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Another fine but full day enjoying the family pranks at breakfast and then working myself on the house and caring for Della whilst welcoming the builders and two firms of carpet fitters before a poor lunch, barely re-heated, and a better dinner. This as Mum and Dad change the Christmas arrangements, Winnie Mandela is arrested in Soweto and an ANC bomb kills Christmas shoppers
Slept reasonably well in spite of a rather late time to retire. Woke to morning tea and the paper, but only had a little time to read the headlines before called down to breakfast. I had also listened to the radio, dominated by a religious ‘thought for the day’ before 7.30am. Breakfast of toast, fruit juice to the accompaniment of the playful children’s pranks as usual – they seem to get worse and worse at meal times as, now that we are spread out, it is the main social occasion. Then to the shower room and my morning shave and shower, untroubled by the others, who use the bathroom only. Dressed and to my office to sort out my papers, whilst waiting for the carpet installers to come. I read a number of computer journals and then put away bills for future payment, group the numerous BMMG correspondences in one pile, and then put aside the bank statements and other information for later. I write to Mr Robertson, my Scottish lawyer, to acknowledge the receipt of the deeds to Thormaid and query the whereabouts of the Fountain Forestry Management Agreement.
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A further very tiring day of chores, screwing down a toilet and floorboards alike and then tending the birds before and after feeding Della, fielding phone calls from Daniel’s friends and enjoying a family Sunday lunch. Also analyzing the news which still featured the Westland helicopter row, Spanish Basque Separatist demonstrations and harsh weather starving reindeer in Idaho!
A long lie in and then I was brought the Sunday Times with my morning tea and read a fair bit of it before being called down. A nice fried breakfast to eat in the breakfast room and the children just about behaved themselves for me to enjoy it. By this time Steve had arrived in the pouring rain to spend the day with Daniel and rain was a good test of our balconies. They were certainly weatherproof, but the contours of the rear one will need changing as the water collects in a puddle outside the ironing room door. As the day was so dingy, I left the Christmas lights on the balconies and they shone quite brightly. Showered, shaved and dressed and then to start my chores. First the upstairs bathroom, where I cleared it out and screwed down the WC firmly to the floor. Coffee time then and I played with Della and fed her a biscuit and mug of water, which is now part of our ‘ritual’.
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Winter Solstice - A full programme of work for me finishing off the Hayling View furnishings on a very windy and gusty day, which was also marked by the arrival of the contractors who tarred and tiled our new balcony floors such that I could string up our very bright rows of Christmas lights at last. This as I found the time and energy to make love to the very much slimmer Diana and as Nelson Mandela’s wife was resisting harassment to leave her Soweto home
A late night and a poor night’s sleep, awoken rather grumpily and with aches and pains to boot. I listened to a farming programme on Radio 4, which was all about part time farmers and the satisfaction they get from it, and I thought of Freda. Down late to breakfast under threat of having it cleared away before me, then to shower and shave in the new shower room. It was very comfortable and the shower curtain, though a little short, retained the water quite well. The water has settled down to its former soft texture, due to the effectiveness of the re-installed water softener. Then to get dressed and sit in the luxury of the new lounge, writing my journal for yesterday and waiting vainly for the roof contractors, who had not arrived by 10 o’clock. The day had started windy and gusty and I was afraid that they were not coming, but they eventually arrived at 10.30, with huge vehicles and plenty of noise. We checked that they needed no help and then left for a shopping expedition to St Neots. A windy morning, but I wore my scarf for the first time and so was not uncomfortable.
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Full working day for me on the bathrooms and link room carpeting as the builders are also busy but my family all spend time with their friends and let me work on. There is still hope for Westland shareholders seeking a European deal but most of them will vote for the US money
A very sound night’s sleep and I actually awoke myself before morning tea. The weather dry and a bit milder, but a fresh breeze starting. Down to breakfast and up to wash, shave and shower. Then to dress in my jeans and working clothes for another day of toil. The decorators arrive, two of them, and proceed to gloss paint the rest of the un-decorated woodwork in the kitchen, playroom and bathroom. They also sanded and oiled the new hardwood door thresholds and did a few jobs previously missed. Mr Cheeseborough arrived with the remaining Bloomsbury Cristal tiles and finished the window surround in the blue bathroom and then the side panel to the bath. I started by connecting up the light switch to Daniel’s table lamp and then attacked the new downstairs shower room. I pondered over and then decided upon the position of the toiletries cabinet, trimmed and put up the matching pink window blind and then secured the cabinet itself. Then put up the matching shower curtain so that we had a complete set and could see the effect.