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The Landscape gardeners clearing the lower tree branches and the sub Fire officer advising to aid my creation of The Hayling View whilst I compile my report for tomorrow’s BMMG, transfer across possessions from 39 Gordon Road and supervise the children. This as an IRA bomb is found in a Torquay hotel and a hand grenade kills 8 on an attack on a South African policeman’s home
Awake to morning tea and then the morning paper until breakfast. I pressed Diana for an early meal and then got ready, washed and dressed earlier than usual. By this time the landscape gardeners (Brian Tee and his son) had arrived with a circular saw and started to lop our oak. I got out the video and started a film, which will cover the whole of the process of house and garden conversion. To the office as the rain begins to pour and there to do a little work. Phone messages from Nigel Smith, who will not make the meeting tomorrow, and I check with Helen Gibbons and Bill Barrett and we are satisfied that Vice Chairman, Bill Unsworth, will chair the meeting. Then, with Diana, to carry across many of the possessions from Gordon Road to Willow Close and we break the back of the job. Then out to St Neots Fire Station and a meeting with Sub Officer Cox, who advises me on fire precautions for our new combined house. Home to lunch of ham rolls and ice cream to follow, then to the office to do a variety of industry correspondence, much overdue, before home to look for afternoon tea. The workmen had lopped and logged a number of branches by this time, but progressed rather slowly today with the showers and concern about the dangers of height. They did manage to clear a space and already there is more light and vision appearing, and tomorrow will see a landmark, in my estimation, of a view to the river. I drive into town to post my letters and then take a little time to view Shaw’s auction rooms.
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To St Ives to arrange some auction lots and then home via the Jordon’s Mill at Biggleswade to hear of their fire and rebuilding plans before home to clear the 39 Gordon Road loft of my things and then supervise Daniel’s homework and revision as an IRA plan to bomb British seaside resorts is foiled and terrorists arrested and computer shares are in free fall with Acorn shares suspended again
Awake groggily to morning tea and then the paper until breakfast. Diana brought up cornflakes, milk and fruit juice and after this I finished off The Financial Times. Up, washed and dressed and out to the birds. The doves continue to incubate the two eggs conscientiously and the ducks laid another 10 eggs. To the office and a busy morning sorting my papers, paying a few bills and handling a few calls. Two of the American servicemen called again and I had to tell them that the house was already let. I tried to get the other sides agreement to work on the riverside land but, when they could not muster a reply, briefed Mr Tee on doing the work anyway. He will start tomorrow by lopping the overhanging branches and clearing the undergrowth. Diana back from Bedford for a late lunch and then I took off for St Ives, after briefing Joan and Pete on the new arrangements with the houses. At Ekins, I marked up my silver lots and filled in the form so that my excess silver will be sold in the forthcoming antiques auction. Back and to Biggleswade to buy 2 bags of layers pellets for the ducks. Holine Mill is still out of action and they are getting their milling done by another firm.
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Letting 39 Gordon Road and landscaping The Hayling View on a very wet day as the search continues for the Boeing 747 that was thought to have been bombed and Papworth’s biggest fan and oldest patient, Keith Castle, dies
Awake to my morning tea and to read my new rule book on croquet before the paper arrived. Down to a breakfast of boiled duck egg, nicely done with buttered toast fingers and then back to bed to finish my reading. Up, washed, dressed and out to the birds. Only 8 duck eggs today. To the office for a start to the day’s work and, after catching up on my reading of the computer press, managed to do some correspondence and bill payments. A succession of phone calls from Alconbury US Servicemen and, after a soup and bread lunch, I received the first visitor after lunch. A coloured Staff Sargent and his colleague, who take to 39 Gordon Road and agree terms straight away. Home to a ham cutlet tea, with ice cream and pear crumble to follow. After, the landscape gardener, Mr Brian Tee of Gransden Garden Centre, visits and discusses his plans for our front gardens. A fair plan, with some good concepts, but needing detail changes. In particular we have to get the riverside land cleared to see the true contours and position of the trees. Then the front garden paths and shrub beds can be positioned to provide access and views accordingly.
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Having to call the police as our Blue Peter dinghy is tampered with and then some time in our new river plot marking the boundaries on a day where a Boeing 747 crashed with 325 feared dead and more bombs elsewhere
A small lay in after a restless night, but awake to my morning tea. A little time reading this week’s Investors Chronicle and Economist, but soon time for breakfast and a nice fried one, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then to bed again with the paper, The Sunday Times had arrived by now, but not for long. Up quickly, washed and dressed and out to the birds. The doves are still incubating well, 10 more eggs from the ducks, but I noticed that the Blue Peter dinghy had been tampered with. The bow rope had been cut, the stern rope used to moor it, and the petrol can was missing. Most of the day working on the second steamer chair and by the end of it had a good half and more stripped of varnish. Lunch with our best silver and china and of chicken and three veg. Daniel and I clear up afterwards and wash the items safely. Daniel and his friends get our old dinghy out of the water safely for future repairs and then take the Blue Peter for a trip. They ran into the Anderson brothers at the lock, who chided them about the lost fuel can and so I went up with them to ask about it. Home to more varnish removing and then tea and after, I decide to contact the police about the theft and a Constable soon visits to take the particulars.