Lower key domestic day catching up on my financial reading, looking after my doves and ducks and looking around Biggleswade for flat silverware until back to work on The Lady and enjoy a fine tea of herrings as Daniel enjoys blending in by wearing his new black blazer, the French stall the GATT meeting and Price Charles and Lady Diana wind up their Italian tour with a visit to Venice
Awake for morning tea and, the baby crying, I offer to play with her for a while and so Di changes her nappy and brings a bottle. Down to a breakfast of boiled egg and then up to the paper again. Until 11.00am reading the FT, Investors Chronicle and Economist, then up, washed, dressed and out to the birds. From the 8 ducks I managed to get in last night I get 6 eggs, which was interesting. Up by ladder to the dovecote and find that one of the eggs has hatched and they are still incubating the other. I will have to ring the new chicks in a few days’ time. All then off to St Neots to collect Daniel and do a few chores. After some warning, the children behave well in the Happy Eater and Daniel really appreciated wearing his black blazer today as he feels far less conspicuous. On to Biggleswade for an hour looking round the shops.
The only antique shop didn't deal in silver flatware, but I bought two herrings and some Stilton for tea. I also dropped by Mantles, the caravan centre, and bought two fire extinguishers and a fire blanket for The Lady. Home in time to see the second half of the Rugby League cup final on the TV. A close fought match that ended Wigan 28 Hull 24 after a comeback by Hull, until they ran out of time. As the girls prepared the house for Debbie’s birthday party tomorrow, I went out to The Lady and started to put the starboard rubbing strake back on. We had taken both sides rails off a number of years ago when trying to get through a lock to Bedford. I break off for my tea of grilled herrings and then finish off the job by dark. All 13 ducks in tonight and then, after stacking more logs in the garage, I go in to a deep warm bath and to relax. An agonisingly long Euro-vision song contest in two languages, with Norway eventually winning for the first time ever. The Bonn summit ends up in deadlock as France refuse to agree to schedule a 1986 GATT meeting without involving the developing countries. In Stafford, the hospital water system comes under suspicion as the cause of the legionnaire’s disease. Prince Charles and Lady Diana finish their visit to Italy with a trip to Venice. A dry, but cold day, although the wind was much lighter. More rain and cold forecast.