An early Huntingdon riverside property viewing in mild weather proved uninspiring but then my office mail had lots to consider with another speaking engagement before a Little Chef lunch and more work with Daniel on his maths homework as the past MI5 agent spills the beans on union and CND leaders phones being tapped against guidelines and our injured Antarctic explorer gets rescued by helicopter during a miraculous break in the bad weather
Awake fairly early as Diana brought up the local papers so that I could read them with my morning tea. I was glad to get the drink as my throat is sore now and my cold has fully developed. Down to breakfast and up again after retrieving my Financial Times from where Debbie had inexplicably hidden it. Up to wash, shave, shampoo my hair and dress and then to phone Ekins about the riverside house in Huntingdon to try to get an appointment to view today. This proved impossible, but Diana had to take Debbie’s urine sample to Hinchingbrook Hospital and so picked up details and looked at it from outside. When ready, out to the ducks (9 eggs) and to feed the doves when the grizzle hen stayed rooted to the nest. To the office to collect the computer journals, and there were many. Specific BMMG mentions in Computer Weekly (2) and Informatics, where the absence of ACT from the group was mentioned again. I checked by phone with Buckden Marina to find The Lady ready for a trial and so all out by car (with the children at school) to the marina.
The Lady looks regal enough in fine varnish and deck paint and clean, new, white wire rails and fenders to match. We try out the pressure water system, start the engine to see the low temperature thermostat doing its work, and start the cabin heater. The heater works well, but is producing fumes and so they are to check for a leak. Diana looked at the material patterns, but did not like them at all. On to Huntingdon and I agree with Diana’s judgement on the riverside house; it is overlooked by the noisy motorway A10 and is most uninviting. Then to St Neots. Diana shops for the week’s supplies, whilst I tend Daniella in the car and read my computer journals. Then to the Little Chef for a lunch of prawn salad and, dropping Diana off to a friend’s, back to the office. A call to Fountain Forestry, technical department, to complete the brief on forestry negotiation over Archers Wood and Upton Wood, a call from John Lamb about Monday’s PITCOM arrangements, and a call from LAMSAC (the local authority computer group) and invitation to speak to them about LAN standards. Then to complete a range of typed correspondence to the SDP, BMMG and others. I broke off at 5.45pm to feed/put away the ducks and garage the car. Tea of pie and carrots and then to help Daniel with his maths homework before watching the Channel 4 revelations by past MI5 agent, Cathy Massiter. It seems that union leaders and CND had their phones tapped and activities subject to surveillance in defiance of historical guidelines. News tonight of the latest large bomb in Beirut which killed 50 people. The Royal Navy Officer, Lt. Cmdr Clive Wagham, stranded in Antarctica with a broken leg for the past five days, was rescued today by the HMS Endurance helicopter after a miraculous break in the bad weather was exploited to winch him free. 97% of the miners are now back to work with Kent voting tomorrow, but the resentment continues. The weather forecast is for a mild day tomorrow, with some sunny periods and southerly winds to herald spring.