A slow start after a troubled night but soon impressed with Daniel’s use of his Commodore 64 before I make for St Ives Auctions to find more SHDC tea spoons for my collection before we pack up and leave for the start of our Holiday Inn London Weekend where we settle in, get some goodies and then use the swimming pool. This as huge CND demonstrations in London and in Holland oppose Cruise Missile deployment and two more die in South African clashes
An unsettled night, troubled by a stiff neck, some loose bed coverings and also by Diana being restless as well. Reluctantly awake to my morning tea and then forced down to breakfast with the others, as I gradually come too from my slumber. I decided to shower after and, before dressing, I looked in on Daniel. His computer games for his new Commodore 64 are quite remarkable; sound effects and rhythmic movements and complex animated adventures and games that renders all before them assembled to spend more time than they ought. Today was the turn of Wizards and castle adventures, which makes a change from the American software of yesterday. Dressed and then out in Diana’s car and on my own to St Ives for the Ekins antique auction viewing and general auction sale. I bought catalogues for both sales and then looked around. Straight away I spotted a mahogany folding steamer chair with foot rest in the general auction and, therefore, stayed longer looking around the antique viewing until it came up. There I found a set of 6 SHDC tea spoons 1838, which were in quite good condition and I shall bid for them on Tuesday.
Outside, I secured the old steamer chair for £35 after a little competition and then set off quickly for home as Diana and the children were waiting to go to London. Eight builders had turned up, including Mr Cheeseborough, this morning and their task was to finish the brickwork for the chimney and clear up all round the site. The plasterer will be in again on Monday with plenty to do. I fed the doves and ducks (as Daniel had not bothered to do them properly) and we locked up and set off. On to Sandy with a car full of luggage and children and there to enjoy our Saturday Happy Eater lunch. Away after with the children sucking lollies. You are supposed to get one lolly for each child at the end of the meal, but as regular customers, the supervisor gave us a bag with fifteen in! I got the video camera out and recorded the children playing on the amusements outside before we set off for London. Once there we diverted to Finchley Road, where Diana bought 3 dresses at Nightingales. They sell reasonably priced garments, but this is the first time Diana has visited their shop; she normally buys by mail order. Then we finally made for the Holiday Inn – Swiss Cottage, our destination for the weekend. More videos of Della and then the children with their fun bags (free gifts for the weekend’s stay) and then off to the swimming pool and they swam as I had a complimentary drink. I got them all a McDonalds burger and chips for their tea and then, when Della had gone to bed, Diana and I went down to the restaurant for a nice meal. News today of CND organising their biggest ever rally, with over 100,000 setting off on a march around Hyde Park and the US/USSR embassies. They were still moving off from the start 3 hours after the start of the procession. In Holland, another 15000 demonstrated against cruise missile deployment there. The jury in the secrets trial can still not decide on the fate of the last two defendants and, after a day off tomorrow, will sit again on Monday. More demonstration and counter-demonstration in South Africa and 2 more dead. An opinion poll for tomorrow’s Mail on Sunday puts the Conservatives ahead, but I do not believe that the government are that popular. Sir Keith Joseph faces 200 parents, angry and critical of his failure to resolve the teachers dispute. More fine weather forecast.