Valentine’s Day – A card from Di this morning but had to say sorry as her was delayed. Some time on the Range Rover ahead of its new cherished number status arriving and then on my Reliant trying to solve its battery charging problem. The news today is of the hole-in-the-heart boy, Matthew Collier, dying after his operation had been put off three times due to nursing shortages, before it went ahead in January. The Ford strike continues, and Dover is still shut down. The Observer is very critical of my forestry tax relief scheme
Got to bed at a reasonable time and woke up quite early. Had to say sorry to Di for not getting her a Valentine’s card – but I just have not been near enough to the shops for days. She got me a nice one with a Rolls Royce radiator and number plate on it ‘I LOVE YOU’, which is very apt these days with my car and registration worries. Read the paper a little, whilst waiting for Di to finish cooking the breakfast. The Observer has featured Scottish Forestry and tax incentives again and had a big spread in their colour magazine, which was highly critical.
Straight outside afterwards to do the Range Rover. I took out the boot seat, cut back the carpet cladding and used the circular saw to trim off 1 to 2 inches from the top, gluing the carpet back on with Evostick. The result fitted well under the panel shelf and I was pleased with the result. The rest of the morning to vacuum, sponge, rinse, leather and polish the car, until I finished at lunchtime with a beautiful result. The car looks brand new and will soon have its personal registration and lose its year letter. After lunch I tightened a few screws on the headlight assembly and then turned my attention to the Reliant. After much messing about with wiring diagrams and multi-meter, I gave up trying to understand the regulator box. Then I worked out how to remove the dynamo and fan assembly and was able to tighten up the forward cylinder block unit. A new gasket on the face and nut to replace one lost should stop the oil leak for good. In at dusk after feeding and putting away the ducks. Then tea watching the Antiques Road Show and an evening in my office, typing a letter about the Corniche. Later, some TV as I updated my journal. The news today is of the hole-in-the-heart boy, Matthew Collier, dying after his operation had been put off three times due to nursing shortages, before it went ahead in January. The spotlight is on more small children on the waiting list for urgent surgery and subsequent intensive care. Air traffic controllers are up in arms over the present safety problems and recent near misses. They have passed a vote of no confidence in the head of air traffic control, Mr Mac, because he will not discuss suggestions for improvements. The Isle of Man ferries are running again, with a settlement of the grievances, but the strike at Dover continues. The Duke and Duchess of York have visited Northern Ireland, attending church services and visiting schools and local people. More continental Ford plants are to shut, due to the UK industrial dispute. Today was pleasantly mild, still and bright.