After a slow start on a mild day, and to breakfast in my pyjamas, I struggled with the Christmas preparations and routine. I worked in the conservatory installing the electrics and then installed spotlights outside before buying two large Leylandii shrubs to screen the new conservatory from the front gate. I went with Di and Della to watch Debbie’s Christmas horse-riding party and then came home to further decorate the Christmas tree. My dad had his minor ear operation today and my Apple scanner now awaits me in Cambridge. The Lockerbie Pan Am plane crash kills all its passengers and many more on the ground, for which claims of responsibility have been heard. The UK. falls foul of the European Court of human rights over detention without trial
I slept in a while and had to eat breakfast in my pyjamas again. This was more the pity, as Daniel’s friend, Gary, was staying the night and he seemed a bit startled. Christmas is a big problem. Everybody rushing around to finish off their work, tasks and commitments. Then there are all the Christmas customs and every year the list of cards and required presents gets longer. So many hopes are built up, expectations heightened and then dashed in the dull disappointment that follows. Then, in a flash, it is all over again and it seems like an anti-climax – but still we go through the routine. This morning I avoided all this and worked in the conservatory. I installed the electrics; enabling lights to be switched from within the lounge and the contact breaker distribution panels as well. It all went together with ease and was a good job well done. I also carried on after lunch to rig up the outside spotlights which I directed onto the Leylandii hedge.
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I then decided that a couple of mature conifers were needed to provide a screen from the entrance gap in the hedge and so I rushed off to Willington and bought two large Leylandii in huge tubs to provide a screen. This evening, I took Diana and Della to watch Debbie’s Xmas horse riding party. We thought Debbie was going to have to share a pony, but she had Flint in the end. Debbie rode quite well, winning three relay races with a friend and sharing the fancy dress prize – she went on as a Christmas tree! I helped Di this evening, putting the second string of lights onto the Christmas tree and then putting the presents underneath. I heard that my Dad had his minor ear operation when he went to visit the hospital today and that my Apple scanner has arrived in Cambridge for me to collect, which are both pieces of good news. The news today is all about the Pan Am aircraft crashing in Scotland. All aboard were killed and 10 to 20 on the ground engulfed as well by a fireball of aviation fuel. The light this morning revealed no trace at all the three houses replaced by an impact and explosion crater. The Home Secretary has announced that the Government is to pay no heed to the European Court of Human Rights ruling that the application of the UK Prevention of Terrorism Act is against natural justice due to the prolonged detention without trial. Back to the air crash, there is a story later tonight of warnings being received about the sabotage of a Pan Am aircraft from Frankfurt and the US administration come under heavy pressure for not reacting sufficiently to the threat. Two claims are responsibility of been received – from Libyan extremists and Islamic fundamentalists – but the claims must be taken with caution as it could be opportunism in the face of a tragic accident. The weather was mild today and the conservatory was above 60°F and quite pleasant to be in as I re-potted some plants.