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Flights with Daniel to Wick to see progress on planting up my Thormaid plantation at Broubster and the evening at the Ladbroke Mercury hotel where Daniel visited the local fair and I took a walk. Sonny Ramphal, the Commonwealth Secretary general appeals to Thatcher as she also receives advice from the Queen as the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth itself is at risk due to her obduracy
A poor night. The hotel, though well appointed, is very stuffy and the beds small, soft, noisy and covered in man-made, synthetic bedding, which is the worst of all combinations. A timely call at 5.30 and we had washed and showered (with me shaved and hair-washed) and dressed by 6.00 to go down to breakfast. An old chap, with a Yorkshire accent, was the night porter that prepared our breakfast and he did it very well. We were only led to expect a continental breakfast, but cereal and a pot of tea were there to start with, then toast and two boiled eggs each completed the treat. We tipped him £2 for his attentions and were away by 6.20 and at East Midlands Airport by 6.30.
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Some more work on The Lady before my surveyor, David Stokes, arrives to conclude that Aldridge and Cooper, my builders, have just about finished the house and then Daniel’s and Debbie’s friends all come round to swim on a very hot day. This before Daniel and I get ready and leave for Scotland, staying at Castle Donnington overnight.
Another slight lay in, with only Debbie due at school today and then up to a breakfast of wheat flakes once again. Out to the doves and managed to check both pairs of squabs whilst their parents were feeding and replaced their rings. A misty start to the day and so smoothed down yesterday’s varnish on The Lady and dried the moisture off, so as to be ready later this morning for the next coats. Managed to get the first coat on before 10.00am and so had time for coffee before my architect, David Stokes, arrived.
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A typical Sunday, working on The Lady, enjoying a fried breakfast and Sunday lunch and time spent with the children as Debbie enjoyed church with the Law’s and Daniel, Steve and Gary messed around on Aquabean and then swam and watched videos with Clare and Heather. News that the cabinet is wanting sanctions to save the Commonwealth but Thatcher overruling them despite the South African regime making children apply to go to school and excluding ‘agitators’.
Very tired after yesterday’s outings and so slept soundly and straight away after retiring. Woke to find Di gone to drink her coffee and so got out of bed to chase her up. The normal shower etc., before down to my Sunday breakfast of fried egg, bacon, mushrooms and tomato. Out to the doves and managed to catch both pairs of nesting parents off their nests and so ringed their young – two squabs in each nest. To The Lady and removed the cover and lowered the starboard side down and off of the jacking timbers. Hoisted the port side up in similar fashion and scraped and sanded the boat side and runners ready for varnishing. Morning coffee in the kitchen with Della, who enjoyed the company.
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Family visit to St Ives on a misty and drizzly day before lunch at the Tempsford Happy Eater and then a chance for me to clear my desk of the backlog as Diana helped with the village fete which was crammed into the village hall because of the weather. This before Diana and I to the cinema with Daniel babysitting for the first time and as four Commonwealth teams are now boycotting the games and more to follow over Thatcher’s stance but a compromise is reached over the Orangemen’s marches
Slept soundly and awoke to my morning tea. The weather started misty and drizzly today and continued in that pattern and, so much for the weather forecast of yesterday! Had a little lay in this morning, as the children did not have to go to school (Debbie only goes Monday to Friday and Daniel is on holiday). Breakfast of wheat flakes, after shaving and showering even later than the others. Then the entire family in the car, after I had read the morning mail and newspaper, and off to St Ives for the general auction.