Stubble Burning before legislation
Stubble Burning before legislation

A better night sleep and good start to the day as I ran into Di coming out of the shower before we were both dressed! After some hasty chores, we took a trip to Bedford on the last day of the school holidays and I dropped in on the Peacocks Auction Centre which has changed its name to the Bedford Auction Centre. Then together to Harry Kitchener Marine but a very poor display of boats inexpensive chandlery. Home via St Neots for food shopping after which I spent the rest of the day on paperwork and admiring my growing Koi carp.

A £1 million kidnap and ransom demand was thwarted with six men arrested, the UK inflation rate is down a little at 8.2% and Argentina/UK diplomatic talks are progressing well with the questions of Falklands sovereignty left to one side. A nice warm, sunny day spoilt by widespread straw/stubble burning

A good night and a better start to the day as I ran into Di as I was coming out of the shower and before we were both dressed! Then a quick routine of doves, fish and plants before I spent a little time getting the swimming pool boiler going to start heating the water. Then our trip to Bedford on the last day before the children go back to school. We parked at Luke Street, had coffee at Debenhams and then went our various ways.

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I stayed looking after Della for a short while and then walked to Peacocks Auction Centre. It has been taken over and is now known as the ‘Bedford Auction Centre’. Mr Peacock (and his faithful helper Danny) are still there but the signs are new. One or two things of interest but nothing that I could not live without. Di and I then rendezvoused back at the car and drove off to Harry Kitchener marine. The boat display was pretty poor – and the chandlery still as expensive as ever. I do not how they can be such a well-known Fairline dealer and there are no stock or demonstration boats on the premises and no way in which the craft can get up to Bedford for service!

Then home via St Neots for Diana’s shopping. The rest of the day spent on paperwork and chores for me with a bit of ‘the Godfather’ on TV to end up with. The Koi carp are getting ever bigger with a Hariwake leading the way. It is healthy and getting quite fat and may be a female. It was so skinny when it was ill.

The news today is of a £1 million kidnap and ransom demand which was hitherto kept secret but reported to the police. They caught the six men involved by observation. Harry Corbett, creator of the ‘Sooty’ glove puppet has died, aged 81. His son, Matthew Corbett, took over the show some time ago. The UK inflation rate is down a little at 8.2% and the government supporters are celebrating; prematurely in my view.

Argentina/UK diplomatic talks are progressing well with the questions of Falklands sovereignty left to one side. A nice warm, sunny day today but widespread straw/stubble burning left palls of smoke overhanging the area and led to a fall out of smuts. Two constituents phone me to complain I phoned the press to get a story going. I counted seven fires on my way to Bedford, smoke joining up together and leaving Paxton in the firing line. This is so bad for the health and well-being of earth and mankind as well