Up somewhat frustrated over bedtime and morning drinks as a wet and windy weekend is in prospect but I am soon reading the Investors Chronicle which reveals market nervousness but the Exchange and Mart had better news and I found two registration numbers that would suit for now, YXD-1 and VXD-1. More work on my book rather than my Reliant as Thatcher still battles France and Germany over the CAP and the USSR and USA ships clash over navigation in the Black Sea. Now Thames Water workers are balloting for a strike
Awoke quite early and went off in search of my morning tea. I had been frustrated last night, as Di had gone off to bed without getting me my bedtime drink. Was showered and dressed in time for a hot croissant with the others and was actually at the table before Daniel! Read the papers for a while. For once the Investors Chronicle had arrived on a Friday and so I read that too. The commentators are getting universally nervous – even those who had been bullish until now – and the charts all point to recession. Studied the Exchange and Mart registration numbers again and adopted a new idea. As I could not find suitable car or name initials, I would buy two close numbers VXD1 and YXD1 at only £2500 each and put one on each of the Rolls and Range Rover.
I will then trade them in, if and when something more suitable comes up. Then to my word processor and I tackle the School Cottages all the rest of the morning. At 1.00, I made myself a ham salad lunch and watched the midday news, then got back to it this afternoon. I was tempted to take advantage of the cool, but sunny, weather to go out and work on the Reliant, but I overcame the temptation and kept at it. Out to feed the doves and ducks tonight, having managed to get the registration agent to undertake a double transfer and start our new Rolls Corniche off with its right number. More work this evening and at last I finished the School and School Lane Cottages. It will be The Anchor next, as the actual school history has to go in another section. Turned to my journal and TV news late tonight. The wrangling is continuing at the European Community, where Thatcher is doing battle with the French and Germans over the Common Agricultural Policy. Late tonight it seems that there might be a compromise, with Thatcher accepting higher food production limits than requested. The economic news is of lower UK price inflation and a lower US trade deficit, but the stock exchange only inches up. The USSR and US are angry with each other after an incident in the Black Sea. US warships insisted on making a passage in waters claimed by the USSR, the Russians jostled them and the ships sideswiped one another. The Thames Water workers are the latest to ballot for a strike in the run up to privatisation. They are worried about the ending of negotiating agreements. A wet and windy weekend is in prospect.