Full day working on my industry and financial affairs with Diana taking the children swimming with Debbie managing without arm bands for the first time(!) before I eventually slump from travel fatigue as the South African turmoil draws international condemnation for the repression of the Blacks and the UK resumes the Ethiopian airlift after Kinnock visits to see the atrocities there.
Asleep by 11.00 but awake rather early by 6.00am, which is a pity. A long time reading more of the papers of late – particularly the Investors Chronicles, until breakfast is announced and we all go down. A plate of sugar puffs with milk and fruit juice to drink. Up again after for more reading, but break off at 9.00 to wash and dress. Still behind on today’s paper and the last two week’s Economist newspapers. I also manage to cut my chin badly whilst shaving to round off a good start to the day. To the office where I start to sort my papers and return the phone call messages of the last week. I first phone Bill Unsworth and Helen Gibbons until, deciding on the line to take, am ready to call the journalists about the DTI/LAN initiative. I also talk to my architects and electrical contractors who want to view the houses today. Then to put together financial statements and bills until I have the information to go to St Neots and collect my bank statement and pay in four investment income cheques to the building society. Home before lunch as Diana takes Debbie and Della swimming and I complete my bank account reconciliation.
The girls return to bring news that Debbie has swam without arm bands for the first time, which is a minor triumph. Lunch of tomato soup, bread rolls and ice cream and then back to my tasks. I had gone to Biggleswade mills during my trip out this morning and so could feed the doves once again. Then all afternoon dealing with my other financial affairs, eventually completing a new investment summary with updated details of all our recent income and assets. In for tea, but Debbie had already eaten with her friend Amy and Daniel had had lunch with Paul and then copious hamburgers and chips, whilst going with Diana to Cambridge this afternoon. They had carried my cheque to Vinters and so the new riverside garden will be fully ours tomorrow. An evening tending the birds and then relaxing in front of the television – too tired to even read. My recent exertions and travels from Caithness to Cornwall have finally caught up on me. News tonight of more deaths in South Africa under the emergency measures. There have been widespread arrests of political opponents and both the US and EEC condemn the South African moves and call for an end to apartheid. Amongst the detainees are priests and the censorship laws prevent their identities being released and reported. Some BBC film was also confiscated. Neil Kinnock called for the British Ambassador to be recalled and, as he spent time in Ethiopia with the relief effort, an announcement from the UK government reverses a previous decision and reprieves the RAF airlift. Horrific stories today of two separate incidents where children have been beaten and bitten, which is quite disgusting. The first two hundred victims of the Italian dam disaster are buried in a mass grave today as the efforts go on to find the remainder. Britain signs an extradition treaty with Spain, but the criminal refugees already there are not affected. Eight more miners are acquitted in Yorkshire as police withdraw evidence. The weather very warm and showery today, which is good for the turf.