Another cold day in full and successful engagement with the builders and architect before some family time in front of a log fire as the Maltese hijacking of the Egyptian airliner ends in tragedy and deaths but the Royal Family are out and about at charity events
Another restless night worrying about the builder’s progress and the problem of convincing Cheeseborough to install the second boiler early. Eventually asleep after waking Di and seeking mutual solace in the normal way. Heavily asleep by my normal waking time after this indulgence and slowly down to breakfast to find the family having finished theirs. Quickly washed and dressed and over to open the windows for the decorator to paint. Then I went up into the loft and disassembled the ball valve to the cistern and found that the ballcock was fine, but that there was no washer at all in the valve! Back to the house and out to the doves, where I found the new doves quite helplessly fluttering down to the ground, unable to return to the dovecote. They did this several times later during the day, but gradually getting stronger in flight. The problem is that they have been reared in a confined shed and then lost many of their tail feathers on the wire mesh that I retained them with. Then the ducks and back to Di for our trip to St Neots.
We got new washers for the ball valve from Fishers, the rest of our curtain rails from Brittains, and then went to the Priory coffee bar at the Cross Keys. Then home to drop me off, after which Di went back to do her shopping. I fixed the water leak, kept checking the doves, and tried fitting security bolts to the link building double doors, but could not get the access that I needed. The carpenter had completed these, the glazier had fitted the glass, and the electrician was putting in the upstairs power points. I asked the latter to supply and fit a new heater for the new bathroom and three more outside lights for above and below the balconies. Time for lunch – Di had brought back hot sausage and cold cheese rolls and a doughnut for after – and then over to my office, changed, and to work updating my bank and building society statements, whilst waiting for David Stokes and Mr Cheeseborough to arrive for the site meeting. A long session that started late and we resolved that the boiler would be fitted next Wednesday and that the three quarters of the building that is presently being worked upon will be finished completely by Christmas and that work on the last quarter would be deferred until the New Year. This work will include doing up both bathrooms and completing the pavement to the front with a ramp and paving stones to match the back garden. The upper link building should be finished in construction this week and the plasterer will start on Monday. As darkness fell, David Stokes left and the builder stayed on with the plumber, who was having trouble relighting the boiler. After a panic, they managed to bring a replacement thermocouple and get it going. The kitchen fitters have been a bit difficult in refusing to help with the sink installation and are also seeking to avoid fitting the units as close to the ceiling as we would like. This evening I helped Daniel with his school work and then sat with Di and Dan in front of the log fire, listening to music from the stereo, before we switched on the TV for the news. News today of a tragic end to the Maltese hijacking of the Egyptian airliner as the commanders attacked and the hijackers threw three grenades around the passenger compartment. As they were shooting one passenger an hour anyway, this strong line has been supported by the US and British governments. A deputation of Unionist MP's met the Prime Minister today and, despite attempts to persuade them otherwise, they will resign their seats and force a mini-election in the New Year. One absentee was Enoch Powell and we wait to see whether he decides to join them. The Royals are visiting far and wide – Princess Anne in Africa for the Save the Children Fund and the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Lady Diana at separate theatrical performances. Another colder day tomorrow, even colder than today, and some snow forecast to boot.