Family day with my sister’s news about Stacey and then meeting Diana’s sister for lunch whilst the doves struggle with their new life and poor Prime Ministerial Commons performance debating the Queen’s Speech
Awake and first to drink my morning tea and take one of my tablets – they have to be swallowed one hour before meals, twice a day. Up, breakfast, dressed and to the office soon after 9.00am for two hours work writing to the police over last night’s disturbances, and ordering my notepad stationery, embossed with the new coat of arms. I get a long phone call from Freda who updates me. She is now recovering from her operation and getting out a little bit to potter in the garden and occasionally visit the small holding. She has told Dad about Stacey’s pregnancy and left it to his discretion when to tell Mum, but is worried about Mum’s condition. I updated her on Mum and Dad’s visit and reassured her on their welfare. They have nearly finished the central heating installation and have applied to the Abbey National building society for a further advance as per my advice. News tonight of the four clearing banks base rate cut of ½ %.
A few phone calls about tomorrow’s arrangements and then, with Di’s help, to record a new sharper recorded message for my telephone answering machine. Off together to Cambridge for a little shopping and my opportunity to go to the library and get books on squirrels and nest boxes. We rendezvous at the Wimpy bar so as to meet Diana’s sister Sue for lunch and enjoy burger and chips together. Sue has applied for her driving test, but is not saying when it will be, and so we will be selling Diana’s second car and keeping the money by. A little more shopping and then home for a bit more work in my case. I clean out the doves this afternoon and replace their water. They seem to be getting wet and cold in the cool breeze and fine rain and have still not learned to enter the dove cote nest boxes for shelter. Tea with the children and then to hear about The Queen’s speech in the House of Commons is denounced as more of the same, and several Tory backbenchers deferred from its content in coded terms. The Prime Minister, in a lack-lustre and arrogant performance, was outdone by Neil Kinnock amongst criticisms of lack of new policies.