Very energetic and arduous day fitting the water softener, screwing down floorboards and dealing with contractors and suppliers and so shattered by the end of it and too tired to tend the ducks. A tragic air accident kills 250 Middle East Peacekeepers and two men are found not guilty of murder after police were not properly identified in uniform but the Law Lords rules against the government for exceeding its powers
Asleep very tired and then awake with a fair share of aches and pains for my recent efforts. Down in time for breakfast and then to wash and shave before the kids took over the bathroom. Ready in time for the painters for a change and I let them in the top way. They have done a fair amount, but still have the bulk of the landings, the playroom, kitchen and hall/utility area, to do besides the baby’s bedroom to boot. Then Mr Evans to do the final plastering, Mr Cheeseborough to do the tiles and then, to our joy and relief, the carpenter turned up and was able to fit the stable door and the steps and skirting around the kitchen/playroom area. I went out to feed the doves, let the ducks out, and after starting to fit the water softener, Diana wanted to go to St Neots in a hurry and so I downed tools and left with her. It did give me the chance to get the tools and parts that I wanted – a 1 ¼” combination drill for the floorboards, washers for the water softener hoses, more chub door security bolts, a light socket for Daniel’s room and several other things.
Coffee at the Copper Kettle at the Cross Keys afterwards and then home to carry on. After a fair degree of difficulty, I fitted the water softener by drilling a hole through the wall for the overflow pipe, running the regeneration outlet pipe along to the outflow, and fitting its electrical supply on an extension lead for the time being. Then lunch, a nice cooked one, and after, to watch the softener starting to go through its 2 ½ hour cycle. Up afterwards to the box room and the arduous task of drilling and screwing the floorboards before the carpet was to be laid later today or tomorrow. Tea with the men at 3.00pm and still it took until 4.00 to finish that job and tidy up the room. Eventually, St Neots Carpet Company fitters arrived to start sealing the floor with rubberised cement, but they soon established that the poor quality of the surface left by the builder was needing 2/3 coats and a delay of the vinyl fitting. I also had to phone the Carpet Centre guy because they were talking about not needing to coat the tiles – the whole purpose of this process in the first place is to stop the black adhesive being drawn through. As they continued, Brittains delivery men arrived and delivered our new lounge suite and a host of curtains. Then to a tea of rolls and pies, exhausted after the worries and exertions of the day. Daniel wanted some help, then to put up his door curtain (now of perfect length) and fit a new union onto a bedside lamp. As a last effort, I bled all the radiators and then put up my automatic light switch fittings with the longer screws I also bought today. Too tired to go out to the ducks this evening and so settled down to write up my journal, rest my legs and prepare to watch the TV news. The main story is of yet another 258 dead in an airliner crash. The passengers were US servicemen of the Middle East peacekeeping force, on their way home in time for Christmas. With the spotlight now on air safety, the row goes on with the slow progress on fitting non-flammable seating and upholstery materials. At the Old Bailey, two men were found not guilty of murdering Detective Constable John Fordham, after they had knifed him in their garden. It seems that the DC was wearing masks and camouflage gear and Noye felt threatened and struck out. The Law Lords decided today that the Government had exceeded its powers yet again – this time by Transport Secretary, Nicholas Ridley, over increases in Severn Bridge tolls. Thatcher has admitted for the first time today that tax cuts may not be possible.