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A pleasant trip to Cambridge in the Jaguar and lunch at The Copper Kettle before home to raise Aquabean on to the slipway trolley now the river is high as more diplomatic and trade sanctions are implement against Libya by European nations with the USA detonating another huge nuclear bomb in Nevada despite the Russian test ban offer. Queen Elizabeth hosts King Juan Carlos of Spain to overcome friction over Gibraltar and recalling that they both have in common the fact that they are both great grandchildren of Queen Victoria
A sound night’s sleep and wearily to sit up for my morning tea. A few aches and pains from yesterday’s exertions. A bit late for breakfast of more wheat flakes, but time after to read the daily paper before our trip to Cambridge. As we were ready to leave, the Gas Board arrived to service the boiler, which delayed us somewhat. Through heavy rain and hail on the way to Cambridge, but arrived at the Round Church car park in the dry. Coffee at Eaden Lilleys and then some shopping at Robert Sayle, asking for a coat rack and washing baskets to be delivered.
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The Queen’s 60th Birthday – A timely start to the day, felling and then cutting up the awkward hawthorn tree with my electric chain saw before the hail, rain and thunder storm hit. This added to the sodden ground and raised river level which Daniel braved for a totally unsuitable boat trip to St Neots to collect Gary. A wonderful celebration today of the Queen’s 60th Birthday, with 6000 children carrying 120,000 daffodils, pushing a huge birthday ‘crown’ cake of flowers down the Mall to then sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in front of Buckingham Palace. The other news is all about Libya as Europe favours a diplomatic and sanction solution and the US undertakes another huge air exercise today
Awake to my morning tea, rested after yesterday’s exertions. Able to wash and dress in good time for breakfast and enjoyed Jordan’s wheat flakes again. A prowl of the house to keep the children on their toes and then out with Daniel to meet Pete arriving at 8.00am. We got out the electric chain saw and tackled the tree straight away. The saw was slower than anticipated, but I got used to it and soon had the Hawthorne tree down. It was growing at a rather drunken angle and was dead in line with our new path to the workshops.
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Full working day, cleaning my Jaguar, drives and garages of the cement dust from recent swimming pool and building works with the help of Daniel and his friends and enjoying two large meals and also some toasted tea cakes all on the day of the hugely-popular London Marathon as Geoffrey Howe crudely threatens more attacks on Libya
Stayed up late last night watching a rather good film and so was quite tired this morning. Normal routine and then down to a glorious fried breakfast that I only allow myself once a week. The rain was falling heavily and so I settled down to my Observer for most of the morning, reading it from cover to cover. Later, I went outside and gathered Daniel with me to wash the Jaguar at last. It had been white with cement dust etc and we hosed it down, shampooed it, hosed it once again, before leathering it with clean water to remove the marks. Then, to protect it, necessitated clearing out both garages, moving the fence ponds and other things to the inner one, taking wooden posts etc down to the shed, and then sweeping and cleaning them both out. A beautiful lunch of the best roast beef that Diana had ever cooked and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. After the boys (Gary and Steve came to visit today) had helped some more after lunch, I let them take the boats out on the river.
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Visit by Daniel and I to St Ives for the auction and marina shopping and then back to find building problems as I nurse my injured foot and anticipate my IVP scan. This as demonstrators and arrests grow around the world against the US bombing of Libya and more trouble follows as Ulster Unionists clash with police over the proposed ‘Anglo-Irish’ pact.
A slow start today, chatting with Di in bed for a while and then a scramble to be five minutes late for breakfast at 7.35am. A little time after working on the garage connections for the security alarm, but could not finish it before it was time to leave for St Ives furniture auction. Late again and we missed the first few lots, but I was relieved that the large outboard motor was not for sale. Not much of interest, so I took Daniel for a walk across the bridge to L H Jones Marina. We saw the boats for sale and evaluated each of them and then went inside to look at the chandlery. We bought another kit of eyelets and a dozen securing rubbers so that Daniel can secure his new cover down, when we get the time. Back just in time to meet the girls in the market car park and then the drive through Huntingdon and Buckden to end up at the Little Chef at Southoe.