Undertaking a number of chores in St Neots and supervising more contractors working today after dropping Di and Della off at the station for a trip to London by train to see Father Christmas at Selfridge’s and then Matthew and Sooty in pantomime at the Mayfair Theatre. After this, the whole family enjoyed our new 33 inch TV/Video with ‘super VHS’ recording as I had more HDC meetings at Pathfinder House. News today of a horrific train crash at Clapham Junction, where three trains crashed into one another, killing some 40 people and seriously injuring many more.
This day started slowly for me. We had been awoken in the early hours of the night by the hilarious spectacle of a group of police on foot trying vainly to herd a cow that has got across to the side of the river. They were pretty hopeless! Had my breakfast in pyjamas and dressing gown and only cleared the room just before Joan arrived to do her work at 9am. Some chores in St Neots this morning, buying a supply of fibreglass insulation from Tebbutt’s, then having a haircut before off to A.N Audio where I decided to buy a new television/video recorder combination made by Panasonic. We have therefore exchanged our 26 inch TV for a 33 inch one and now have ‘super VHS’ recording. Home after dropping Di and Della off at the station for a trip to London by train to see Father Christmas at Selfridge’s and then Matthew and Sooty in pantomime at the Mayfair Theatre.
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Once home, I made myself some lunch and got Pete to prepare our conservatory planter, lining it with insulation, then stones, before topping it up with planting medium. We also insulated the pump house together against noise and heat loss. This afternoon, I fitted windows security bolts and alarm sensors to the conservatory but did not wire them up. A young fitter came from Frost & Co this afternoon and prepared the outside the staining tomorrow. I got a call from his boss later, worried that the fungicides contained within the stain would hurt the fish unless they were covered up. At about teatime, our new TV/video arrived and came as a great surprise to Daniel and returning Diana they were very pleased. This evening, I went to Pathfinder House to several meetings called to consider a Boundary Commission dispute with Bedfordshire which was all much ado about nothing. More preoccupation also with Pathfinder House by the Economic Development Committee – this time with telephone expenditure for the new Poll Tax employees. Biggest incident was a fire after we had left in the nearby billiards/snooker club building which was consumed before the fire station turned out only a few hundred yards away! The news today was of a horrific train crash at Clapham Junction, south-east of London, where three trains crashed into one another, killing some 40 people and seriously injuring many more. It seems that the signal fault was the probable cause at a time when the signalling system was being reorganised. This makes 1988 the worst year of rail accidents for some time. The television channels was full of shots of the aftermath and train south of London were brought to a halt. This is the worst crash since 1967 and the opposition parties are critical of the government for economies made on safety matters. The stock exchange is still sliding as the second day of the bear market seems to be upon us. Today was very fine and mild again but colder weather is on the way.