The swallows were back in Paxton
The swallows were back in Paxton

To Cambridge with Di to see her parents and persuade Norma to accept a health check at my expense after all of her coughing. Lunch at the Arts Theatre Restaurant and then back to Paxton for a Village Hall Committee meeting, which started with me in the Chair. And treating them to a drink in The Anchor afterwards.

As I lay in bed, I heard the reed warblers back opposite in the river and, what with the swallows now being back at Heronshaw, we can now say that the summer visitors have arrived, and the new season has just about begun

The girls to school and then I did a little work on my journal before Diana persuaded me to go to Cambridge with her. On the journey, I made many telephone calls returning the messages left from yesterday which was good use of my time. Then we dropped off the deeds for Heronshaw at my Cambridge solicitors before parking at the Round Church and walking to meet Di's parents at Eadon Lilleys. Her Mum, Norma, still has a cough and cold which I now think must be some sort of allergy or viral infection; or she is run down, and I fear the onset of shingles or pneumonia if she goes on refusing to see the doctor. I persuaded her over coffee to accept a health screening session at the Evelyn Hospital at my expense which was a relief for us and Charles. A long chat and then another date to meet them for lunch as they accepted my invitation to the Arts Theatre Restaurant later.

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A little shopping (wherein I bought a new shaving brush and soap bowl) and then the meal which I always appreciate there for its nice cooking and vegetables. The journey home and then the rest of the afternoon clearing my in-tray and writing checks and balancing accounts to pay all manner of bills that have become somewhat overdue. I also arranged for my Range Rover to be repaired and serviced next week as it seems to be on its last legs and struggling at the moment whilst giving off great clouds of black smoke on starting. After tea, it was time for this evening's meeting of the Village Hall Committee. I only just managed to arrive on time and, in the absence of the other Trustees, took the chair briefly to organise the election of a new chairman for the ensuing year.

We had been fortunate in having a new Secretary come forward but still lacked a treasurer without which it would be impossible to budget and plan the future. The meeting that followed was quite good, but I had to help the chairman several times to get back on the right track and then invited several of them on to The Anchor afterwards to have a drink and improve relationships. Home quite late as a result and then up later still watching the TV before going to bed after midnight. As I lay in bed, I heard the reed warblers back opposite in the river and, what with the swallows now being back at Heronshaw, we can now say that the summer visitors have arrived and the new season has just about begun