Using my computer to catalogue and attack a long list of outstanding chores such as creating my Children’s Trusts, updating my financial holdings on-line as Daniel went to the supermarket with Di and then had friends round afterwards. Ulster Unionists are protesting and their leader Peter Robinson was arrested over sectarian grievances, Baker fools nobody with his exaggerated teacher training claims, the US lose a CIA agent to the USSR and the Libyans are suspected of attacks on British bases
A good night and even better breakfast, as all of the family (except Diana) enjoyed a nice boiled egg with toast fingers to dip into it. Di has had a poor dietary upbringing – eating no fish, eggs, seafood or much of what the world has to offer, but at least I am introducing the children to a reasonably wide selection of food. Showered, shaved and dressed before this breakfast and out to the doves after, feeding them mixed seed in another gusty wind. All the remaining three chicks seem all right.
Daniel had tried to open the doors before this, as I sat reading today’s paper and post, and set the alarm off in the process. I used the microcomputer word processor to make out a long list of correspondence and chores to do and then set about the task of doing them. A long process that took all day, although I did spend a fair amount of the time watching England’s first innings in the second cricket test against New Zealand. I also used the Prestel set to update my investment files on the stockbroker’s computers and check on their latest views on my holdings and possible investments. By evening I had done much, but never all, of the work and tended the ducks and doves before dark. The London Stock Exchange has experienced falls both yesterday and today and it could soon be the right time to consider buying some more shares. In the meantime, I am getting the children’s trusts and accounts in good order to ensure that I am ready to take advantage of the present tax rules on Capital Transfer Tax – unlimited lifetime gifts, provided that you continue to live 7 years thereafter. Daniel and Debbie went to the supermarket to help Di with her shopping today and then Dan had Paul and his younger brother Steve round for most of the time and they played and later went swimming in the pool. News today is of harsh reaction to yesterday’s incursion by extreme Ulster Unionists into County Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. It was criticised as being ‘disgraceful and tragic’ in terms of the violence against the police and ‘a stupid stunt’ as taking men away from vital security duties. MP Peter Robinson was arrested during the incursion and is still being held by Irish police, allegedly refusing food and drink as a protest. Kenneth Baker has followed up yesterday’s bad news on school place closures by a good news announcement about £200 million being spent on teacher training in technical and management disciplines, which must be welcome. Teachers unions welcome the scheme, but accuse the government of dishonesty, as they believe the deal only represents £74 million of new money. An ex-CIA employee has defected to the USSR from the USA. A Midlands travel firm, Hards Travel of Solihull, collapses financially and many holidays are disrupted. I think that, despite the relative wealth of one sector of UK society, leisure expenditure is falling and I have two reasons for believing this, but we shall see next week. There is believed to be a Libyan connection with the Cypriot attack on British bases, with Libyan Airlines taking home the attackers as ‘relief crew’. A meningitis outbreak is spreading in Gloucestershire and the authorities have no answer to it. A better day is forecast for tomorrow, but it is still looking unsettled for next week.