An early start to the day with Debbie and her friend Helen running around and then the morning working on my Comart computer updating my Little Paxton Pre-War history chapter. A trip to Cambridge marred with traffic and parking issues but some good reference books bought from Heffers as a compensation. Quite a good SLD meeting this evening with the priority on campaigning. Chancellor Lawson accused of cheating by the opposition. A big hurricane in The Philippines has claimed 550 people and made 60,000 homeless
A little late to bed and then awoken by the girls running around 6 o’clock in the morning. Debbie enjoys her friends visits but I must admit to being glad Helen was picked up this morning at the end of a hectic 24-hour stay! I tried to ignore all else around me today and worked with my Comart computer this morning updating my Little Paxton pre-war history section from the comments I received on the consultation copies. I was quite engrossed in it by lunchtime and then we had to go to Cambridge this afternoon. So much lorry and car traffic on the A45 on the way there. How they can think of putting a new ‘urban village’ on this road I really cannot understand. Once there, even more trouble in parking but I dropped off the family and waited for a space in the Round Church Car Park which took half an hour. Still left me an hour to spend in Heffers and at the Cambridge Computer Store.
I bought two good books each at the former on electronic publishing, Word and Excel so that I can now start to use the Mac for my book and financial affairs. Home in time for tea and then this evening at St Neots District Social and Liberal Democrats Branch Committee meeting. Quite a good meeting, if a bit wayward, but at least the right priorities agreed for action – newsletters, recruitment and campaigning ahead of the May County Elections. Took them to the pub afterwards and bought them a drink but it was very smoky with acrid cigar smoke and I was quite glad to leave. The teletext news tonight led with the Labour opposition’s Commons attack on the Chancellor Lawson’s economic policy. Kinnock caused uproar by causing Lawson ‘a cheat’ and had to withdraw the unparliamentary remark. The Hurricanes are now claimed a ferry of the Philippines with up to 500 passengers drowned and only eight survivors so far picked up. Storms and mudslides in that country have killed some 60 more made a further 60,000 homeless.