The family do well as we enjoy a month of working hard on industry and personal affairs before enjoying a boat holiday on our renovated boat, cruising the rivers and fens of Cambridgeshire as the sporting, economic and political news on the home front is dispiriting with even Thatcher’s Tory colleagues now against her but the division and violence of the outside world is even worse as bombs, killings and fighting inflame sectarian divisions and spawn atrocities
And so ends the month of May – a month that started cold and blustery and was very wintery, until the last part of it. Even then, storms and rain gave way to a cool breeze that tempered the hot sun. We are all well and free of our colds, but Daniel seems to have his catarrh on a permanent basis – just as I used to when I was a boy. That is no excuse for his poor progress at school. The hay fever season has not yet started and so Debbie is clear, apart from the odd sniff and so she could enjoy her party. Daniella is now growing up fast and walks around beds and objects when she can hold on. She eats more of our food, preferring chips and sausages to munch on at length. This week she has learned a faint word “UVVA” which we think is “brother” to add to her snorting and head shaking. My relatives are also well – Mum & Dad are back from Cornwall and pleased to be home. During their stay they journeyed and walked all around. Freda, Alf and the family are coping with unmarried Stacey and her baby, who are doing fine. Diana’s parents are in Majorca still, in their villa, but will be back soon. We have started to enjoy the summer and the weather now in our newly-renovated boat, The Lady, and have many trips out and holidays scheduled.
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The only problem, which is worrying me, is that I have less and less inclination to pursue BMMG matters and I do not want to let my industry friends down. What with my new found interest in antiques and bygones, my efforts to organise my financial affairs and my efforts to spend more time with the family – it leaves little time during their holidays or the summer. Perhaps, when rainy weather strikes, I will feel differently and I certainly hope so. Another factor is the ceaseless reversals the British micro industry is facing with the City disillusionment matched only by the lack of government support. I must concede to my critics a fair point – I did get out at the right time! I have no desire to be associated with lost causes for too long, but will wait for more chance of a change of government or mood before packing it in. The house purchase is settled for two weeks’ time and I am now chasing the architect for progress. The more I consider the projected design, the more I like it. We have our first dove chick killed by a cat. The rest of the UK news is equally dispiriting: The government cutting social security spending and pensions despite manifesto promises and unemployment up to 3 ¼ million and now plans emerge for them to sell off British Gas after decimating the coal industry, making a new Public Order Act, axing 4,000 jobs at the BR Swindon workshops and abolishing the GLC but at least Tory cabinet dissenters and backbenchers are making their disapproval known by forcing a Lords defeat over the ILEA abolition and Pym forms his Tory opposition group. A thousand demonstrators march in support of the jailed miners who through that block which killed a taxi driver. Prison officers complain that the prisons are bursting at the seams and that inmate suicides are growing accordingly. Fairground incidents and other misadventure kills and injures many children and the Bradford Football Ground kill 52 spectators as the fire doors were locked and then a football riot and 39 deaths at the Heysel Stadium which will lead to a ban for English football but the VE day celebrations remain a proud relief and sense of pride and The Royal Family circulate in the streets to join in incognito. The dreaded legionnaire’s disease has killed over 33 people now. The World news could hardly be more discouraging; Water canon is used against protestors in South Africa, Basque bombs exploding in Alicante, Nicaragua protests over US involvement and Sikh extremists set off 28 bombs in Delhi and Tamil guerrillas kill 100 Buddhists in Anuradhapura in more sectarian violence, 40,000 Ethiopians become refugees and US police in Philadelphia delivery burn 12 members of a black armed cult as a Florida brush fire spreads 350miles out of control and destroys 90,000 acres and 150 homes. A massive car bomb kills 60 people in Christian Beirut refugee camps and vicious fighting ensues with hundreds dying and thousands being injured.