A cold and very windy day which prevented our cleaner and gardener from staying to work and there was debris everywhere in the strongest gales for 50 years which killed five people from falling trees etc. as the government launches a weak anti-smoking campaign, Eros is back in Piccadilly after restoration, OPEC talks collapse in Geneva and Libya and the US exchange missiles
Awoke on a cold morning, despite the heating being on. Gale force winds increased to storm force during the day, made venturing out unpleasant and let droughts pervade the house. Broken branches rained down and our gardener could not work out and the cleaner went home to look to the safety of her caravan parked outside. Breakfast of toast and fruit juice and then I get showered, shaved and dressed, so as to start on clearing out the house. I took apart our old desk and got it carted out to the garage, took down all of our rubbish and then put everything we did not need up in the loft. The plumber and builder arrived early and had replaced the split tank by mid-morning and the decorator hung around for most of the day doing a few finishing tasks to complete his work on the inside of the house.
I spent some time in my office making a few phone calls. I queried the Escort fault with Hunts Motors, ordered the hall/stairs/landing carpets (and the master bedroom’s) and then spoke to accountants and stock brokers to realise the children’s capital gains tax exemptions for the end of the tax year. Di went into St Neots for some shopping and was ravaged by the gales, but did manage to get some excellent topside beef cubes from the Eaton Socon butcher. She then spent much of the day cooking them to form an excellent casserole for tea and also managed to clear up the house in general and the playroom in particular. Di brought Briana home to play and I returned to my office to try and clear up my papers and look after Della at the same time! I also took a call from ‘Computing’ and was interviewed for 20 mins to boot. All this time I was keeping a close eye on the house and gardens in view of the gales. I was especially watching the pole dovecote and it was a tribute to its design and fixing that it was not blown down. I went out later to put away the ducks and feed the doves as well and they all seemed OK. By now the wind had abated and the fantail doves were able to fly around – if with difficulty. Daniel returned home and I keep a tight rein on him; he seems to get so tired that, if left to his self, does not try to change and tidy his things. His antics with his large briefcase also leave paint and wallpaper the worse for wear. A story for Debbie, time to sort out my books and then to the lounge for the TV news and a session with the compact disc player. The news today concentrated on the storm force wind damage. Speeds of 75 to 110 mph forced closure of the Severn Bridge for the first time, brought blizzards to North-East England and North Wales, killed 5 people (in falling tree accidents, a crane falling and road accidents). It has been the worst gales for 50 years. Dublin police are again resuming their search for Evelyn Glenholmes, as fresh warrants are sent from England. Mrs Thatcher has made a statement about her share dealings and admitted that she had bought shares whilst a minister, which is contrary to British constitutional convention. The government is to launch a new anti-smoking campaign with tougher warnings, but the British Medical Association condemns them as being still far too weak. The OPEC talks have collapsed in Geneva and the oil price will follow suit, with possible prices of less than $10 a barrel. Eros is back in Piccadilly Circus after renovation that has taken the last two years, but it is now in pedestrianised area rather than surrounded by traffic. Late tonight we heard of fighting between the US and Libya, as first US planes probing the Libyan boarders were fired on with missiles and then the US hit back by firing missiles at a patrol boat and land base. The weather is forecast to be windy again tomorrow and colder as the winds will be coming from the North West instead of today’s Westerlies.