Uncomfortably warm house with uncontrolled heating on the warmest December day for some time and then out to shop for furnishings as the builders continued working before back to meet up with the new SDP/Liberal Alliance party leaders to promise financial support as a bomb explodes at the Luxembourg ‘Future of the EEC’ meeting, David Steel defends the Archbishop of Canterbury’s right to research social issues and the Church opposes Sunday trading
I had another very poor night. I was kept awake by the heat of the uncontrolled boiler in this mild weather and Diana by her cough and chest trouble, made worse by the dust. Eventually asleep by about 2.00am and sound asleep when woken at 6.30am with my morning tea. Down to the breakfast room for toast and fruit juice and a nice chat with the family. A dark, rainy and overcast start to the day and strange to see how long dawn was delayed as a result. Quickly showered and dressed and around the building checking on my preparations for the builder’s onslaught. The carpenter arrived first and blew my plans by first having timber too long to keep within the bounds of the kitchen and then removing the shower room door so as to provide access for tiling! Other than that, the arrangement was a success and made a big difference to the comfort of the house. Out then with Diana to St Neots, where we visited Brittains, Eastern Electricity, and other furnishing shops to complete our purchases. Morning coffee at the Cross Keys before lunch at the Southoe Bell to complete the morning. Home and, on arrival, a chat with the builders about the tiling patterns. They just about finish in the kitchen today, though running out of tiles, and the window surrounds in the shower room are also just about finished. Much concern over the problem of translating my design for the Bloomsbury tiles and surrounds of the window into practice, in view of the need to cut partial tiles. The plasterer was here on schedule and rendered the utility room, despite having to sheet up against the heavy rain. Then upstairs to make a fair start on the link building, but still plenty to do when the day was done. No decorator or plumber, which was disappointing. This afternoon I alternated between watching the tiling and getting up to date on my reading. By the end of the day I had finished, sorted out my desk, and returned a number of phone calls. I deferred my purchase of hall, stairs & landing carpets until the New Year, checked with Jarogate that they were still intending to have Thursday’s event, as I had heard nothing, and agreed to see SDP St Neots Chairman, Percy Meyer. When he came after tea, I saw him in my temporary office and talked with him and his colleague, Derek Nichols, the Liberal prospective parliamentary candidate. I agreed to support the Alliance Party with a regular donation in their run up to the General Election.
Then to clean and lock up the houses & building works & to the TV. News this evening of the report into the death of 4 year old Jasmine Beckford last July. Her father killed her whilst she was under the protection of the Local Authority and the report recommends many improvements in the coordination of child care systems. A bomb exploded at the Luxembourg EEC Conference and threw security arrangements into confusion. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary were present and the latter was actually speaking at the time, but did not waver. No certainty of agreement at this ‘Future of the EEC’ meeting anyway and, if anything, the cohesion of the community might have increased as a result. The proposed British Lions Rugby Union tour of South Africa has been cancelled in the wake of mounting criticism of apartheid, much to the relief of all concerned with the next Commonwealth Games. The Inner City report by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission is still in the news. David Steel defends the Church’s right to research the problems and criticises the government for not giving the results a fair and serious hearing. A strong attack from the Church also in the House of Lords against the end of Sunday trading restrictions. Professional footballers in England and Wales are threatening to strike if football chairman try to start a ‘Super League’ and exclude the marginal clubs, but the bosses are also threatening legal action in response. Ian Botham completes his John O’Groats to Land’s End charity walk, having raised £1/2M from private donations. He was critical of the big companies who did not contribute. Phillip Larkin the poet has died. The weather today has been the warmest December day for a long time. More rain is forecast to spread across our region tomorrow, with more temperatures of 14/15degC. Another £6M support announced for AIDS research today, but it is too little too late.