Some prominent press coverage for my ideas and then a cool and showery day spent scouring the Cambridge Antiques shops before a quiet evening with Daniel and his friend Gary as the TWA hostage crisis drags on and exhumed remains in Brazil are proved as those of Nazi war criminal, Josef Mengele
Awake with a start as Diana rose and I asked for my morning tea early so as to get on with some reading. I looked at my antique shops book and worked out the best route through Cambridge to see most of them. My morning paper arrives with printed apologies for the non-appearance of yesterday’s issue. To a breakfast of cornflakes and milk and then back to finish my paper. It seems that the Kode shares had slipped 7 yesterday to 2.08, as all of the electrical shares continue to fall sharply. Up, shaved and then to shower and wash my hair. Dressed and out to the birds. About 9 duck eggs and, surprise, a new doves egg laid in the bottom left pigeon hole, which is a blessing. To the office to quickly review the mail and make a few phone calls that were overdue. Then I notice a two page spread in Computer Weekly on PITCOM, putting my views for its reform. Flattering, but could be difficult with my PITCOM committee colleagues, although two were quoted as supporting me and only the Chairman, Ian Lloyd, against. Back to the house and out at 10.00am and on our way to Cambridge.
We stopped at the Little Chef on the way and got our morning coffee with the normal poor service, but it only made us smile. On to Cambridge and Diana dropped me in Queens Road and I walked down Silver Street towards the town centre. A cool and showery morning, ideal for walking around, but Cambridge chock full of tourists – mainly French and American. An additional hazard, it was Investiture Day and groups of gowned students and proud families wandering around. My antique circuit took me down Trumpington Street (where I visited Dolphin Antiques and one other), then along Lensfield Road (where I examined the many floors of Cottage Antiques, Acorn Antiques and Jess Applin) and then back down Regent Street (John Beazer, Collins and Clark, and Webster-Spealman). A brisk walk back to the Copper Kettle in time for lunch at 1.00pm and I get roast beef for me and a chicken salad for Diana. We both had strawberries to follow. Time after to buy a facsimile of Ogilvy’s road maps for £30 (1939 edition) and then a visit to Cambridge Antiques Faire, but not much of interest. Back to the car and then home, stopping on the way to fill up with petrol (still £1.995). I had also bought a new cordless telephone from the Cambridge computer store and I then spent some time setting it up. It works and is a modest improvement on the previous one. By now the rain was pouring, but I managed to feed the doves and, after tea, feed and put away the ducks as well. A quiet evening awaiting Daniel’s return from tea with his friend Gary and then time with both children before my journal and the TV news. Still the hostage crisis drags on with more virulent condemnation from Reagan daily. The exhumed remains of Brazil have been authentically identified as those of the Nazi, Josef Mengele. The US astronauts complete their ‘laser’ test in space at the second attempt. More rain forecast for tomorrow.