A slow start liaising with Pete and Joan and then to St Ives for the auction viewing and then back to work outside re-organising my sheds with Daniel’s help before reading to Debbie and checking the news. Prison officers do not turn up at Worcester Crown Court in what Labour’s Gerald Kaufman called a tinderbox atmosphere, caused by Government intransigence and have two prisoners escaping from their custody at knifepoint elsewhere. Cornish tin mines are closing without Government support and the 130,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain, recovered from an old shipwreck, are auctioned
A sound night’s sleep and then groggily to my morning tea. Late to breakfast because of the need to wash my hair and then out afterwards to feed the doves and see Pete. I instructed him on how to maintain the lawnmowers, which was hard going. More time than I had planned, but then in to get ready for our trip to St Ives. The tiler already here, grouting the results of his work, and two landscapers were laying crazy paving as our swimming pool approaches completion. We were delayed by Joan until 9.30am and the gas fitters were just arriving, as we left, to install the swimming pool boiler. To St Ives via the country route.
The sun was shining and, although the airstream is still quite cool after a cold winter and spring, it was warm, and so we sat out on our balcony in the newly acquired teak veranda chairs before we left,. A busy day in St Ives – market day filling most of the car parking spaces and the weather bringing out the pedestrians in force. Coffee and a cream scone at the café in Station Road and time to play with Della, who was in a good mood and entertaining an old lady at the next table. Across to Ekins showroom for the viewing of the antique auction with Di & Della. We saw a pair of mahogany bedside cabinets and also a pair of ebonised folding chairs that I will bid for tomorrow. Lunch of a large kebab from a takeaway, eaten at the Waits Quay and then home to the Hayling View. Tea on the patio and then I returned to my task of emptying the workshop. Dan, home from school, helped me before and after tea, before I came in at dusk to read a Country Companion to Debbie and then relax in front of the TV. News today of the Soviet Union admitting an accident taking place at one of their nuclear power stations in the Ukraine. Scandinavia had earlier monitored higher radioactivity levels and, by the way the incident was announced, it seems to be a serious catastrophe. Prison officers at Gloucester jail have been suspended after refusing to turn up for duty at Worcester Crown Court and another strong statement ensued from the Home Secretary. We now wait for their response in what Labour’s Gerald Kaufman called a tinderbox atmosphere, caused by Government intransigence. Two prisoners have escaped in a prison van by holding the officers at knife point. The Government are urged to veto a US move to bring chemical weapons that they have developed and stockpiled into a NATO role. A key meeting takes place between NATO Defence Ministers in 2 weeks’ time. The Cornish tin mining industry is in danger of collapse, due to low tin prices and the absence of Government aid. CCL, the subsidiary of Rio Tinto Zinc, is closing down its three Cornish mines from August 1st 1986. The auction has started of 250 year old Chinese porcelain – 130,000 pieces were recovered from an old shipwreck. After today’s damp, but mild weather, it will be cooler and clearer overnight and quite bright tomorrow for most of the day.