Time tending to The Lady and then off to Peacock’s Bedford Auction before working on my steamer chair before meeting Nigel this evening and planning my exit from the BMMG
Awake to my morning tea and the paper until quite late. Breakfast and then a rush to get washed, dressed and ready before the arrival of Mr Worley, our boat cover specialist. He arrives as I finish the paper and I show him onto The Lady. The very wet weather we have been having has found a number of leaks in the roof, which is a disappointment. The dry weather must have opened up the cracks again, but I shall fill them when I get the chance. Coffee and then on to Bedford to Peacock’s antique showroom on viewing day. But, as I drove there, the Jaguar’s windscreen wipers failed; one stopped and the other carried on until they were in a tangle and bent. The rain poured again. Not a great deal of interest at Peacocks – very little silver and only one or two small furniture items I would have liked.
Home at 12.30pm for lunch and then some time in the office on accounts and letters to my accountants. In to St Neots later to post some letters and take Diana and the girls for some shopping. I buy a sanding sponge, which is a new idea with the abrasive deposited on a sponge. Home with fish and chips for tea and then some time starting to smooth off my painted steamer chair. Nigel Smith arrived at 8.15pm and the rest of the evening discussing the BMMG. We are to reappraise the LAN phase II in connection with the DTIs comments, try to involve Chris Shelton, John Lamb, and Gerald Frankel more on several issues, and propose Bill Barrett for more of my responsibilities as I will eventually phase myself out. Nigel goes at bedtime after Bournvita all round and I go to bed without time for the news or my journal.