The Butterfields have now moved in and taken over Redgrave Post Office and stores.
The Butterfields have now moved in and taken over Redgrave Post Office and stores.

A stressful start on another cool and dull day as Daniel had forgotten his calculator and pencil case with an "A"-level Maths exam today so that I had to drive to Kimbolton and take them to him. Fortunately, he did well in the exam. Some preparations in the house, prior to building work the following day and a chat to my mum on the phone on her birthday. The Butterfields have now moved in and taken over Redgrave Post Office and stores.

A Tory ethics row as  former Cabinet Minister - Lord Young - has taken over a top job as executive chairman of Cable and Wireless after he had promised them only last June that they would have one of the three personal communications licenses when he used to be responsible for telecommunications policy at the DTI! Three scientists have challenged the government's view that their measures have made British Beef safe from BSE.  In Romania, thousands of demonstrators stormed the television compound and set fire to the police headquarters after feeling that the governing party has too close links with the former communist regime. Iliescu’s National Salvation Front won a landslide victory in last month's elections after there was widespread electoral irregularity

Yet another cool and dull day that threatened to produce rain which never came. I was still up early even though I was awake until after 3.00am and had the expected phone calls to arrange the collection of the FOCUS artwork and its treatment thereafter. Daniel had an "A"-level Maths exam today and set off late before letting us know by telephone that he had forgotten his calculator and pencil-case! I opted to take them to Kimbolton myself whilst Di took Della to school and I arrived to get the things to him in good time. When he came back later, he reported that he had done very well in the exam which is good news. I got my tools in from the shed today and worked on the two bedrooms that are to be knocked into one by the builders tomorrow. I disconnected the electrical wiring from the fitted furniture to prepare for their arrival before lunch and then continued afterwards by removing the two chests of drawers to use for tools in the sheds.

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Next, I carried inside watering-cans full of pond water to stop ,my bedding plants from shrivelling up and I then relaxed for a while after my late night and watched some televised football. I also found time to disconnect the burglar alarm circuitry that was formerly housed in the bedroom cabinets so as to be right ready for the next day. It was my mother's birthday today and I spoke to her at length on the telephone and then called Freda later at Redgrave. The Butterfields have moved in and taken over completely now, and things seem to be going well. Chris helps in the shop as Freda is undergoing her Post Office training and Alf does odd jobs. The shop had been left to run down a bit by Mr Whitmarsh, but they have re-stocked and the business seems to be getting all it needs by way of effort. Mum wants to go and join them for a week next week which is quite a turn-up!

I had a big row with Daniel tonight. I had let him and his friends use my croquet set on the games lawn last night and he managed to break the spike off of the central finishing post and then not put the croquet things or his car away properly. I kept him up to try looking for the missing part and we did not go to bed by 11.00pm in the end. A major political row has been fanned by the Labour Opposition over ethics now that another as former Cabinet Minister - Lord Young - has taken over a top job with a private company (this time as executive chairman of Cable and Wireless). He used to be responsible for telecommunications policy at the DTI and had promised them only last June that they would have one of the three personal communications licenses.

The United States are warning Israel's new coalition government that their newly-imposed pre-conditions for talks with the Palestinians are now threatening the future of Middle East peace moves. The BSE row is escalating as three scientists have challenged the government's view that their measures have made British Beef safe and the NFU wants to go further with a voluntary system.

In Romania, thousands of demonstrators stormed the television compound and set fire to the police headquarters and the government forces shot one man and injured 33 others on their own statistical information. Many feel that this party has too close links with the former communist regime and is not much of an improvement. Iliescu’s National Salvation Front won a landslide victory in last month's elections and, even though there was widespread electoral irregularity, probably would still have won anyway but it has left a very bitter reaction amongst the political opposition.