Preparations complete for the BMMG press conference completed and Tessa Curtisbriefed and then some time helping care for my ill wife and family as some miners try to hold out for reinstatement of sacked colleagues before settling the dispute and an earthquake in Chile kills 124 and injures more than 2,000
Diana had a poor night looking after a restless baby, but managed to get both children out to school on time. A chance to read the paper, down to a breakfast of toast and wash, dressed and out to the birds. The grizzle dove hen is getting broody and has made a crude nest, lined with some old oak leaves. I fetched the ladder to examine the dovecote to see this, but there are no eggs yet, but it will not be long. Eight much cleaner eggs from the ducks now that they are laying in a hutch of clean straw. In to the office and first phone calls from Martin Isherwood and the BMMG at Owles Hall. It seems there are few replies to the questionnaire in the short time available, but at least no outright opposition and, with a few suggested changes from Nigel Smith, the text of the Press Statements stand. Tessa Curtis of Computer Weekly phones and I brief her fully to meet her deadlines tomorrow, but she is still coming to the conference anyway. I check this move with Martin later, who reports even more press acceptances and so we seem assured of a full house. I start the job of the last leg of my IT paper and am getting on well when Diana calls me over for lunch at 1.00pm. Off to the local Little Chef for lunch and Daniella sits with us in a high chair for the first time. Funny to see her growing up so.
A caravan full of gypsy children comes in with a missing mother and the mites comb the place for lollies and tidbits as the management struggle to keep order. Back home and our neighbour tells Di that Debbie is ill at school. Me back to the office and Di to look after the girls, but, with a lot of work still to do, I am called away by a distraught Di who is upset with the children’s illness and now feeling ill herself. I came back to help her, settle Debbie down, and return to my task. I work on until 7.00pm before returning to find the girls in bed and Daniel tired in the lounge. He had given Debbie a tea of toast, washed up and looked after the baby. I read Debbie a story, settled her down, and had a simple tea of bread and honey with orange juice to drink. In later evening Diana came down with Daniella, but her breasts were dry with her fever. Nevertheless, Di prepared a bottle and she fed well. All the family eventually to bed and I settle to my journal and watch the television news and feature news programmes on the problems of managing an antagonistic workforce after a year of bitterness and no settlement. News today of the miners in Kent and Scotland voting to stay out on strike until an amnesty is declared for the sacked miners. The police arrested almost 10,000 people during the strike, 8.000 were charged and half have been convicted so far. In Chile a big earthquake has killed 124 and injured 2000. The weather is forecast a little sunnier and dryer tomorrow, after showers and low temperatures tonight.