Warding off rabbits on a warm and close day with my bad back an issue before I order our £20,000 real oak kitchen before off to Ives for the antique auction and back for fish and chips on the front lawn as Neil Kinnock attacks the Liverpool Militants at his party conference and 300 youths riot in Toxteth. Elsewhere, Israeli jets attack the PLO in Tunisia, the fight between Lebanese factions demolishes Tripoli and anti-Nazi protests rage in Frankfurt
A restless night; very warm and close. It seems that we are getting the southerly airstream straight from Spain and the Mediterranean. A little time sitting in bed, but my back has taken a turn for the worse today. Up, dressed, breakfast, and then out to feed the doves. The gardener was spreading blue lawn fertiliser and bemoaning the activities of Marilyn’s rabbits again. I was out earlier, opening the premises for the workmen and I managed to hit one of them hard with a thrown stone before they ran away. The morning mail and plenty more computer magazines (I have a dozen or more to catch up on) and letters from the NEDO and Export IT trying to increase my involvement. Back home and just in time to meet the kitchen designer/salesman from Smallbone. There then followed a 3 hour session discussing our kitchen requirements, specifying and then costing a combination. It will be in real English oak for frames and doors, which is highly unusual in this day and age, but the cost will be equally unusual – well over £20,000, including fittings and appliances, which is the cost of a Jaguar!
I wrote a cheque for £1000 deposit and we will see him again next week to finalise the details. We can get it installed late next month and in time for the building work as long as they liaise effectively. Off then after a sandwich to St Ives for the antiques auction. I had missed most of the lots and then had to wait through quite a few more before the oak canteen came up, but I managed to buy it for £28, which was very cheap considering its quality. Home and pleased to have the car air conditioning. It was really hot today – 80degF – and I changed on my return and took off my tie. The excavations had continued and the building inspector had agreed the course of action proposed by the architect. They will have to dig out the obstruction and float it with concrete. A wall and large pit have now been uncovered and had to be a previous well or dwelling. Then to my new canteen and I spent a while putting my SH/DC silver collection inside and noting the effect. The expanse of silver in the fork and spoon section is quite stunning, but a pity there is no space for dinner knives – but it was normally the custom to buy and keep some separately. The family arrive home at last and there was then a hectic scramble to serve fish and chips, which we ate outside on the front lawn. There being little light left, I went out to water the garden and feed the ducks. A few minutes chatting with the neighbours, who continue to be fascinated with my plans. It seems, however, that Marilyn’s rabbits are also causing problems in other gardens. News today of the Labour Party Conference and the heads on attack by Neil Kinnock on the party militants of Liverpool and elsewhere. It was the bravest speech by a Labour leader in a long while and deserving of the applause that it received. Meanwhile in Toxteth, Liverpool, there was more rioting as a mob of 300 youths used burning cars to make barricades and roaming the streets in small groups. Israeli jets bombed the PLO’s headquarters in Tunisia today in a revenge raid; outraging the Tunisian government in the process. The US accepts it but, for once, the British demur and deplore the actions, possibly with Middle East trade in mind. The devastation in Tripoli goes on, with rival Lebanon factions shooting the city to bits and the state falling into anarchy. Thousands of anti-Nazi protestors are on the rampage in Frankfurt after banned demonstrations and more repression in S Africa.