Della had become nervous of school and school dinners again, claiming nausea at the Prep today, missing some of her lessons by staying in the Kimbolton sanatorium
Della had become nervous of school and school dinners again, claiming nausea at the Prep today, missing some of her lessons by staying in the Kimbolton sanatorium

Della had become nervous of school and school dinners again, claiming nausea at the Prep today, missing some of her lessons by staying in the Kimbolton sanatorium, and so Diana and I spent some time with her this evening.

Sam He was coming on well now and being 18 weeks of age; comes to heel, sits and stays to command, signal and whistle; waits before being waved on at the feed bowl and dummy retrieve, walks on the lead, travels obediently in boat or car and is becoming more settled in the presence of others.

There were more Allied raids on Iraq again today in what appeared to me to be a grossly unfair over-reaction and The Queen and the Prince of Wales are now both missing engagements but their "gastroenteritis" is seen as being a genuine.

Back to a school-day routine for the girls today and it was a shame that Della has become nervous of school and school dinners again. She claimed nausea at the Prep today and missed some of her lessons by staying in the sanatorium which was a worrying development. Diana and I spent some time with her this evening and we hope that she will now be more confident for tomorrow. I was up early by Diana's call to tend Sam this morning and then also gave him two more good runs and training sessions later. He is coming on well now at the end of his eighth week in my care and is now 18 weeks of age.

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I completed my note on him this evening and reckon that he has reached his first stage of initial obedience training and can now progress further. He comes to heel, sits and stays to command, signal and whistle; he waits before being waved on at the feed bowl and dummy retrieve, walks on the lead, travels obediently in boat or car and is becoming more settled in the presence of others. I took Diana to Bedford this morning and bought her a year's membership of the Automobile Association and also an A.A. emergency telephone to keep with her in her car. These days, a woman travelling alone is in danger in the event of an incident or breakdown and this was a cheaper alternative to another cellular telephone. Some correspondence this afternoon and then time with Debbie and Della this evening. I also helped Diana prepare for her Brownie session before updating my journal and doing some more reading this evening before bed.

A fine and settled day, though a little chillier than of late as I found out to my cost when being delayed chatting to gardener Bill this morning. There were more Allied raids on Iraq again today in what appeared to me, and an increasing amount of world opinion, a grossly unfair over-reaction. The U.S. are now losing the support of the former Gulf War Allies but George Bush does not seem to mind as he determines to go out with a bang. The Queen and the Prince of Wales are now both missing engagements, but their "gastroenteritis" is seen as being a genuine illness attacking their Sandringham household.