Identifying local tree varieties as I negotiate for Thormaid purchase and visit the Molesworth Peace camp site that has been forcibly disbanded as Civil Liberties issues dominate the news
Awake to The Financial Times as usual and then up to breakfast and the morning mail. Information from George McRobbie, the Wick District Manager of Fountain Forestry, and dividend payments from Gilt-edged securities. Fountain Forestry have reclassified more of the initial sum as Section 168 rather than Section 68 expenditure, which is even more tax efficient. Out to the birds – only two duck eggs – but the doves were feeding reasonably. Time then to clear out the duck hutch for the first time in weeks because of the freezing weather. Fresh straw might even make them lay better. To the office and to pay a couple of phone bills and calculate the amount needed to cover the Fountain Forestry transfer for Barclays. I checked the proposal arithmetic and tried phoning Mr Robertson in Thurso to see if my signed agreements had arrived – but he was in court in Wick and the girls were clueless. Calls from Buckden Marina (who would like some money) and Bill Barrett, who briefs me on the latest situation for the press conference arrangements and LAN report questionnaire. Lunchtime looms and back to the house for hamburgers and ice cream. Then off to St Neots to withdraw money from the building societies and pay the combined sum into the bank. On the walk back to the car, I noticed the trees alongside the backwater were a mixture of ash, willow and mostly sycamore. Feeling like a drive on the day that a court order was expected to evict the peace campers at Grafton, I went over and saw that they had already left and that the water authority were erecting retaining gates to prevent them returning. Then on to Molesworth, where I drove past the horrifying wire barricades and saw the pathetic remnants of the camp dispersed a few weeks ago.
Home to find Daniel playing computers with Garry and the girls just arriving from Debbie’s ballet lesson and exam practice – it seems she was playing up. Then a walk along the towpath and onto the meadow opposite. The trees are crack willows and I tried to plant a few cuttings. I noticed the oaks by the footbridge were turkey oaks as well. News tonight of the repercussions as the NUM refuse the latest talks result, and the TUC and government blame the situation on the miners. More talks for Thatcher as she stays another day to meet Volker of the US Federal Reserve to discuss economics. She also publicly criticises the New Zealand posture on visiting nuclear armed ships. Back in England, the pound ended today at $1.0830, which is another all-time low. A growing row because the IBA has banned a documentary on the MI5, where activists reveal phone tapping and surveillance of union leaders and CND activists by infiltration. Also the National Council of Civil Liberties. The film was shown to MPs at the House of Commons and offended them all. A good game of monopoly with the family and an evening’s television in front of another log fire. The weather was milder today and the snow is now melting steadily – but I noticed that the ground is rock hard and will take some time to soften.