Most of the day parenting our children and helping Daniel with his homework but still time for some Industry calls with the MD’s of ICL and ACT and press interviews with Jane Bird as we play back my video of Debbie’s birthday party to some ill-behaved friends as Thatcher lectures her party faithful in Perth and the Staffs outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease claims its 33rd fatal victim and a Swiss swimming pool roof collapses killing 12 people
A very unsettled night. Della cried at bedtime, then after an hour of sleep and again when she woke up. Although that was all, it happened to correspond with the times I was awake and I thought it was the whole night! Some time with ‘Management Today’ before breakfast and then, after, with the FT to read. Washed at 8.30am whilst listening to the report of yesterday’s parliament proceedings and then out to the birds. Up by ladder to the dovecote as all 4 doves fed and I was pleased to see the chick still had the ring securely on and so I reckon things will be fine. To the ducks and another 13 eggs. The office and a full mail of computer magazines and other correspondence. A Cardiff Doctor of Research requests a supporting letter for his selection as a Conservative MP, and a £2000 cheque from BP, which is much needed for ready cash. To collect Diana and then off by car to Bedford. Morning coffee and then we look around the Peacock sales rooms. A few things catch my eye and I put in a bid of £11 in advance for a large antique wooden box. Diana found the salesroom rather depressing, with elements of sadness over the goods being sold and them being parted from their owners.
Lunch at Debenhams and a look around the price reductions, but we buy nothing and set off back to St Neots. I take the car to fill up with petrol and Di gets the weeks grocery shopping from the Co-op. Quickly home just in time for Diana’s friends and the showing of the video I had taken of Debbie’s birthday party. I was rather disappointed at their behaviour and particularly a small child allowed to hammer away at the coffee tables with a wooden toy! To my office as they leave to collect the other girls from school and then to call Brian Androlia of ACT (who was in a meeting) and Roger Martin of ICL, with whom I had a long chat. He will now peruse the LAN project with a few colleagues by memo and conversation and let me know. Off then to St Neots and to pay my cheque into the Abbey National and withdraw some cash. Then to collect Daniel from the bus and take him to St Neots library. We managed to get a book on pond life for his prep. Home to tea and then at length with Daniel on his homework.. Also with Debbie on her numbers and to read a story. Out to feed the doves and put away the ducks. I check the office for messages and phone back Jane Bird of The Sunday Times to input background on her article on First Computer stores. The weather cold again today, but dry and the barometer seems to be rising. News today of Thatcher speaking at the Perth Conservative Conference, where the party faithful relied on her assurances this week on rates reform and reliefs. A bill outlawing kerb crawlers was talked out in the Commons today as two conservative back bencher's oppose it. The death toll of the Staffordshire Legionnaire’s disease has now totalled 33. In Switzerland, a public swimming pool roof collapsed, killing 12 people, including 5 school children. Reagan is back in Washington after his incident-packed European trip and calling for a meeting with Gorbachev later in the year. The weather forecast is of the weather warming each day over the weekend.