A vast Wembley gathering and Pop Concert in honour of Nelson Mandela who defiantly turned down the chance to meet the Thatcher Government and then castigated her stand over the relaxation of sanctions against South Africa to a satellite TV audience of over one billion!
A vast Wembley gathering and Pop Concert in honour of Nelson Mandela who defiantly turned down the chance to meet the Thatcher Government and then castigated her stand over the relaxation of sanctions against South Africa to a satellite TV audience of over one billion!

Increasingly suffering from my cold on a cold day. After the morning cleaning the boat and enjoying a McDonald’s lunch again we stayed for 2/3 hours at Mum’s to give her a chance to play with the girls at Dominos, Noughts and Crosses etc. Then home to The Hayling View very tired and weak with my cold to be greeted by the inevitable telephone messages, papers and piles of mail.

Most pressing matter was the production of the third Liberal Democrat leaflet for our target wards but, after a visit from Percy, I telephoned Sally, Carole and Glisson Printers and put the job back a week which is a far better tactical time to do it anyway and rested this evening.

A vast Wembley gathering and Pop Concert in honour of Nelson Mandela who defiantly turned down the chance to meet the Thatcher Government and then castigated her stand over the relaxation of sanctions against South Africa to a satellite TV audience of over one billion! Opposition leader, Neil Kinnock, was there televised giving a "black power" clenched fist salute which was a mistake. Lithuania are calling for talks with Moscow but will not rescind their independence declaration. The "Iraq Supergun" scandal develops with information of more British companies being involved.

Another bright but cold start and my cold was now coming on which made me feel worse. The family were anxious to leave for home by now, but I heard the weather forecast and decided to stay on this morning and leave this afternoon. First, we had to clean the boat, inside and outside, and Daniel did the waterline and hull from the inflatable whilst I cleaned off above decks and Di did the inside. We sent the girls off several times to play in the garden and take the dog for a walk. (I also topped up the fuel tanks with 10 gallons each side, which I ferried from Horning at a cost of £1.20 per gallon, which is 20p less per gallon than the boat hirers pay.) We did a good job in this regard and the Paxton Princess is looking as good as it has since we bought it.

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I then chatted to Freda now that she had discussed Redgrave overnight with Alf and then saw Jack Edwards and saw him right for welcoming the Butterfields into Heronshaw and looking after the place whilst I was away. It was lunchtime before we could get away and we stopped on the ring road for our McDonald’s lunch again and then arrived at Mum's at 2.30pm. This was a longer visit than normal as we stayed for 2/3 hours but it gave Mum a chance to play with the girls at Dominos, Noughts and Crosses etc on this Easter Monday. Whilst I was there, I also took Mum's car for a ride to make sure it was still in good shape and then dropped in to see her neighbours to thank them for continuing to serve meals and look after the garden which are both lifelines to her. Then the remaining trip home to The Hayling View and I was very tired and weak with my cold by the time we arrived. I was greeted by the inevitable telephone messages, papers and piles of mail which I decided had to be looked at in view of their importance. Most pressing matter was the production of the third Liberal Democrat leaflet for our target wards which was down on our schedule for doing immediately. After a visit from Percy, who was anxious to proceed, I telephoned Sally, Carole and Glisson Printers and put the job back a week which is a far better tactical time to do it anyway. We are winning the campaigns in Priory and the Offords, but slow off the mark in Bury but Carole is pledged to put that right. I then rested this evening, quite tired and suffering with my cold. The news from the TV was of a vast Wembley gathering and Pop Concert in honour of Nelson Mandela who attended in person and gave a speech. He defiantly turned down the chance to meet the Thatcher Government and then castigated her stand over the relaxation of sanctions against South Africa to a satellite TV audience of over one billion! Opposition leader, Neil Kinnock, was there televised giving a "black power" clenched fist salute which incensed right wing Tory MPs. Elsewhere, Lithuania are calling for talks with Moscow but will not rescind their independence declaration. The "Iraq Supergun" scandal develops with information of more British companies being involved.