More restful day, basking in yesterday’s publicity for me in the Financial Times and then making industry calls before an afternoon landscaping and catching up on recent news. Thatcher is on the defensive over welfare cut details, Paul Getty funds The National Gallery and the English FA appeals against the football ban
Awake rather early as Daniella wakes up crying loudly and disturbing us. I start the day with a sore throat and onset of a cold and am glad when my morning tea arrives to relieve it somewhat. Some time reading the morning paper and pleased to see my photograph in the FT and a report on the BMMG networking plans. Down to breakfast of boiled duck egg and we all enjoy one except Diana. Back to finish the paper, but eventually up to wash, shave and dress from 8.30 to 9.00. The paper full of the continuing decline on the stock exchange, with the Electrical sector leading the market down. Out to the office and an hour or so making some phone calls and handling a few issues. First to call Dr Jill Hills and obtain her agreement to write for the PITCOM journal. Then to call the BMMG and talk to Bill Barrett, who was not able to confirm whether John Lamb would take the BMMG Publicity Officer role on. A call then from Martin Isherwood referring to the FT article, which had also drawn the attention of Jill Hills earlier. To the house for coffee and then to rush into town.
I had earlier received the Alconbury Housing Officer, who visited to inspect 39 Gordon Road for letting to American servicemen for which it will command a rent of about £215. When in town I looked around Shares Auction and did some building society transactions. Home to the first test match and to see Australia get off to a good start. Lunch with the parents-in-law, more cricket and then I make a start on the neighbouring garden, trimming the conifers into a hedge, felling the excess ones to open up the gardens to the sunlight, and removing the first two fence panels to connect the gardens. A rainy evening resting after putting the ducks away and feeding the doves. News tonight of a hunger crisis in Sudan that is even greater than that recently in Ethiopia, as a film team report the situation. As the third world starves, the EEC report today reveals record stocks of beef and other food held in intervention as being unwanted at the price established. The Lloyds names affected by the MITET frauds are refusing to pay up and organising a rebellion. Despite pressure from Neil Kinnock, Thatcher refuses to give financial figures on the planned welfare state changes and gets the worst of the exchange in the House of Commons. The American millionaire, John Paul Getty, has donated £20M to Britain’s National Gallery and this is expected to rise to £50M by the end of the year. He is now living in London and being treated in a London hospital. England’s FA has appealed against the worldwide ban. The miners are considering more industrial action at the end of a week where large-scale redundancies and pit closures have been announced. Better weather is forecast over the next few days in the form of an anticyclone, which will be most welcome.