The morning spent with Della and then on getting Daniel’s bicycle and his spare outboard motor repaired and then to entertain Charles and Norman Jackson to lunch before completing some industry work and resignations now that I am retiring from that and then ordering appliances for our new kitchen as the builders press on and I video their progress. This as Reagan and Thatcher combine for anti-Soviet ‘Star Wars’ measures and she refuses to see Tambo of the ANC and also plans more welfare cuts whilst the Queen visits St Kitts, our first colony there.
Took two aspirins and slept well with my cold symptoms last night as a result. Heard the sound of wailing fire engines late last night and learned this morning that they were attending a large fire at Brampton. Evidently 2/3rds of the offices and papers of RAF Support Command were destroyed by fire, but there is no comment on the probable cause. I rose early this morning without reading the paper and saw the builders, when I let them in before breakfast. I pointed out the problem of the location of the new balcony and they conceded the point later and levelled it to be the same as the other one. It was a cold morning, with a heavy mist that showered from the overhanging trees like rain. It was well into the morning before the sun broke through and it became quite warm. After my concerns and discussions, I returned to the house to find Daniella desperate for her morning walk to the doves and ducks, which we then did to a martial pace in view of the cold. She chortled when she saw the ducks eat and run to the river, which is her favourite pastime.
No eggs today. Out with Daniel and his friend Gary this morning to take his bicycle to St Neots and his spare 2HP Evinrude outboard motor to Colnworth, both for repair. We are to check when we return from London and they should be ready by then. Home a little before noon and, Diana’s mother and father having arrived, we settled for a lunch of meat pie and vegetables. The boys were on their best behaviour in this severe company. After, to the office, where I completed my paperwork, writing to Bill Barret of the BMMG enclosing papers and directing him in replying to a variety of them. Also to Stephen Hosier of NEDO explaining my indisposition and plans for retirement from industry affairs. Then to enlist the boys help to take my office apart; packing away all unwanted items and placing them in the loft, disconnecting the computer and telephone equipment and putting them on my desk and under a white sheet, and pushing my filing trolleys and other items through to the box room and protecting them with old newspapers. This chore done, I then rushed off to the car and drove to St Neots with Daniel to order our Moffat cooker and hob from the Gas showrooms. It took a while to complete the details and Di went off to collect Debbie from her ballet whilst I did the deal. We took advantage of an offer for a free hob and fitting (though had to pay half the cost of the de-luxe hooded model that we chose) and also the offer to pay next February, which is a common sales promotion drive at present. Then over to the Electricity Board showroom, where I order a Hoover dish-washing machine, also under a similar ‘pay-February’ offer. Both will arrive in time for the kitchen fitting dates. Diana picked me up again and I rushed back to take more video pictures of the building work before our weekend away. They had by now knocked out the guest room wall and window, built up the lower partition of the front link building wall, completed the corridor upstairs by cladding it with boards, and stripped off most of the room’s wallpaper. Then tea, with the children mostly under control, before an evening reading this week’s local and today’s national newspapers. News today of US President Reagan’s UN speech, where he presented a mixture of anti-Soviet rhetoric, with an appeal for a fresh start. The Russians replied that they had presented plans for a ban for weapons in space and arms limitation and eventual elimination on earth, which was the basis for negotiations. Thatcher still has unfinished business with Reagan on a UK share of US star wars research. Back in England, three of the UK service men charged in the Cyprus secrets trials, which has been one of the longest and most expensive trials in history. Four others are still waiting. In South Africa, the centre of Cape Town was sealed off after more riots and the SA Ambassador was called to the Foreign Office for a strongly worded critique of their slow progress to ending apartheid. Tambo, the ANC leader whilst Mandela remains jailed, will visit the UK next week, but the Thatcher government refuses to meet him. Two warplanes (German and American) have crashed over England and Scotland this week and a third had lost a missile and is seeking help in finding it. The Tory Cabinet discussed the DHSS review today with housing benefits in mind and child benefits next in line for cuts. More French nuclear tests in the Pacific, witnessed by Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, resisted by the heroic Greenpeace yachts. The Queen continues her tour of the West Indies with a visit to St Kitts, the first colony. The fine, but cold, weather will hold up until the weekend, but rain is forecast for next week.