Daniel’s Birthday A good day for Daniel as he opened his presents and then his friends arrived for an outing to Letchworth swimming pool joined by Debbie and Emma too but their birthday lunch out somewhat spoilt their appetite for his birthday tea later. Seven police officers suspended after a suspect denied medical attention and died, Gartcosh steel mill closes today together with the 26th coal mine since the coal strike and two trees have flourished
Slept well and woke first on the first day of the school Easter holidays, which is also Daniel’s birthday. Di brought the drinks up to our room and Dan & Debbie joined us whilst he opened his cards and presents. Apart from a building society bankbook with £200 in from me, a host of £10 and £5 vouchers from everybody else. Breakfast and then we get washed and dressed and I rested in the lounge to review the mail and update yesterday’s journal. Daniel’s guests started arriving for the outing – first Steve, then Paul and lastly Gary. Also Debbie’s friend, Emma, came as well. Off in two cars to Letchworth swimming pool, where they swam and I sat it out for once. It is three weeks since my doctor’s appointment and no news from the specialist.
At 12.00noon I beckoned them out so as not to be late for our lunch at McDonalds. Even so, it was already crowded at 12.30pm, being the first day of the general school holidays. The boys ate two meals each of hamburgers and chips and regretted it later, due to their full stomachs. Home via Shefford and I saw and pointed out the conifer tree that I had planted outside 24 North Bridge Street by the road when we lived there. I put the ‘Wargames’ video on for the boys and watched it myself and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. Off to town to take the video back and buy a shower curtain, whilst the boys bailed out Aquabean and tied the cover back on. Then Daniel’s birthday tea, but sorry to see that they were still full from swimming, lunch and chocolates and even more upset when Daniel declined his nice birthday cake and the others agreed. Later I told him off and he came down after tears to ask for it to be cut and we all had some to keep a tradition alive. Out to the ducks and doves (9 eggs) and to see the flowers struggling up against the cold winds. A Country Companion story for Debbie and took the boys home. News tonight was of the suspension of 7 police officers after a Jury decided that a prisoner was killed unlawfully by the police. A Chief Inspector, two Inspectors, 2 Seargents and 2 Constables. They had deprived him of medical treatment after being knocked unconscious during a violent arrest. The 7 football hooligans have been remanded in custody after yesterday’s arrest. The US warships have left the Libyan coast after an exchange that some say was provoked by the US President Reagan in most unusual exercises involving three aircraft carriers. US aid is also being given the Honduran government in a back door method of opposing the Nicaraguan government. In Australia, a car bomb kills 22 people and, although there are no claims for responsibility, police are trying to question a neo-Nazi, who was wounded in a police raid on his home a year ago. South Africa loses even more international support, as French journalists are arrested and beaten up by the police, without reason or provocation. Gartcosh steel mill in Lancashire closes today with 700 job loses; and also the 26th mine closes down since the end of the miner’s strike. This is the last working day for the Greater London Council (GLC) and the other Metropolitan Authorities. The weather forecasts are for a rainy day tomorrow. When taking Daniel’s friends home today I stopped off at Eaton Socon to see how the ‘Daniel Tree’ had progressed. I brought it back from Davos, Switzerland, when Di was carrying Daniel and planted it outside Comart. It now competes with a larger ‘Christmas tree’ but is two foot high, wider still, and seems to be doing well.