A session cheering Debbie up as she was getting depressed over her piano practise
A session cheering Debbie up as she was getting depressed over her piano practise

A trip to Cambridge with Di for coffee and lunch with her parents after taking Sam on a long deer hunt this morning. and then an afternoon tour in vain seeking some replacement binoculars for those stolen from my car. A similar search to find some boots large enough. Later, A session cheering Debbie up as she was getting depressed over her piano practise

I joined Diana for a trip to Cambridge this morning but unfortunately delayed her by first taking the dog for a long walk so that he would be settled but then by being held up by Bill Medlock who was complaining about not being able to get the cement mixer going. He seems to want to bring all of the problems to me but I employ him to save me time not give me work. During my dog walk, I tracked the muntjac as making visits to the allotment rubbish dump and then back over some ditches towards the pits. Made good time in the car on the way and so did not get there too late, arriving at 10.15am in time to see Di's parents for coffee at Eadon Lilley's.

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They really seemed to appreciate my album chronicling the building of The Harnser and said that they would like to come with us next time we make a day trip there. The morning shopping with me trying unsuccessfully to buy a pair of size 12 rubber boots for hunting. I had invited Charles and Norma to join us for lunch as well and we all met up at the Arts Theatre Restaurant at noon for a very nice meal. It is sad to think that this entire building will be closing down for eighteen months soon, and this seems totally unnecessary to me as surely the improvements could be done in stages.

On the way back to the car we stopped off at a photographic shop that also stocked a large range of binoculars. I was particularly interested in three Nippon models, but it became apparent that it would cost me well over £300 to replace those stolen from my car in Norwich. This realisation depressed me terribly as I walked and drove home. We were sure that the thief did no get anywhere near this price for my others which were just about ideal for what I needed. The afternoon trying to replace another item stolen - my wellington boots. Why on earth anybody would want to steal such a large pair of somebody else's boots will also remain a mystery but I have to find the right sort again which is another bind.

Drove to Great Paxton, then Godmanchester before continuing to Huntingdon and then St Ives. I opted for a large pair (size 12/13) of green thigh waders from Godmanchester and another large pair (size 12) of black boots from Huntingdon as none of the green lightweight Barbour/Hunter boots could be found in such sizes without them being ordered specially. The waders were offered as a special order that somebody else had failed to collect and cost me £40 against £59 retail. They were studded and seemed of good quality and will do nicely for trout fishing in my Scottish loch.

Home in time for tea and then another walk with Sam afterwards. A session cheering Debbie up as she was getting depressed over her piano practise then left just a couple of hours before bedtime but this was long enough to archive January's journal and update the month to date.