Morning working on my affairs before Charles, Chrisula arrive with baby Catherine for a visit and session watching family videos as four survivors are found from the Japanese 747 crash and a National Rail Strike is on the cards
Another good night and then awake to my paper and morning tea a little later than usual. I have just about recovered from our recent exertions, but start the day slowly reading the paper. Down to a breakfast of one slice of toast and some fruit juice as a good start to the first day of my diet. Out to the birds and I first feed the doves, who are shy and wary of me after a couple of weeks break, but eventually come down to feed. Since losing the two chicks they have shown no inclination to breed and may either be rather demoralised or waiting for a better surfeit of good supplies. Then the ducks and another 6 eggs. I feed all of the ducks that were housed last night (11) and the one with the broken leg. Then the 13th duck arrives quacking hungrily and I think it must be incubating some eggs somewhere. To the office where I reconcile my bank account and read some more of the backlog of computer journals. By 11.00am and the expected arrival of our guests, I made my way back – Diana’s parents, brother Charlie, wife Chrisula and baby Catherine soon come and we sat, chatted and then went on a tour of the garden before watching some of our recent videos of Daniella, as our visitors were in a ‘baby’ mood.
Della woke up in time for a lunch, which we ate off of our best silver and china and then Grandfather Charles and I washed up. Eventually our guests left at 2.00pm and I returned to my labours – this time sorting out all of my private action papers so that I could make more progress tomorrow. A long time after tea walking round the front gardens and noting down the varieties and colours of the newly-planted hybrid tea roses. Also trying to identify a number of our existing shrubs with some success. I get a reluctant Diana to come round with me and she enjoys the trip, helping me identify a few of them and hearing about my discoveries of the remainder. She has spent little time outside since our return from the boat trip; washing and ironing countless clothes and catering inside. She is very pleased with the results, as we all are – it has turned out to match our best expectation. Then to feed the birds again and only manage to get 12 ducks back to feed before in to watch a TV space murder thriller with Daniel, who was allowed to stay up for the occasion having behaved well today. News tonight of the four people who managed to miraculously survive the Japanese jumbo plane crash and the fact that they should recover from their injuries. They also find a vertical stabiliser from the plane that had been lost earlier in its flight. A British Rail national strike seems inevitable after an ultimatum over the drivers’ failure to operate singly-manned trains. The unions claim it is management by threat and intimidation. The government is to pay Ian McGregors consultancy a further £875,000 performance-related bonus. Nelson Mandela’s wife, Winnie, blames government agents for firebombing her home.