Della was ill today and this upset Diana on a very cold and frosty day but she joined me for a trip to St Neots to choose many house furnishings as her parents came and baby-sitted as a Columbian volcano erupts and, together with meltwater to form a ‘Lahar’, engulfs the village of Amero killing tens of thousands of people
Awake to my morning tea, but could hardly drink it as Diana was flustering over problems with the heating. It seemed that the upstairs radiators were on, but downstairs were off and, when I went out in the morning frost to the temporary boiler position, the heating control had not come on at all. It was only the hot water circuit before. Back to a reasonably calm atmosphere and then able to take morning breakfast and orange juice without further panic. I also looked at FT, but saw little news of fundamental interest. The prices of electrical and computer stocks had fallen again. Washed and dressed quickly, expecting an onslaught of builders, but they came quite late and in small numbers. I toured the building, unlocking doors and windows, on a morning that was cold and very frosty, but not as bad as yesterday. The Smallbone fitter arrived and I had to keep him chatting for a while. He was happy with our proportions and advised Mr Cheeseborough, when he arrived, on a number of outstanding queries. Poor Daniella was ill this morning, suffering from the after effects of her measles injection, and Di was so upset that she phoned the doctor and then cried, but all was well later on.
Out after to the birds. Their water was frozen again and they ate greedily. It is now about two weeks that the new doves have been caged and they will need about as long again. No duck eggs today. In for a relaxing coffee with Diana, whilst Della slept. We talked over a number of arrangements for our new furnishings and agreed a trip to St Neots this afternoon. Then to The Lady and spent time adjusting the boat heating. I now have it down low so as to avoid frost damage. Lunch of ham rolls and, this afternoon, Di’s mum and dad came over to babysit, allowing Di to go to keep fit and Debbie’s discotheque, and me to examine my curtain rails for the new house. I identify them as Swish Deluxe and, on Di’s return, we go to St Neots and buy a lot of fittings for them, including one draw cord set. With Diana, we chose the cushioned vinyl for the kitchen, hall, utility room and playroom and then Diana chooses the wall tiles for the kitchen as well. Then to Brittains, where we meet Daniel from school to choose his bedroom curtains, bedcover and pillowcases, all in a matching ‘graffiti’ pattern. Home to impatient grandparents and, after another sandwich tea, I spent the evening running the boat engine to recharge the batteries, and trying out the new curtain fittings. Main news tonight was the eruption of the Columbian volcano, Nevado del Ruiz, yesterday that had not moved for 150 years and, when combined with rain-swollen rivers, engulfed surrounding houses. A town called Amero virtually disappeared and thousands trapped in deep mudslides. Tens of thousands have died. The British and Irish governments have agreed a plan on the future of Northern Ireland for signature tomorrow, but the terms are still secret. They do seem to include, however, the interchange of civil servants, which is anathema to the Unionists. Two police were killed in Northern Ireland in two separate incidents. The NUM went to the High Court to purge their contempt today and the sequestration of their assets, but they have to return to end the receivership. It is raining heavily as we go to bed tonight and more wet, windy and fairly cold weather to come tomorrow. The carpenter finished the roof framework today and then fitted doors to the new kitchen and Daniel’s bedroom, which will be a great relief once the glass is fitted tomorrow.