Full morning of important chores and activities and then the long drive to Bristol to the Holiday Inn en route to my sister as Live Aid gets under-way and trouble continues in Ulster over Loyalists being banned from marching in Catholic areas
Awake after a good night’s sleep and Diana gets the morning tea as I open my briefcase and read a host of computer papers that I needed to catch up on. Then The Financial Times before down to breakfast of cereal and fruit juice. Across to No 7 to read my PO Box 7 mail and a fair quantity it was too. More computer journals and the proceeds of my lots at last Tuesday’s St Ives auction that did not raise a great deal. Eventually up and to get washed and dressed before out to feed the doves. I could not get the hen to leave the nest and so could not check the baby doves to see if the rings are still on. Then the ducks and we put the eggs in the fridge to last whilst we will be away. I speak to the landscape gardeners, give them my last minute instructions, and they agree to feed my doves whilst we are away.
Quickly into St Neots by car and there to pay in funds to Barclay's, collect two week’s statements and then attend both Abbey National and Gateway building societies to balance my accounts for optimum interest rates. Home and then a merry time trying to load too many cases into the Jaguar until we realised that we had to lose one suitcase and repack its contents into two other cases. All off together after locking up and we got as far as Bedford and McDonald's for a lunch of burgers and chips, which all three children thoroughly enjoyed. Then the long drive via Aylesbury, Wycombe and the M4 to the Holiday Inn at Bristol. I listened to the radio commentary on the Third Test and followed the collapse of the England batting at 456 all out and the Aussies make a good start to end the day at 80 odd for 1. We arrive at the Holiday Inn before tea and the children go swimming with Diana as I organise a film of events and arrange for them to have a room service tea and us a splendid restaurant meal later on. We enjoy our evening, Della settles down to sleep in her hotel cot and the head waiter attends to the refrigeration needs of Della’s medicine. Up to bed on a warm and sticky evening to find the children still awake. Time to write my diary and then listen to the television. News today of the 18 hour ‘Live Aid’ telethon at Wembley Arena in aid of the Africa famine appeal. Also of trouble in Northern Ireland as the Orange Order of Loyalists are denied their traditional and provocative march through the minority Catholic areas. The weather forecast warm with some rain in between bright spells. I look forward to settling in to or holiday hotel tomorrow and unpacking our burgeoning luggage.