To Peacocks Auction rooms in Bedford to view my new steamer chairs and then back home for some games of croquet with Daniel and Paul and then to read to Debbie as the worldwide ban on English football teams takes shape and unemployment hits the headlines
Awake slowly to my morning tea and then Diana brings me my breakfast in bed again – this time boiled egg, which is lovely. I finish The Financial Times and then the morning mail brings the Investors Chronicle and I read through that as well. Late up, at 10.00am, and showered/washed before dressing casually on another day of cool wind and hot sunshine. Out to the ducks (11 eggs) and to the doves, who feed well from the table. To the office briefly and I scan the mail and take a message from the NCC who have cancelled Mondays advisory committee meeting. Out to the car and we load up as usual, with the exception that we now have the central rear lap seatbelt for the child’s seat, which is much more secure. To Bedford together (except Daniel at school) and we park at the central multi-storey car park and take an early lunch at Debenhams. After, I walked to Peacock’s showroom and looked at the lots for tomorrow’s auction. I was particularly attracted to three folding wooden chairs and brought Diana back afterwards to see them, who also would like them, providing they are renovated. In particular, they were made of numerous components and slats and were very comfortable to sit on.
Home too late to visit the bank, which I regretted and I now have to get both bank and building societies ready for our house purchase in two weeks’ time. To the office for a message from Barry Gamble and it seems that my offer of £40,000 for Archers Wood will not be accepted. Back to the house and to set up the croquet and to get out the garden seats and start the barbeque. A nice meal with Paul joining Daniel and both behaving themselves and then, after I fed the doves, they were cajoled into three games of croquet, which they ended up enjoying. After, I read Debbie two more stories from Aesop’s Fables and then a while with Daniel going over today’s classwork and checking his prep. Then to read his Kimboltonian magazine and note the range of activities with regret that he doesn’t take part. I checked the dovecote today and found two new eggs. Good luck to them! News tonight that six English teams qualifying for European competitions will be withdrawn next year. The FA took the decision today after talking to the Prime Minister, and Liverpool had already withdrawn voluntarily. Neil Kinnock calls the ban a victory for the thugs and asks for the causes rather than the symptoms to be addressed. The clubs also react angrily. In Turin and other parts of Italy, mourners reclaimed the victims’ bodies and the government was making protests to both UEFA and the Belgian authorities and protesting outrage. Back in the UK the unemployment figures are announced and, although the drop is the biggest in 8 years, the seasonal trend is still upwards. British contributory relief to the results of the Bangladeshi cyclone has begun to take place. The easterly breezes and warm dry weather is forecast to last for the weekend, which is a relief.