Cold and snowy weather today catching everybody by surprise as I work on my industry and financial affairs this morning before visiting the Tomblins near St Albans before back to our ducks and doves as another bishop attacks the government for divisive policies, Ollerton miners march and Syrian troops move against Christian Militia in the Lebanon
Awake early and to persuade Diana to get the morning tea. I catch up on the reading from my brief case and then The Financial Times arrives. Breakfast and then to finish the paper when the morning post brings me the Investor’s Chronicle, The Economist, a £40,000 cheque from de Zoete and Bevan and some PITCOM papers. The minutes of the last PITCOM Council Meeting are kind in the interpretation of the very one-sided exchanges over my proposal. Down for a shower and up for a wash and shave. Dressed, and then out to the doves in the cold morning’s air. A firm frost last night freezes the doves’ water, but morning sun makes up for it. All five doves feed well and so do the ducks, who provide 9 eggs this morning. A coffee and then to the office to read the morning mail.
Not much of interest. A tough time reconciling my Barclays bank account and, after much thought, I opt to pay the large cheque into it against the Fountain Forestry cheque which must be presented any day. This also leaves the children’s money intact, which is to be preferred. Then letters to Selwyn Press to print the rest of my stationery and to PITCOM to stop them using my Willow Close address; before sorting the envelopes from my last few days work and ensuring that 10 photos are sent to Owles Hall. At last back to the house by 11.00am and all out together to St Neots. We had doubts about Daniel’s health this morning, but opted to send him to assess his fitness for this afternoon’s efforts. I transfer some more money from the Abbey National and pay the cheques into the bank. Some prawns and smoked mackerel from the fish shop and then I remember to buy some Mother’s Day cars for tomorrow. I meet Daniel and all off in the car to the Happy Eater. The service is poor today and we are delayed. On to Sandridge near St Albans to see the Tomblins and I notice how near they are to the Home Office Police Computer Unit, where Comart sold its first microcomputer equipment in 1976/7. The Tomblins are well, their new house is fully extended and Rebecca has grown a lot. Daniel and David are still of near equal height. We linger, drink tea and chat at length to John and Brenda. I am interested in their 1627 John Speed map of Nottingham, which is even older than mine of Huntingdon. Eventually we leave and drive back in deteriorating weather, until a veritable snow storm greets us in Little Paxton. I unload the car and then brave the weather to put away the ducks, frightening off Marilyn’s Aylesbury’s, which seem to make a habit of roosting on our plot. In to my prawn tea and an evening of reading and watching televised sport. No news yet from the Kimbers next door. They have had our written offer to purchase their house since last Monday and have not bothered to reply. We think they may be having second thoughts and will chase them on Monday. News tonight of a scare over the efficiency of Oxfordshire cervical cancer tests and also of the police pursuit of a mad gunman who killed a police dog before committing suicide; and another in Hampshire, who is still at large. The Bishop of Durham attacks the government for divisive policies and disregard for the “dangerous resentment it was creating”. This resentment smoulders in the coalfields as 3,000 march through Ollerton to commemorate the death a year ago of the miner who died there, and Stan Orme accuses the Scottish NCB of behaving like a 19th century factory owner. In Lebanon, Syrian troops move south in support of the government threaten the right wing Christian Militia. The cold and snowy weather today catches everybody by surprise and causes problems on the roads as usual.