Gorbachev and Reagan at their 1988 summit
Gorbachev and Reagan at their 1988 summit

Arrival of the builders on a fine and sunny day to commence digging the conservatory ponds as we were busy carrying away the earth to build up other areas. Pat and Percy dropped round to print out some press releases, I then spent some time raking the games lawn and then went off to lunch with Daniel and his friend Gary before going on to Sandy for advice on my Koi carp pool design and to buy more peat and top lawn dressing. News from the USSR is of Gorbachev taking over as Soviet president. Widespread violence in Pakistan in Karachi today and in Hyderabad yesterday with scores of protesting youths dying and hundreds being injured. Freak weather in Spain causes flash floods after heavy rain

Slept well and awoke early this morning, dashing down to the lounge to watch the Olympics on TV. It was the final of the Britain versus West Germany hockey contest and we came through to win 3-1 in a convincing victory for gold. I had my shower and shave during the half-time interval! No time to celebrate the victory, as the builders arrived, and I was out there receiving the earth from the digger straightaway. They arrived at 8am and, in the first 1½ hours dug out about 50% of the second and shallower pond. Gordon (Eddie’s neighbour) was supposed to come and take the earth to fill in his river frontage but, as he had not come, I went and knocked him up or he would be too late for the rest. At least I managed to build up the summerhouse foundation and so can extend it when it has bedded down.

Percy and Pat Meyer came round this morning to copy and prepare some press releases now that he is the SLD press officer for Southwest Cambs. I managed to sweep up and rake the grass to give it a chance to recover before Daniel and his friend Gary arrived for me to take them to lunch. We went to the Bridge Hotel, St Neots, and I enjoyed my plaice and salad as usual. After lunch, I dropped the family off and went to Sandy to see Mr’s Field junior and senior to discuss my Koi carp pool design. I picked up the ‘bottom drain ‘ for fitting. Then off to Bickerdike’s garden centre, Sandy, and after to Willington garden centre to get some more more peat and plenty of autumn top lawn dressing. This evening, after tea, I checked the fishpond dimensions and worked out that the service area will be about 120 ft² which is not too bad. They still have to enlarge one area by hand, but the dimensions will work out as a fair compromise. The weather stayed fine and sunny today, but we are getting frosts at night now and I will soon have to lay up The Lady as well as do my other chores. The news today is of Gorbachev taking over as Soviet president as Gromyko stands down. Now this remarkable leader is in full control of the Communist Party hierarchy. A Russian satellite is breaking up and crashing down to earth but its nuclear engine seems to be staying up for a few more years. Amazing violence in Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, as 57 die and 150 are injured today. This follows 160 dying in Hyderabad yesterday and protesting youths refused to obey a curfew and the gunmen fought battles with police. It sounds like anarchy with racial tensions at the root of it all. Freak weather in Spain as several die in flash floods after heavy rain