The Lady off for winter repairs as the Hong Kong sovereignty agreement, which were initialled today by Britain and China in the Peoples Great Hall in Peking
Another clear day, so we decide to take The Lady along to Buckden Marina for the winter repairs. Yesterday we found time to drop in and chat with the manager who promises the renovation will be completed by next April. First this morning to the office where, busy with my Executel telephone terminal for the first hour or two, reprogramming the memory for automatic phone calls and understanding the archive techniques. Then to update my journal on what has turned out to be a very fine and sunny day. Coffee in late morning with Diana, lunch, and then to prepare a full list of instructions for the boatyard for The Lady and type them out in triplicate so that there is no misunderstandings about the need to have all the work completed by Easter 1985. After lunch I set off in The Lady and cruise downstream to Offord lock in fine sunshine and little wind. The lock is set against me but I lock through as Diana arrives by car and make to set off for the short cruise round to the boatyard moorings – Disaster! The engine fails to restart and I have to boat hook my way to the boatyard river moorings and leave it in the care of the resident engineer.
Home with Diana by car in time for her to collect Debbie and me to continue my paperwork. A tea of scotch egg salad, and evening reading the local papers and playing Elite with Daniel. News locally of industrial developments at Little Paxton Industrial Park and Barford Power Station site. Nationally, more details of the Hong Kong sovereignty agreement, which were initialled today by Britain and China in the Peoples Great Hall in Peking. The NACODS representatives talked to the NCB today with a likely strike ballot approval in the bag. The Prime Minister generates PR in support of the police and the working miners. Petrol prices are put up by over 3 pence per gallon to nearly £1.90.