Painting my Reliant van British Racing Green
Painting my Reliant van British Racing Green

After a late breakfast of boiled eggs on a very cold morning, I was working on my bank statements, more of the Little Paxton history project and the painting of my Reliant van acquisition. More controversy over the handling of investigations in Ulster, some doubts over the outcome of Ford pay negotiations and a demonstration took place ‘for peace’ in London today

Slept soundly and it was very cold when I was woken with my morning tea. There had been a fair frost today, as the high pressure stays around, but at least it meant another bright and sunny day. A bit late to breakfast, but our boiled eggs were overdone anyway. Straight after, I sat in my office in the slanting sun and read today’s paper. Later, as there was nothing in the post, I sat at my desk and reconciled my bank account statements. Then, I eventually got back to my word processor. I started the editing of The Grove chapter and had to break off at lunchtime. Another salad to help my figure.

Di has been falling down on her diet lately and has put on weight again. She took Daniella off to Sandy this afternoon to see her sister-in-law (having been shopping in St Neots this morning). I got fed up with my typing, changed, and went out to work on my Reliant, as the sunshine was too much for me. I unscrewed the front mudguards and supports and sanded them off ready for spraying. Then a first coat of grey primer, before going in to make some afternoon tea. I then interleaved more word processing with periods of spraying, until I had both finished my section on The Grove and sprayed as much as I could. In that way the paint could dry between coats. This evening I did The Toll Gate Cottage and a coat of black gloss in the same way. The news & my journal. News today is of a continuing row over Northern Ireland, as N Ireland Secretary, Tom King, announces a new enquiry on the discipline of RUC Officers, but still no change of mind over prosecutions for perverting the course of justice. The opposition in parliament are not happy and neither are Irish politicians in the Doyle. There is doubt whether the Ford workers are to accept the new pay deal and the pickets and stewards are calling for its rejection. The Christian Movement for Peace organised a demonstration in London today on Ash Wednesday, but Thatcher speaks out for arms updates in Germany.