I stood and remembered the dead of two world wars this morning and the countryside was quite for once and then the family over to see Diana’s parents and her brother Chas’s family for lunch before home to hear of the reaction to the South African jailing of a journalist as John Travolta dances with Lady Diana at President Reagan’s party
A good night’s sleep, settled into the routine of our house whilst the building work continues. A couple of aspirins before I went to bed, and awoke still with my sore throat, but nothing serious. Down to breakfast of fried egg, bacon, sausage and bread, which was a nice change to the fruit juice and toast of the rest of the week’s deprivation. Then to first read yesterday’s FT, and, when that was finished, today’s Sunday Times, but I did not finish this until 10.00am by which time Di was getting quite frustrated with me getting in the way. Up to the bathroom where I washed my hair, shaved and then sank into a large bath of water for a further half hour. A lovely serene and relaxing experience, which came to an end with a procession of visitors knocking on the front door. Up, dressed and out to show a neighbour where he could put some earth and then to feed the ducks and doves. A cold and breezy morning as I changed the doves seed supply, sodden with the overnight rain. One egg from the ducks last night, which is as many as we are getting lately. I had put on my best sports jacket and trousers this morning and there was no time to do a great deal else before it was time to visit Mr & Mrs Jackson for lunch. As there were no friends to play with, Daniel had played wrestling and cycling with Debbie and then computer racing with me, which was a nice family time. A fair drive to Bar Hill, stopping for petrol on the way and with little traffic to hold us up. Arrived in good time and some wine before settling down to a meal of roast beef with Di’s parents and also Chas and Chris, who were up for the weekend. A nice dish and surroundings and welcome experience with our house in dust and rubble.
After, to help Charles and get away from Chas’s clouds of cigarette smoke, I went into the dining room and noted the dates and towns of origin of each piece of the silver collection. The peace occasionally broken by the two babies – Della and Katherine squealing and running around. Afternoon tea and biscuits and then time, as darkness fell, to get ready to leave for home. A cold change to the day, with a clear sky, but less wind and the car windows were plagued with condensation as I got used to the car controls for the first drive in the dark for some considerable time. Once home and unloaded I helped Di go to the other half of the house to get her washing from the machine and then we sat down to some stilton and biscuits to finish off our food for the afternoon. More writing my journal, watching the TV and updating my accounts. Remembrance Sunday today. I stood and thought of the dead of the two world wars this morning and the countryside was remarkably, almost eerily, quiet at the time of the service at the Cenotaph. This evening a touching televised tribute reproduced proceedings, but also showed some memories and personalities from those past and sad days. The weather stayed cold throughout today, but there was no addition to the overnight rain. The news is of a terrible letter in the Daily Telegraph in support of the banning of journalists activity in South Africa and, in the country itself, three more blacks dead in separate incidents of civil unrest. The Prince and Princess of Wales successfully completed their royal engagement and ceremonial dinner at the White House last night and, with President and Nancy Reagan were Clint Eastwood, John Travolta and other royal favourites. Today they made their first mass public appearance in front of large crowds and opened the Washington exhibition of British Culture.