Starting Family London Weekend reviewing the Kode Offer and then setting off for a journey down memory lane, arriving at Swiss Cottage and visiting London Zoo, before back for Diana and Debbie to watch a hotel film, Aladdin, whilst Daniel watched Jaws III and then Diana and I off to The Mayfair Theatre to see ‘The Business of Murder’ as the children were supervised and entertained themselves.
I slept well but Diana was awake thinking excitedly about our weekend in London. I lay in to read the papers and evaluate the Kode offer. Looking at the stock exchange listings, and assuming Comart can net £400K after tax, the company should be worth between £4M and £10M at p/c ratios from between 10 and 30 and so I must respond with a different counter offer. Eventually up washed and dressed until we leave the house at about 10.00am. Daniel has let the ducks out today and Marilyn has undertaken to look after them for the next two days. We set off via St Neots and I collect £100 from the bank for what could end up an expensive weekend.
I route the journey down the A1 but turn off to go through Shefford, site of our first house at 24 Northbridge Street (bought for £4400 including Diana’s Dowry of £400.) These terraced houses are still of modest type for young couples and outside is the pine tree that I planted one Christmas (in fact “transplanted” from a local plantation after use as a Christmas tree, together with another acer drummondii.) On through Lower Stondon where we saw the ‘flat-topped’ house at 163 Station Road; the rented house we lived in before we had money to buy our own house. Then through Hitchin where we saw the maternity hospital in which Daniel was born, the house in ‘ The Willows’ where Diana spent time as a child, and then St Ippolyts to see the church where we were married – a charming hilly village in comparison with flat Cambridgeshire. On via Letchworth to see Di’s family’s old houses at 7 Willian Way and 49 Willian Way before stopping in Letchworth Town Centre for a McDonalds lunch and also our main purpose in making this detour – the Mothercare purchase of a maternity swimming suit for Dianna. Then quickly by the A1 motorway to London, arriving at the Swiss Cottage Holiday Inn at 1.00pm. Some difficulty contacting the Weekender Hostess to get the special offer ‘goodies’ but eventually ready to go to London Zoo together. A bitterly cold afternoon with flurries of sleety showers and weather forecasts of snow to come. We enjoyed watching the Pelicans being fed and then the Polar Bears were fed a diet of raw meat, apples and carrots, one Bear amusing the crowd by plunging into the pool and collecting up to five carrots at a time from the bottom. Then a tour of the aquarium where the kids appreciated the large carp, the reptiles and turtles amongst the range of fish present. Back by taxi again to the Hotel where Debbie and Diana went to the weekender film show to watch Aladdin. A quick Room Service tea of salad and fruit, place and chips and then Diana and I left for the theatre by taxi whilst the children stayed in the Hotel under the occasional listening ear of the babysitter. Daniel watched Jaws III on television whilst Deborah slept. We arrived just in time to collect our telephone booked tickets for the ‘Business of Murder’ performance at the May Fair Theatre. Time before the start for a drink in the bar and a good evening’s entertainment. A little late to bed with the children still awake but safe in their room.