Restful morning until my attractive young neighbour, Tricia, has her cat attacked by local dogs and then a visit to my parents in Stanton where Mum is recovering from her heart operation as the NUM proposals are rejected by the NCB and another man is shot dead in Ulster and more people die by falling through ice
Deborah woke us up early and so tea in bed at the usual time. A little time to start my boating magazines bought yesterday, before The Sunday Times arrived and I went down to start reading it in the kitchen. Breakfast of fried egg, bacon, mushrooms and bread and then back to bed with the paper. Another cold morning after a heavy frost as I stayed in bed until 11.00am reading. Then to shave and wash and, whilst dressing, an enormous racket in the garden as a pack of dogs pursue next door’s tabby cat into the back of our garden and catch it. They take it by a leg each and the others bite and pull at its fur – the children upstairs shouting that they are killing it. I put on some shoes and a jacket and go out to the dog owner, who defends his position and does not confess his lack of control. John from next door joins me and he asks what has happened and flies into a fury. It seems that this man’s dogs (from Heron’s Acre by the lock) are always pursuing cats as a pack and running across gardens and terrifying all.
I go to find the cat, but can only bring a piece of fur with blood on it to the neighbours. Then with Tricia to search and eventually to find the cat hiding under a car. As she crawled on all fours, I followed her and admired her figure and lace bodice trimming the gap to her tailored jeans. Poor things! Inside and to finish dressing for our day out, then to load up the car and leave as the police were arriving. A sunny day with snow still around, but the snow is melting slightly from the sun’s rays and evaporating; though the temperature is still below zero. We stop at the Happy Eater at 1.00 for an hour and have a fine lunch and then, by 2.30pm, we had arrived at Stanton Park to be greeted by my parents. They look well and Mum has lost her soreness of leg and chest whilst recovering. She is gaining strength in her leg and was able to raise it for the first time only a couple of days ago. Though unhappy with her rate of progress, she is recovering and spent the afternoon cuddling Daniella as the rest of the family played a good game of monopoly with Grandad. Tea to follow with home baked apple pie and then we gather our things and make our leave. Homewards towards the setting sun, masked by bands of clouds that have come up since this morning. Home after dark and to try putting away the ducks, but only two came. A couple of armfuls of logs before putting the car away and I chance on John and Tricia who tell me of the police visit. It seems the Constable is in favour of putting the dog owner before the Magistrate as warning, prior to an order to control the dogs. The cat has escaped obvious harm, but is punctured a little and has a hurt leg and some missing fur. It was probably saved by its fur in this respect. Shocked and sick, it is kept in by the vet for the night for observation. In to light the fire and eat my grilled kippers for tea, whilst watching ‘By the Sword Divided’ on TV. My journal, then to read over my Thormaid papers and then the television news. Much posturing before tomorrow’s House of Commons debate on the Belgrano issue and speculation that the government will be tackling Clive Ponting as a smoke screen or diversion. The latest NUM proposals have been rejected by the NCB, but the TUC leader, Norman Willis, still thinks the gap is bridgeable. We await the morning’s return figures. Another man shot dead in Northern Ireland this morning. More people die by falling through ice and, in Lebanon, the Israeli troops have left at last.