare for reading the Sunday paper beforehand. A nice fried breakfast, whilst poor Di had to be content with a plate of bran flakes because of her diet. This morning I finished reading today’s papers and then went out to feed the ducks and doves. A session afterwards on my history diskettes, before it was time for me to lay up our dining room table, with best china and silver, for our lunch with Di’s parents. They arrived at 12.30pm and Daniel, Della and I chatted to them in the lounge until Di had got the lunch ready.

A nice meal of roast beef, the best that money could buy, and we all enjoyed it. The children behaved and Di’s parents appreciated the occasion. I watched some TV sport with Charles afterwards, to keep him company and then they left in late afternoon. Tea in the lounge and then this evening in my office, translating an old Les Forescutt interview tape for completeness. News today is of a new weather disaster, as floods hit parts of Wales after torrential rain. Hundreds of homes in north and west Wales are flooded and over 2 inches of rain has fallen in less than 24 hours. After the gales in England, the railways have been almost cleared, but electricity has still to be restored to 300,000 homes. Cooking equipment, blankets and tarpaulins are in short supply. Another representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury has visited Syria and Lebanon to try to get news on Terry Waite. The Volcanus II waste ship, recently chased by Greenpeace, was ringed by Danish fishing vessels today and a hose pipe battle broke out.