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Off to Westminster again today, and on to the BT Tower for a visit with MP’s after a 1st birthday celebration with baby Della first thing this morning and before my journey back where I enjoy the young ladies in their summer dresses on a warm and sunny day and hear of France’s objections to the US closing down Lebanon’s airport, and of the Football league’s objection to identity cards for fans but better news as Ford opt to produce the new Lead Burn cars for Europe at Dagenham
Awake after a sound night’s sleep and then my morning tea. Diana brought up Daniella and all of her presents to open as it is her birthday today – her first. The other children joined us and we all helped Della open her presents and she enjoyed it thoroughly. She liked a ‘Big Tap’ best and can now play with it at bath times. Then the morning paper, which I just finish rather late for breakfast. Then showered, shaved and, whilst dressing, I decide to go to London after all today – even though it is going to be another fine and hot day. I had the alternative of staying at home to do some work on The Lady, but the thought of the British Telecom getting only friendly questions from the PITCOM delegation drove me to it. Dressed in my best suit and took the car to St Neots station. Parked and bought my tickets just in time for the 9.03 train. Managed to catch up on my reading en route and then took the tube across to Westminster to arrive in the New Palace Yard in time for the 11 o’clock coach to the British Telecom Tower. I was the only non-parliamentarian on the coach, which ended up with about 5 Lordships and a few more MPs.
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Supervising multiple property projects from the balcony before my parents arrive and we enjoy a riverside barbecue and watch the hay harvest opposite as Reagan and Gorbachev agree to meet for arms talks, the US hostages return home and the IRA British resort bomb threat is assumed ended
Awake to my morning tea to the cooler dawn air and a chance to start updating my journal and read the paper. Down to breakfast of cereal and fruit juice and then quickly washed, shaved and showered so as to be ready for my morning’s commitments. By 8.30am out to the garden and to sit on a strategically placed steamer chair in the front so as to supervise movements to and from all three houses. At 10.00am, the USAF base housing inspector calls and supervises the letting, and Staff Sargent Ronald King and his ‘minder’ take it over. The gas and electricity people call. At No 7, the telephone engineer calls and properly installs my phone sockets, replacing the bodged job I had done in the meantime. I work on until lunch and then Diana comes back from town and we eat cheese rolls together, with ice cream to follow. After, I finish updating my journal, and then get on to the task of finding another speaker for the seminar next week. The landscape gardeners arrive and complete the first transfer of soil from the front garden (which was too high) to the riverside garden (which was too low). Time to read a few papers before my parents arrived on a visit at 4.00pm. We had a barbeque by the river and then sat and watched the cylindrical bailer harvest the hay field opposite and the wildlife until dark.
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A day at Westminster restoring my relationships with PITCOM members after recent publicity and keeping tabs in England’s fightback in the Ashes Test
A good night’s sleep with Diana much more relaxed over the family christening. Awake to my morning tea and, with the air warm and humid, I opened the bedroom doors onto the balcony and sat on my folding veranda chair to read the morning paper. Down to breakfast of cereal and fruit juice and then washed and dressed to make a good start. To my new office and some time sorting out the boxes and my action folder to reflect the matters received in the last few days. I let out the ducks, fed the doves and take the portable TV across to the office, after coffee, to watch while I work. A morning reconciling my financial affairs as I watched the test match. England had unwisely put in two night watchmen and paid for it in this morning’s play. Diana was out late and so a late lunch and then a bit more time paying some bills and catching up on paperwork. By 3.00pm finished, dressed in my best suit and set off by car for London. I stopped at St Neots en route and completed transactions at Barclays and Abbey National after posting my letters first. A long drive to Westminster, but the traffic not too bad, so arrived in good time. More news of the test match on the radio until I arrived. A hot day and I was glad of my Jaguar’s air conditioning. Parked at a meter and then, collecting an ice cream (an extortionate 45p worth!) and eating it, entered the House of Commons and passed security checks to enter Committee Room 5. A council meeting of PITCOM and the normal set business.