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Reading 1666 Pepys diaries and typing up investment letters, making plans for a half million pound CGT payment soon and being kept away from Diana’s visiting friend Linda as the builders work on noisily before a log fire this chilly evening and Willie Mandela condemns Thatcher as a ‘Fascist’ and the call for an inquiry into the City riots is rejected against the known wishes of the Price of Wales
A good night and chance in the morning to return to Pepys 1666 journals for the first time in a long while. Breakfast, a quick wash and shave, then a perambulation with Della, who has now become so mischievous that I have to lead her by the hand to get anywhere. To the office and this morning typing letters to a variety of financial contacts and advisors, as I get my investment affairs up to date. I have to make provision for a half million pounds capital gains tax demand within a month or two. Coffee, lunch and then back to it in the afternoon until after three, when I was just in time to rush into town and catch the bank before it closed. Also to drop off some papers for my accountant and then post my other letters that I generated today. Lastly, I dropped in on Shaw’s auction rooms and looked at the lots, but they were a load of rubbish and they seem to get worse. Home and I get some drinks for Diana and her friend Linda Richardson and chat to them a while. I am not really allowed to drop in on the blonde when she visits, because I find her too attractive, but when I gazed at her closely I could see that she is not really a true blonde, but dyes her hair.
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The morning at the dentist and afternoon with the Smallbone kitchen installation manager whilst more building demolition takes place and as The USSR and USA argue over missile deployments, a mass lobby of parliament protests at Thatchers overseas aid reductions and ambulance drivers are to be upgraded to para-medic status
A good night in spite of my advancing cold and then breakfast, the paper and to get showered, shaved and hair washed. Out to see the builders first thing. I had received a letter from the architect this morning querying the compromise on corridor size and fearing that it might appear claustrophobic. I measured it, discussed the issue with Mr Cheesborough and, although it is rather narrow at 830mm, I decided to keep it that size to enlarge the two adjacent rooms. It will not be a major thoroughfare and should be well lit from the rooms at both ends. Then some coffee, before off to town for an appointment at the dentists. I had arranged to see the hygienist, who removes plaque and deposits from client’s teeth and, after a fair wait, she ‘did’ me. Not a very pleasant experience, with the drills and abrasive pads grinding away. Whilst there I noted the layout of what is a fine old Georgian building and the first in line next to the Meeting Rooms, which were between it and the old bridge prior to their demolition. She obviously noted that I had a cold, because she wore a face mask for the entire operation, which is unusual.
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Off to St Neots shopping for household goods and fireworks as the builders worked on before resuming work on administration in my office and see Linda visiting Diana briefly as the worst ever Motorway pile-up kills 13 and injures 35 and at last Thatcher agrees to some South African sanctions at the Commonwealth conference in the Bahamas
My aspirins allowed me to sleep reasonably, but I was still a little restless at times. Awake to my morning tea and then I experimented by reading whilst lying down in bed and it seemed to be quite practicable. Down to breakfast of toast and fruit juice and then to complete my paper before getting washed and dressed. Out to the birds with Della in tow, who is now sporting her all-weather boots. A fine sunny day that stayed so until dusk. A bit chilly, but not too much so for the time of year. Two eggs only again. Both a plasterer and carpenter arrived on site this morning, as both of these trades are subcontracted by the builder. The plasterer put up the under layer for the sitting room and dining room, and the carpenter built a couple of door frames, modified a third and put up a framework for the Daniel and box room walls. Off with Di this morning to St Neots. First port of call was the gas showrooms, where we are to return on Thursday to decide upon the best deal for our Moffat cooker and hob. On then to Brittains, where we chase up our lounge carpet and order it urgently, then select some material and curtain poles for the same room.
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A trying and stressful day as we try to enjoy a normal life amongst the building mess and I end up with a shouting match with Diana and have to limit the number of Daniel’s friends that can visit us whilst we are thus but I do manage to clean out the house gutters and winterise our boats and my bad back survives the ordeal. This as The Prince and Princess of Wales are interviewed and violence continues in South Africa with more deaths and no sign of Thatcher relenting
A fair lay in this morning before woken to morning tea after which I lay to rest my back again. A little stiff from yesterday’s exertions, but otherwise OK. A rather restless night as I am catching a cold and having trouble both breathing and regulating my temperature. Down to a nice fried breakfast and then to read the Sunday Times whilst sitting in the kitchen chair for the warmth and comfort that it brings. Soon the house invasion by the children’s friends begins, but I limit each of them to one visitor at a time during the house alterations. A bit of a row follows as Daniel opts eventually for Paul to come in and play with the Commodore computer, whilst he leaves Jason Chambers outside. I get washed and then quickly out to do the ducks and doves, as by now it is 10.30am. Only one egg today, after two yesterday. In a misunderstanding with Diana we end up arguing in the street and I shout at her, which is most uncharacteristic. We will be better when the house alterations are complete and the furnishings chosen, as we have much on our minds at the moment. A sunny, but cool day, and this anticyclonic weather continues and seems set for a few more good building days yet. This is good as we are expecting the carpenters to begin this week to build the balconies and link building floor. This morning I organised Daniel and three friends to first pull his day-boat up the slipway and put the engine in the workshop and an old cover on it to keep the rain off, and then to put the winter cover on The Lady.