Starting a sunnier and warmer day with a sore throat and cold as the ducks lay a record 13 and then to re-input my online transactions and complete my BMMG correspondence as old Bill visits his plot for the last time and South Africa defies UN resolutions
Awake with a sore throat and my cold well and truly started. I was up in the night for throat sweets and was grateful for the soothing effect of the morning tea. The morning paper, breakfast of duck egg boiled with bread fingers, and then the rest of the paper until, with 9.00am approaching, I was late. A wash, shave and shower and out to the birds. 13 eggs from the ducks (which included one left from yesterday afternoon) which is a record for this season and the doves are still tending their eggs. Strange to see how the doves now forage on the newly mown lawns, but come nervously to the bird table - I will be relieved when I have grown one or more hen chicks to preserve the line. To the office and to re-input my Homelink transactions, first and pay Robert Sayle and the Eastern Gas Board. The transfer from building society to bank has now satisfactorily gone through and enabled the process. Then to start sorting my papers again until Diana brings a morning coffee and then phones to say Old Bill is on his plot. I put the telephone on answering and go to see him. Poor chap, his eyesight continues to deteriorate and he is now registered blind; only partially seeing red images and unable to recognise me from a few feet away.
He looks after himself and still visits his poor wife, Vi, whose condition has deteriorated with advanced nervous decay so that she is completely insensible. He hopes to journey down by bus on Thursdays, if the weather is fine, and perhaps at the weekends to stay over. I stay and chat with him until lunch. It is important that he retains this motivation in his life as a break to the week. He has considered selling his plot, but his sons/daughters-in-law either do not have the money or lack the interest. Whilst making him aware that I would buy the plot, I encourage him to retain it as long as he can see enough to mow the grass and visit. He had accomplished this by the end of the day, though very tired as a result. One day I will erect a monument to Old Bill, Vi and Old Jack the fisherman, who enjoyed his plot so much. It is so sad to see them die and even sadder the lack of interest by their children in taking over the plots. Lunch of white rolls and butter with ice cream to follow as Daniel’s friend Jason joins us for lunch. After, back to the office to do some work and by the end of the afternoon I was up to date on BMMG correspondence with letters to Professor John Ashworth and Sir Henry Chilver about tariff duties, Robin Tracey and John Lamb about exhibition plans, Lord Lloyd of Kilgerran on PITCOM business, and Brian Androlia of ACT to chase up membership. Pleased with my day’s work, back home for tea of pork chop and all the trimmings before a final chat with Bill before he sets off home. I then go down to The Lady for some peace to catch up on my journal and read before putting the ducks away and going in to watch the televised news. It is nice to get into this habit again for the first time this summer. A sunny and warmer day with the wind just a little bit chill. This morning Diana heard from David Stokes and it seems that the planning officer called him last night and revealed that no permission is needed for extending and connecting the houses after all. The work is within the scope of ‘allowed developments’ which I assume is the 20% rule for expansion of both abodes. Good news, which relieves Di, and I let next door know as well. National news tonight of the expulsion of two Soviet executives – a diplomat and airline official – for spying. A time of better relations for the USSR has been chosen to minimise the retaliation, but the Russians are still angry. John Biffen, a government minister, has forecast that unemployment will fall by the General Election, which is the first time the government has made this claim; but Roy Hattersley denies that this can happen under present government policies. The £ sterling rises and the dollar falls on the currency markets, but no change in base rates took place today. At the TGWU today, a decision is deferred on a re-ballot as ten days is allowed for further consultation. The miners are accepting the NCB pay offer and seeking to reclaim the sequestrated funds and bring back the overseas held assets. The South African authorities are, in defiance of United Nations resolutions, trying to set up a permanent government in Namibia under people sympathetic to SA.