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Another family day, constructing Daniel’s Kyoshi Buggy buggy and roasting chestnuts on my open log fire as we find Mum much improved at Papworth and Thatcher returns form the US with a four-point summary for the West’s posture on Arms control
Awake at the normal time and a good night’s sleep. Time to scan The Sunday Times before a good fried breakfast. Quickly to wash my hair, shave and dress before out early to feed the doves and ducks. Back with Daniel to the office and a fair chance to advance the Progress. We assemble the front suspension to the main chassis and prepare the parts for the rest of the front and rear suspension for tomorrow. Home to a roast lunch and then we leave for Papworth and to see Mum. She looks a little better today – her complexion is much pinker rather than the purple of a few days ago. She is pleased to see the children and they play spotting colours and things in a game of guessing. Her new room is closer to the lake and toilet. Soon Dad arrives and takes over and we return home to tea.
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Another day with Dad and Daniel, shopping and building the Kyoshi Progress as Mum progresses well at Papworth and Thatcher now speaks to Reagan on Arms Control during her US trip
A fair lay in before breakfast and the normal routine, but rather later than usual. The doves were hungry again with the colder weather overnight. Very late to complete the chores and it wasn’t until 10.45am that I get along to the office with Daniel to resume our construction of Progress. Today the front suspension before back to Willow Close and all out to The Happy Eater, Grandad and all. A pleasant lunch (though Debbie was not very good) and then Dad parts for Papworth whilst we set off for Biggleswade. A good hours shopping – Daniel and I bought a half stilton cheese, prawns, herrings, chestnuts and a pretty paraffin lamp for Di’s Christmas present. Di was less successful with her shopping. Home to put the ducks away and light the fire before a tea of grilled herrings and stilton/digestive biscuits to follow. Dad returns and reports Mum as all right, then we have a few chestnuts roasted on the fire and watch a tearful Christmas film on the television. News tonight of the world spotlights on arms limitation. Thatcher is talking to Reagan on her US trip, Marshall Sokolov is chosen as the USSR Minister of Defence and the USSR is solemnly warning that no agreement can be made that permits an arms race in space.
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Lovely leisurely day with my Dad, Fred, and family starting work on building Daniel’s Kyoshi Progress 4WD buggy and visiting Mum in Papworth as thousands still die in Ethiopia and the Soviet defence minister dies, cutting short Gorbachev’s visit and I am in demand for speaking engagements
I lay long in bed reading the FT and catching up on yesterday’s journal, dismissing a naughty Debby from the room when unable to keep quiet. Between times my normal breakfast, but critical of the small loaf slices. Eventually to wash, bath, shave and dress as Dad arrives and Debbie plays with him until I am ready. Out to feed the doves and Dad and Debbie also climb the ladder and see them at close hand for the first time. Then to feed the ducks and dad laughs at their follow-my-leader formation as they arrive for feeding. Back to collect Daniel and over to the office to start the construction of his off-road radio control buggy. We put damping oil in three realistic dampers and assemble the front drive housing and have made a start.
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A family day playing with the children in their school holiday, welcoming my father and making a joint visit to Papworth; pleased that he can stay at No 39 Gordon Road as a huge fire blocks a Pennines tunnel and Victoria Gillick wins her anti-under-age contraceptive campaign. All as oil hits a new low and Thatcher is cornered by her doubting colleagues
Up on time and to my morning tea and paper. Daniel is already getting a bit bored with his school holiday and goes into bed with Deborah this morning, listening to stories from her tape recorder! After breakfast, a lay in finishing my reading and then up to get washed, dressed and showered. I hear the radio coverage of yesterday in parliament and the mauling of Patrick Jenkin, but the real culprit, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, sits quietly by. Out to feed the ducks and doves, but the doves are not very hungry. The weather is mild with rain drizzling and it is amazing to see how their appetite varies with the air temperature. I phone The Trader local newspaper and give them my thoughts for a ‘Christmas present wishes for our leaders’ feature. I ask for my Mother to have a positive Papworth test and Christmas operation, for St Neots to keep its livestock market and, perhaps, avoid large schemes that could change its character. For a miners strike settlement and conciliation and the industrial renaissance of this once proud country of ours. Daniel and I read model magazines and decide on a radio controlled buggy. Phone calls find a ‘Progress’ at a Milton Keynes shop and it seems a good choice. I light the log fire in the lounge as Dad is expected today and we settle down to lunch waiting for him to arrive. This he does shortly after doing his chores in Bury St Edmunds.