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With Diana suffering on this cold and showery day from her cough of the last few days, I fed and looked after the children and then had Debbie’s help earning pocket money as I carried on screwing down floorboards and dropped in to Kimbolton Castle to view the antiques auction lots and Daniel had his friend Steve Hicks round to use his boat. This as Ulster seems to be on the brink of anarchy as 16 police houses are bombed and some destroyed but UK politics carries on as usual with a Fleet Street union rally in Trafalgar Square whilst 400 Strathclyde steel workers are sacked whilst striking and Winnie Mandela speaking out for sanctions against South Africa is locally reported for the first time
A lay in today as Di had retreated into the box room with her cough and Debbie and then Daniel came in looking for their morning drinks. In the end Daniel went down to get them, but fell foul of the security alarm and woke the rest of the family up. Down to an eventual breakfast of fried egg, bacon, bread and tomato/mushrooms, which I had done to a tee. Then my ablutions until it was time to return to my ‘hard labour.’ By now the electric screwdriver was fully charged and I swept half of the floor, moved across the furniture and started on the last half. Same procedure as before – the metal detector to avoid pipes/wires and nails and allow me to mark the positions, then the 3 in 1 countersink drill to make the holes and the electric screwdriver to drive the screws home. Little Debbie also helped by putting in the screws for drilling and I paid her ½ p each for a 20p fee. The screws were put along the joists, in the centre of each floor section and towards each side. Where the sections joined end on, a double row of screws was put in for each. It is rewarding to see how much of a transition it makes, as it removes the creaks.
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Grand National Day – Visit to Ekins auction in St Ives to find plenty to interest us but Diana started the day unwell and Daniel loses his bank book and we all get delayed for lunch but my horse West Tip wins the Grand National and Debbie and I enjoy a fine tea of grilled trout before I take Diana to Cambridge for the cinema tonight. More atrocities with Ulster police homes being bombed.
A poor night. First Diana went off to the box room to sleep because of her cough and then some rowdies woke me up at 1.00am on their way back to Little Paxton. Everybody up early this morning so that we could go to St Ives, but there was no sign of the builders or plumber and we eventually left at 10.00am. A steady drive there and we all looked round the Ekins (Prudential) auctions. The general auction taking place today was a bit thin on the ground and we arrived late for the start of it anyway. The antique auction viewing was most impressive, with splendid side tables and cabinets, as well as first class wardrobes and other pieces. A large set of Mary Chawner silver in fiddle is also for sale on Tuesday and I will try to contact Nigel accordingly.
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Some time with Debbie at both ends of a showery and cool day during which Nigel and I found nothing of interest at Peacock’s auction but had a good chat over coffee and then some good work screwing down floorboards with my new cordless drill. This as Education Minister John Patton heralds the removal of more power from local authorities and US-owned Phillips Petroleum make their 2,500 job cuts with many feared for the UK
Di managed to get up early this morning, but had previously moved into the spare room with a coughing fit. In early morning Debbie came in complaining of a ‘crocodile nightmare,’ where he had bitten off both hands and one leg! so I let her snuggle in beside me and we both slept for another hour until Di brought the morning drinks. Down to have a shower before Di announces breakfast and a bowl of cereal is my choice today. Shaved and dressed afterwards and then a little time to scan the morning mail and paper before I get the car round for our trip to Bedford. We set off in good time and I end up parking close to the town centre.
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A busy day of visitors and contractors as the supply was laid to the new swimming pool gas boiler in the garage, the final building work was discussed with the builders and architects and the letting contract for 39 Gordon Road finalised. This as speculation grows over those responsible for the TWA bombing, Keith Joseph is given the cold shoulder at the teacher’s conference and Thatcher again rejects South African sanctions
Another late lay in, as Diana only brought me my morning drink at 8.00am. By the time I came down to breakfast, there was already two of Debbie’s friends in for the meal and then the Gas Board fitter was waiting for me as I washed and shaved. Dressed in my own time and then down to see him at the back door and brief him on the route to be followed from the house to the gas pool boiler in the garage. Then to the morning mail, but no time to read the daily paper all day. Later in the morning, I took the step ladder and a notebook all over the building and listed the outstanding building faults. Then Brittains phoned to say that bedroom carpet would be ready for installation on Tuesday and so I phoned the architect to get him to chase up some urgent rectifications in the en-suite bathroom.