Morning of industry calls and arrangements, reading the press and noting my coverage for the BMMG, and then a rest from all this and walk around Paxton Pits to see the bird life before an evening in to hear that Millwall games have been suspended understandably but also that there are terrorist risks to the Royal Family and Belgium have agreed to deploy Cruise missiles
Awake early but no morning paper today, for some reason, and poor Debbie cried when I wrongly accused her of hiding it. Down early to breakfast and then washed, dressed and out to the ducks. 10 eggs today as they go from strength to strength, and all five doves feed well also. The incubation goes on, but whether or not the doves are successful must now depend on the weather – it was freezing cold with sleet today. To the office and a long list of phone calls to make from an early start. I eventually get through to Mike O’Regan of RML about next week’s meeting; Jarogate to approve Equinox as a new BMMG member, Gerald Frankel about Monday’s BOTMA press conference, Owles Hall to swap messages and tasks etc. Back to Diana at 11.00am and off to St Neots. Me to the post office, the bank and the fish shop; and Diana to the week’s shopping in the Co-operative supermarket. I waited for her whilst reading today’s computer press – mentions of the BMMG in Computer News and Computer Weekly.
On to the Little Chef for a fine lunch and then back home. Some time in the office and then off for a walk to Little Paxton Pits as the weather broke into sunshine. An hour and a half in all, spotting ducks, grebes, finches, crows and all else, but particularly three sightings of a heron, which eventually flew off north east towards Southoe. The copse, which I had taken for a Heronry, had turned into a flourishing Rookery. Whether this was the Heronry before or no, I cannot see any now in Little Paxton, which is a sad end. An hour or so back at the office starting a few items of correspondence, which I should finish in the morning. Out to the ducks and then to prepare my three herrings for Diana to cook for tea. After, my journal, and then televised football where West Ham drew two all with Manchester United. News tonight of the conviction of Paul Brown for killing his young disabled daughter last year and pretending she was kidnapped. He is sentenced to 5 years in prison. Millwall games are being called off by their opponents after yesterday’s reports of violence. The Home Secretary, Leon Brittan, is suitably deprecating. A second Briton was kidnapped in Beirut and the foreign office advises Britons to leave the Lebanon. Royal security is being stepped up after reports of international terrorists targeting the Royal family. In Ethiopia, the relief agencies are getting better equipped, but are losing the battle against overwhelming odds. The Belgium government have decided to deploy Cruise and now the pressure is on Holland. The US Labour Secretary, Raymond Donovan, has resigned facing charges of fraud and larceny. In Norfolk, a scheme worth £1.7 million will save Broadland meadows.