A day hastening the builder’s progress, shopping with Diana for our ‘Nordman Pine’ Christmas Tree and helping to look after Della before cleaning up after the builders with Daniel’s help on this 5th Anniversary of John Lennon’s assassination on which Europe agrees to support the US ‘Star Wars’ programme to the detriment of our own research efforts and Austin Rover have to cut a further 700 jobs
A deep sleep awoken too early for my liking and to lay down again and rest until summoned for breakfast. The family together at this time of day – separate the children’s’ squabbles and you have a spirit that future memories will be made of. Quickly to wash and dress as the builders were arriving and the decorator and plasterer were here by 7.30am. Dressed and then, the day starting much brighter, out to feed the doves and ducks, who were very hungry after yesterday’s desertion. Then to start the liaison with the builders who, despite yesterday’s meeting conclusions, were already talking about delay. Pete was clearing leaves and has shifted a ton in these past two days – the oaks, which hung on to them longest, finally gave their last. Another large mail of security catalogues and computer journals, interspersed with a few important items and so to try and sort it out. Unfortunately the office all dusty from work again and so sat in the lounge with my papers to read the journals and sort the rest. Also to return a couple of the key phone calls.
Then Di was pestering to leave for the shops and so I cut the effort short and we prepared to go together. David Stokes arrived as we were leaving and advised me not to agree to the builder’s delays and I set him on progressing a few other aspects as well. Once in town and the car parked, we went from the Carpet Scene to the St Neots Carpet Company and then on to Brittains, progressing our curtain and carpet orders. Our vinyl will remain planned for the end of next week. I got the remaining tiles to complete the kitchen, and we resolved our quandary on what red velvet to order for matching the dining room curtains. Short of time, we drove on to Johnson and Addington’s, stopping to order the delivery of our Christmas tree. We chose the type that keeps its needles until the New Year, and a big one at that. Quickly home as our cleaner, Joan was waiting to leave and another contretemps with Diana over our lunch when we got there, as she had planned a visit to her friend Linda for the afternoon and had no time to get me a meal. In the end I made a drink and she made me a sandwich. This afternoon doing more reading and paperwork and agreeing to speak in February at London University for Dr Jill Hills. Also deferring the purchase of my security safes until the New Year and answering the DTI’s queries on the phrasing of the new classifications for computer statistics. Then tea and to play with Della and keep her occupied whilst Diana cooked my herring. Dels is becoming quite a Daddy’s girl and sometimes prefers my company. Daniel arrived home with his first exam results and seems not to have done too badly (English literature excepted). After tea Daniel helped me clean out the house and then get box after box of our belongings from the attic, but we could not find his box of electronic parts for the experiment he wanted to try. Then, both tired, Daniel to bed and me to settle in the lounge and write up these last two days journal, before late again to bed after the effort. An anniversary, the 5th, today of John Lennon’s death and a memorial programme on the TV presenting his life. News tonight of the inevitable US/UK Star Wars pact being signed. With it, endorsement of the SDI programme by the EEC, which is a coup for America, but I fear that the haste of Thatcher’s wish to agree something will leave little benefits for British firms. A government bill to strengthen the civil obedience laws was published today, but they must learn that repression is no substitute for deprivation. Another boy, victim of child murder, has been found in Essex. As more industrial companies continue to find the going tough, Austin Rover have to cut 700 engineering jobs and will close their Dunstable ford-making plant. Another day of heavy rain and I begin to fear for the river flooding soon.