Diana's parents Charles and Norma at our barbecue
Diana's parents Charles and Norma at our barbecue

Hot day spent hosting a family barbecue for Di’s parents and sorting out my video tapes before using Old Bill’s water pipe to water the garden  as the AEUW and TUC split over the financial ballot but the NUR hold out for reinstatement of sacked guards but the main shocking news is of South African police attacking peacefully-striking schoolchildren with a further 13 killed today and another train bomb in Belfast injures 9 police and civilians

A good night’s sleep and I was the first to wake with the sun shining in between the curtains in the hall and bedroom. I make the drinks and then settle to the morning papers for the last two days. Down to breakfast and then I take a shower, dress and resume my video taping so as to have finished most of our latest holiday film of Mundesley by the time Diana’s Mum & Dad arrived after 11.00am. A little time watching England’s efforts at the start of the Oval test cricket match and then we all go out to the riverside gardens, where Daniel has got out the chairs and barbeque for our hamburger lunch. I officiate at the grill and we all enjoy the meal. The weather has turned out really glorious today, with warm settled wind conditions and a clear sky for the day.

I finish off the video copying, put away the paraphernalia that has been blocking the lounge for the last few days and we all watch the Mundesley tape. After Di’s parents left for home, I went back to the house wall and completed the lattice at 6 Willow Close, finding time also to put the sprinkler on and water the garden. In then to the cricket, where England have scored about 400 in their first innings, with a couple of wickets down and the Australians are being hammered. I watch until tea and beyond whilst updating my journal for yesterday and today and then go out to the garden and do some work whilst continuing to supervise Daniel. I manage to fix up a standpipe using Bill’s water supply and am due to collect him on Monday to progress the purchase of the riverside plot that he owns. News today of the mounting plans for the AEUW to split with the TUC by suspension next week over the financed ballot issue. Despite a vote against the national rail strike, the NUR are holding out for the reinstatement of sacked guards. In South Africa, the violence continues as the police attack peaceful meetings of striking school children. It is directed against banned marches and meetings and a further 13+ are killed today. International confidence in South Africa and its finances sinks further. More spy scandals in Germany, as the head of intelligence is sacked. Another train bomb in Belfast, injuring 5 policemen and 4 civilians. After a fine day today, another hot one forecast for tomorrow.