Nigel  talking about his trip to Kenya and also about his Hail Weston House break in
Nigel talking about his trip to Kenya and also about his Hail Weston House break in

An early meeting with Steven Bloom reviewing the Heronshaw building regulations queries and some time for Nigel at home talking about his trip to Kenya and also about his Hail Weston House break in and then off to Heronshaw later where Sony Amis called with plans to return with timber.

Betty Boothroyd, the former Labour Deputy Speaker, was elected new Speaker of the House of Commons today and so became the first-ever woman to occupy that position.

I was still in the shower when Steven Bloom telephoned and said he was back from helping Derek. He agreed to come over and discuss my building control problems with the new boat-shed and that left me just a little time to clear the other office desk and get ready for his arrival. Calls also to my colleagues about the election plans and then Nigel called as the morning became ever-more busy. I went through the calculations and then the forty-odd building regulations queries with Steven and compared notes so that the majority of the matters were resolved ready for tomorrow's meeting. There were a few left and it was a pity that the structural engineer was not going to be available to help with them.

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Then Sonny Amis called and announced that he was going to return on site next week which was good news. I discussed my idea of using a barge for timber delivery and site storage with him but he torpedoed it by explaining that once the barge was loaded with timber it would draw too much water to get up Ropes Hill Dyke which was a blow! By this time Nigel Smith had arrived, Steven Bloom bowed out, and Nigel proceeded to tell us all about his family's trip to Kenya for a photographic Safari which they all thoroughly enjoyed. His next news was more amazing still as it transpired that, whilst he was away, a staff member had forced entry into his house and made off with almost his entire cellar of alcohol and used his Volvo car in the process and damaged it!

His antics to get the police to respond were quite amusing and alarming at the same time as their lack of time and money makes them increasingly reluctant to be involved. I went out to lunch with him to hear the rest of the story and then got ready for my trip to Norfolk. Still home for tea with the girls and then in Horning before dusk so as to unload, hoover and tidy the bungalow, so as to be able to relax and get my journal updated before bed. Betty Boothroyd, the former Labour Deputy Speaker, was elected new Speaker of the House of Commons today and so became the first-ever woman to occupy that position. About 75 Tory members joined members of other parties to vote her in against a challenge from Peter Brooke.