A morning trip to Hinchinbrooke antique fair (on a cold, occasionally very wet, day that was challenging for the few boats out) to see some fine tables as Diana seems to be better and working on our en suite but she needs the help with a fretful Della and the children later as I spend time with the family. The Russians call for a summit arms control meeting with the US and Cambridge wins the boat race for once.
Awake on another cold and windy day, but thankful for the two hours of heating we get each morning. Sat in bed writing yesterday’s notes and was grateful for a boiled egg and toast breakfast being brought up for me. Then the FT and pleased to see Kode struggling up 5 to 140p. I also get the Annual Report & Accounts in the post and do not care for the details – I shall sell our holdings if they reach anywhere near 200p in the new tax year. At last showered, washed and dressed and time with Della and our ‘elevenses.’ I am trying to get her to have a single biscuit sitting down, instead of the chain of them she has whilst wandering around at the moment. I then drove over to Hinchinbrooke House (dropping off Daniel at Gary’s on the way) and spent an enjoyable couple of hours looking round a superb antique fair.
I found a few folding tables – a patent tray/table in oak, identical to my mahogany one for only £5, a folding light oak wood & veneer one for £16, and also a carriage table in mahogany, which is identical, but bigger than the one I have already. Horrified at the latter’s asking price of £360, I talk to the dealer and find that he bought it for £290, but we both like the design. He says that a friend was thinking of making reproductions for modern use. This one is dated in the 1820/40s and, of course, they were used for outings and picnics by horse drawn carriage. Too much to buy on impulse, I talk to Di later and we might go back later in the weekend. A snack lunch at the refreshment counter and then back home to find Di hard at it, cleaning the en-suite free of grouting and the baby asleep. Despite her threats at my desertion this morning, she had not taken the girls out for a meal. This afternoon, I put up the roller blind in the en-suite and, apart from some rectifications by the builder, it is now finished. Then to some rugby sport on the TV, some computer chess with Debbie and tea of hot cross buns and cakes with the family. With Della fretful and Di a bit depressed, I had to help her get control again before tea, which made me wonder how she used to manage when I was working. The weather still very rough; a cold s/westerly wind, torrential rain and hail at times and quite depressing. The few boats going by on the river looked very exposed and we have yet to sit out this spring as in previous years because of the cold. The evening watching a very long film, ‘ Journey to India’ (or some such), which lasted 3+ hours and, though a good romantic story, sent us to bed too late and tired. It was the latest of the videos that Di has taken to hiring. No detailed news, but the main story is of the Russians calling for an urgent Reagan/Gorbachev summit in Europe to discuss a test ban for nuclear explosions. Cambridge University won the boat race, beating Oxford for the first time in 10 years. The weather forecast is mainly cold, with sleet and rain (!!)