Writing and posting my last resignation letters for Computer Industry Representation as Elm Leisure start our new swimming pool excavation on a day of mourning and shock across the USA and the world affecting millions who were watching the Challenger Space shuttle demise live
Another good night’s sleep and awake on a very cold morning to my tea and paper. Little time to read it, as summoned to breakfast at 7.30am and toast and fruit juice to boot. Returned to bed after, to read the paper some more. Gilt-edged stocks had risen with the pound sterling, just in time for my sales later this week. Opened the house up for the builders and the carpenter arrived first to put in the new window frame and glaze it. Sid and John came to do the majority of the tiling for the en-suite bathroom as well. I called Diana back from slipping off to the shops and asked her to watch out for our other workmen, whilst I typed a few letters. Their purpose was to complete my retirement from Computer Industry affairs. I made my final consultancy payment demands of Kode, withdrew from the City University lecture, cancelled my place at the Computer Weekly 1000th issue commemorative dinner and thus said my last farewells on a past era.
By now, the swimming pool contractor (Elm Leisure) had arrived and soon there was a smalley excavator and dumper truck as well. They market out the oval shape, checked it with me, and then got down to work. Poor Pete, the gardener, had to scurry to save a few turves and plants before the digging arm flailed about. They were quite skilled and careful, but the weather was poor and wet and so they were cutting up the grass verge as they transported the spoil to the riverside garden. Then the BT engineer comes and I show him what the installation job entails. I eventually get Diana to agree to go to the slimming clinic and then reward her by taking her and Della to the Little Chef. Della really enjoys her burger, beans and chips and then the ice cream and maple syrup that follows. Home for the afternoon. The rain is still falling and so I write a nice letter to our neighbours in Gordon Road, explaining how we are going to restore the verge afterwards and awaring them of the work. Di posts them by hand as she collects Debbie from school and I settle to answering some more official correspondence. Later, when the workmen have finished, I get my tools out and fit security bolts to the new hall window and toilet door. Di gets tea and then my normal tasks of reading Debbie a story and checking Daniel’s schoolwork. News tonight of the search for shuttle wreckage and clues, but the largest part is only 12ft long, as the craft was shattered into small fragments. A day of mourning and for reflection throughout the US. The schools were all planning for the two space lessons and students the length of the country were watching the horror live. Officials disclosed that one of the booster rockets had to be destroyed by detonation as it veered off towards a population centre after the explosion. The News International dispute escalates today as the TGWN issues instructions to their members not to cross picket lines, and tonight NI gets the High Court to grant an injunction insisting that it be removed. The European Consortium launched an offer today for 20-odd% of Westland at 130p, which could succeed in blocking the Sikorsky proposal. More disquiet tonight as the DTI will not allow either Miss Colette Bowe (the press officer who leaked the Law Officer’s letter) or Mr John Mogg (who took notes on Leon Brittan’s meeting with Sir Raymond Lygo) to appear before the Defence Select Committee. The weather is forecast to get windier and colder, but at least it will be clearer and we have our window fitted now.