A full day’s writing and editing my Little Paxton Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age sections on a cold, wet and breezy day with Debbie and Daniel otherwise distracted as Sellafield is given one year to solve its safety and leakage record or close, the first satellite TV franchise has been awarded to the large BSB consortium, the Education Bill had passed through the Commons after a 23- hour debate ensured a whole following day’s business was lost and an even more draconian censorship regime has been introduced to South Africa
A poor night, mind still active, and disturbed from a deep sleep near dawn by a dream that wrongly warned me that I had to get up urgently to go to the toilet! Read a little while from yesterday’s weekly papers and then Diana showed no mercy and turfed me out of my bed. A dark morning, with clouds overcast and no sun, the darkness highlighting our Christmas balcony light decorations, which shine out until the time switches turn them off at 9.00am. Showered, shaved and dressed and late down to breakfast, eating with only Daniella for company, which is unusual. Then I sat with the days papers for a while, until making a start to a long day’s work in the office. I was feeling a bit cold and sorry for myself and so I lit the log fire in my office, which sustained me throughout the day. The task was to write and type in my Prehistoric chapter on Little Paxton.
Managed the mammalian and Old Stone Age sections before a salad lunch, then the New Stone Age and part of the Bronze Age before a pork chop tea. Then, this evening was the final sections on the rest of the Bronze Age and Iron Age and the task of editing and correcting the result of the whole day’s work. Quite weary by late evening, but still managed my journal before the TV news. Debbie did not come for her Country Companion and Daniel had no more news of his exams and I had no time to pursue him. Di went shopping this morning and then took Daniel to the dentist this afternoon. He needs one filling and a milk tooth out that is blocking his new tooth coming through. That will quieten him down a bit, as he has become too full of himself lately. The weather was cold, wet and breezy today and I was missing nothing staying in, though I did actually manage to get out to feed the doves and ducks this afternoon. News today is of the Sellafield nuclear plant being given one year to improve its safety systems, or close down. There have been numerous leaks and safety incidents and the report concludes that a third of the plant needs overhauling, or replacing entirely. The complex deals with the nuclear re-processing of spent fuels, workers and management are criticised for complacency, but it is arguable as to whether the attitudes will change and also whether the money will be made available. The first satellite broadcasting TV system has been awarded to a consortium, including Granada, Anglia, Virgin, Amstrad, Pearson and ITN, to complete the latest stage in the evolution of British television. The most draconian censorship rules yet have been introduced in South Africa, with maximum penalties of £10,000 or jail sentences for those defying them and these are seen as total authoritarianism, with the political opposition and any criticisms suppressed. The government got its Education Act through the Commons, but only after today’s business had to be abandoned after the debate had lasted more than 23 hours.