Enjoyable day on The Lady, shopping in St Neots for medicine for Debbie, cruising upstream through Eaton Socon lock to The Anchor for lunch and watching the children play on the weir before upstream through Barford lock to moor and play with Daniel and the dinghy as BBC journalists strike over government censorship over not showing the IRA documentary and the High Court rules that with-holding accommodation for the unemployed is illegal and long-term unemployment is up 37% in the last year
A sound night’s sleep and awake first to put the kettle on and prepare the drinks. Time for us all to enjoy them before Daniella wakes and then Debbie and I play with her whilst Diana washes and dresses and then I take my turn. Breakfast of toast and more tea and then I feed Della hers and stand no nonsense. Diana says that she will be fully trained by the end of this boat trip! When ready, all into town where we have a good time doing our shopping nice and early from 9.00am, with few people about to get in our way. I buy a new history of Huntingdonshire by Michael Wickes, a copy of the Bedfordshire magazine, a Financial Times and some sealant for the boat windows. Debbie is still ill with a temperature and a tummy upset and we cannot get to see our doctor and so Diana gets some Kaolin and Morphine with lots of reassurance from Mr Calcutt in the market square. Morning coffee at the rendezvous and then back to The Lady as the day becomes very warm, though dull.
Off through Eaton Socon lock, luckily set in our direction, and then the long cruise to Tempsford and a mooring at The Anchor. On the way I notice that the forest of poplar on the left bank is nearly mature for felling and they have planted some young saplings on the river’s edge to soften the view when they clear fell them. Poor Debbie lies sound asleep with the baby and so the three of us go into the pub for lunch. Humble Pie (literally) for us and some cheese and onion crisps for Daniel. We set off again upstream and even have some sunny spells as we lock through Barford and moor downstream of the bridge at The Anchor. Nice to have the weather to roll the sliding canopy back. Diana goes for a walk as I tour the entire boat using the sealant and vow to “eat my hat” if any water comes in after that. Both Daniel and I take turns to trog round in the outboard motored dinghy and then we play a couple of games of football as some girls look on in amusement. I watch with fascination as some people swim at the weir. The game is to crawl up the falling ramp and try not to be washed backwards by the flow. Participants reaching the top ‘joust’ to push each other over and a fine time is enjoyed by all. As the sun sets, we walk up to the pub for a drink and Daniel joins us for half a shandy. To The Lady and my journal and then the news on TV. At the BBC, journalists call a protest strike after the governors’ decision not to show the Northern Ireland documentary. There is more controversy about the supposed ‘censoring’ of the broadcasting by application of political pressure. The 1950s film, The War Game, banned from BBC until now, was screened tonight as part of a frightening series on the consequences of the nuclear arms race. In the High Court, the regulations discontinuing benefit for accommodation for the unemployed was declared illegal. Long term unemployed are up 37% on last year.