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Della’s Birthday and 2nd Year – Cuddly toys for Della on her 2nd Birthday, also the anniversary of the sale of Comart on a warm and humid day during which I work hard on The Lady and then swim with Debbie and her friends to recover. The government receives the Peacock report on the future of the BBC, British Rail’s Advanced Passenger Train is scrapped and the new Hawk fighter crashes, killing the test pilot
Today was the second anniversary of that golden day when Della was born and I also signed the contract to sell Comart to Kode for £2 ½ million. Another fine morning as I got up and washed and shaved before breakfast. Della was given several of her toys at the table – two more cuddly dolls and a fluffy dog that walked and barked when you clapped your hands and stopped when you clapped them again. Letters from Alf Butterfield and Mr Watson, Daniel’s chemistry teacher. Alf responded in reasonably calm vein to my letter, but was still insisting on Stacey’s independence and the purchase of the house. Mr Watson was defensive about Daniel’s lack of a textbook and not very convincing in my view; and I shall have to reply to both when I get the time.
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The family, friends and I enjoying the swimming after dark by underwater lighting as pleasant recreation and recovery after a hot and sweaty day with Daniel’s school exam results improving, me struggling to progress the work on The Lady, and being left to clear up late into the evening. More oppression planned after the Tottenham riots and Maxwell closes the Bath printing works now
A slightly earlier bedtime and so awake feeling more rested this morning. Shaved, showered before breakfast of wheat flakes. Both last night and this morning, I had ear drops inserted with cotton wool, to try to soften the build-up of wax in my ears. This, together with the dampening of underwater swimming, has made me quite deaf yesterday. News in the Financial Times this morning of Kode shares going up 40p yesterday to 275p, on better than expected interim figures. With the increase yesterday as well, we could have increased our recent revenue from sale of Kode shares by well over £100,000! Doves fed and then straight out to The Lady to look over the rear cabin and sliding roof support. I chipped away at the spoilt varnish, then tried shaping some copper strip to cover the channels, which worked.
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Successful outing on a hot day to St Ives in our new car with air conditioning to buy some prints of my Harradens and then off to Jordon’s Mill in Biggleswade via the back roads and to hear all about their recovery from the recent fire and the use of their water wheel as further nose cracks develop in Jumbo-747’s and Thatcher is losing the South African sanctions arguments as the conflict there deepens into more violence
Another late night, after working late in the lounge, and deep asleep when called this morning. Eventually up for breakfast, but it was already quite warm by this time. Despite forecasts of duller and fresher weather, it rose to the high 80degFs later on and remained hot. I started the day by going to my office, sorting recent mail, and reconciling my bank and building society accounts. I started Diana off with £400 for a month’s housekeeping money and swapped over her cheque books. She is not happy with this development, but it will lead to better budgeting in the longer term. The doves and then off with Diana and Della in ‘daddy’s car’ to St Ives for the antique & collectors auction. I only wanted Lot 66A – the three copies of Harraden’s of St Neots – and after coffee with the girls, I paid some money into the Gateway, before stopping off at the auction room to bid successfully at £30.