Morning tea with Debbie and her ‘pony book’ stickers and then to fix Daniel’s boat engine at last ready for his first successful trip to St Neots whilst I commissioned our new security lights and wired up our garages. The government has resorted to a ‘three-line whip’ to get its Sunday Trading Bill through the Commons, the EEC Foreign Ministers agree diplomatic measures against Libya as the US plans to strike from British soil and famous French authoress, Simone de Beauvoir, the follower of Jean-Paul Sartre and writer for the Women’s Liberation Movement, has died in a Paris hospital, aged 78
Slept soundly and we now seem quite used to our new mattress. In fact we turned it over this morning, which is supposed to do it good during its early life. Di woke me with my morning tea and then, in bounced Debbie to sit beside me with her ‘pony’ book to show me how many stickers she had got. Up, showered, shaved and dressed and then I joined the others for a toast breakfast. Steve had slept OK this time and was down with the rest of us. After, I retired to my room to read today’s FT and also write up yesterday’s journal. Then out to help Daniel and Gary to fix the Aquabean’s engine. Dan had managed to get a replacement starter rope at last. Some time before I could start it, however, as I had to get the right combination of adjustments. Eventually managed it and we put it on the boat and tried it out satisfactorily before lunch.
A nice meal of salad and rolls, which I ate and enjoyed. This afternoon Daniel took the boat to St Neots marina and bought 3 gallons of fuel and then returned safely in time for tea, which was a successful start to the season for him. Debbie went off to a party after school, which she enjoyed, but Daniel has got another week of his holiday yet. This afternoon, I set up and installed the security light switches; photo-cell sensors in the west and rear halls, timers in the west room and my office. The idea is to make the house look occupied when we are out in the evening and also look active during the night – all to discourage intruders. A splendid evening meal of stewed topside chunks and then some time tonight starting to wire up the two garages. Main news today is of the military build-up by the Americans, including preparations at their air bases in England. The EEC Foreign Ministers met today in The Hague and agreed that the number of Libyan diplomats in the 12 member countries be cut drastically and their freedom of movement be restricted. News also that charges are not to be brought against police officers who searched Mrs Cynthia Jarrett’s home and ‘caused’ the Tottenham riots when she collapsed with a heart attack. An Ulster youth has died from rubber bullet wounds to the head, after being hit during the Loyalist riots. In the House of Commons, the government is under pressure over their 3-line whip on the Sunday Trading Bill. Many Tories will be joining the opposition and voting against, but the promise of a free vote during the committee and report stages is expected to let them off the hook tonight. French authoress, Simone de Beauvoir, the follower of Jean-Paul Sartre and writer for the Women’s Liberation Movement, has died in a Paris hospital, aged 78. In South Africa, Bishop Tutu is now Archbishop Tutu of the Cape Town diocese and has thus been elected leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. In a surprisingly outspoken statement, Mrs Winnie Mandela has supported violence to overthrow the white minority government and implicitly approved the ‘necklace’ atrocities, where petrol-soaked tyres are wrapped around a victim’s neck and ignited. After a clear night, the weather is forecast to change to heavy rain tomorrow