Mum’s Birthday Visit – Throwing open the balcony doors on a gloriously warm and sunny day, working on The Lady and greeting the arrival of my Mum, Grace, with my Dad, Fred, on her birthday before a long session clearing up and cleaning the pool as a new USSR arms limitation proposal is tabled at Geneva, more international pressure grows against the South African regime as censorship is total and 2,000 people are detained. Inflation drops to 2.8% and Benny Goodman dies
Slept well and awoke to a nice morning and a welcome cup of tea. The weather was so gloriously sunny and warm today, that I opened and unlocked all of the balcony doors to keep the house well aired. Breakfast and then out to the doves. No concern, as after yesterday’s excursion the babies kept to their dovecote today! I moved Daniel’s boats and brought The Lady closer to the workshop, so that I could start work on the varnish. No trouble on the hatches, but the roof corner had developed some wet rot and so I took a long while digging it out and seeing the boat disappear with it! Near to lunch I took a swim in the pool, as I needed cooling off after too long in the sun at a sizzling 75degF. The pool was 82degF. Lunch, on the south patio, of salad and then a couple of hours after continuing my ‘dig’.
Then Mum & Dad arrived and we spent a pleasant time together. Poor Mum’s leg was stiff and painful, but she took a walk with Della and watched as Dad gave her a swing on the tree-swing and then they both looked on as we went swimming. Debbie was thrilled as I threw her up in the air above the pool for a number of plunges and Daniel kept his face and ears dutifully dry. Then tea, on the rear patio in the afternoon sun, of sandwiches and after lots of strawberries and cream. We waved goodbye to them later and then I had the long task of locking up and clearing everything away. A relatively early night tonight and tired after the exertions and heat of today, though it was well-enjoyed. News today was of the latest USSR nuclear arms control offer. They will make sharp cuts in strategic weapons, if the US keeps the anti-ballistic missile treaty for another 15 years. They have said that a plan, tabled for Geneva, would reduce nuclear warheads by 6,000 (40%) and 1 million troops to leave Germany. In the second day of the South Africa representations, Thatcher has talked strongly against South African sanctions, but has still not rejected the proposals. Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Special Envoy, has been refused admission to South Africa until after Monday’s planned protest, but Anglican Bishop Tutu had a surprise meeting with P W Botha, with civility, but no agreement. Eight more died there today, according to official sources, but no news reporting was allowed because of the censorship & about 2,000 people are detained without any charges. Scotland could only draw in their key match in the World Cup against a team combining fouls with time wasting to stop them winning. Inflation is down to 2.8% with lower petrol prices, but underlying unemployment is up. Swing band leader and jazz clarinettist, Benny Goodman, has died in the US of a heart attack, aged 77.