Busy day for the builders with me also fitting some security bolts and devices as Diana and I drive to Bedford for some household goods and then eat in McDonald s leaving Della in the car. This as Westland Helicopters looks to team up with Sikorsky of the US instead of European partners and a new coloured TV is given to my Mum and Dad, their first!
Tired this morning after another late night and so the breakfast was ready before I was. Down to have a bowl of cornflakes in the lounge, as the breakfast room was still drying. Flew off the handle with the children over them not avoiding our rug whilst eating breakfast. As I washed, I already started to notice the effect of the water softener, as the amount of soap needed to create a lather starts to decrease. Out to the doves and ducks to find the weather very mild again, though a little rain in the air. Then to await the second visit of the vinyl fitters, who scrape/sand down the floor and apply another coat. As the centre of the building was thus occupied, I had to open up the front door of the new building and suffer both the builders and decorators on the carpet. Although this green hall carpet is due to be replaced, we still have to use it until February. Four labourers arrived to carry out the old, blue, cast iron bath and then to lug in a new white one. Then Cheeseborough, Evans and one other set about securing it and starting the tiling. The idea is to tile before washbasin and toilet are fitted, so that the tiles need not be cut.
The decorator carried on fitting the cream, regency style, wallpaper to the landing, but made painfully slow progress with it. Eventually, out with Diana and Della by car to Bedford, the two children being at school. We arrived and parked in the market place and, it being noon and the baby asleep, we left her in the car to have a lunch at McDonald's. Then together to look at electrical shops and, after one or two, we selected what we wanted at Debenhams and paid for them. We bought Daniel an Amstrad music centre in a tower unit, so that it would be neat and (hopefully) tamper-proof. Then, for Diana, a Philips, Executive Hostess, heated food trolley, to enable her to bring food from the kitchen to the dining room and keep it warm. Some trouble loading it all in the car, but soon home. I insisted that Diana help me to unload and then, unpacking Di’s trolley, we were bitterly disappointed to see the corner damaged. After several phone calls to the manager, Debenhams offered us £20 off the £200-odd price, but I will try to remove the side panel to exchange it for a better one. The builders continued their slow progress and I had to correct them, as they had wrongly tiled one pattern. Tea in the lounge again and then a working evening cleaning up, before fitting chub security bolts and a safety catch to our new stable door. I had taken Daniel across with his friend Paul to the Kimbolton School Christmas disco and then had to collect them again after 11.00pm. I had helped Di get down the remaining girls things and Christmas presents from the loft and she spent the evening wrapping them up and sorting them out. In the end, about 1.00am before we got to bed and then it seemed too warm to sleep with this mild weather. The carpet fitters installed the box room, pale green carpet today – a fairly poor job in our view – and we also had to clean up after them, so that Di could put up the new curtains. We did not get a chance to watch the TV news, but Westland Helicopters decision to spurn a European collaborative rescue bid and team up with Sikorsky of the US, reached our ears at a distance. Higher than expected inflation and plenty to keep the government under pressure. My colour TV set gift for my parents was delivered to them today and they were very pleased with it, though somewhat surprised by its early arrival. My Dad has long held a prejudice against colour TVs, considering the tones garish, but he pronounced himself well satisfied with it and was very impressed by a nature programme.