Used the dry morning to complete the workshop roof, applying roof felt and tar which, together with new panes from Hunts Glass, helped it to survive the afternoon’s downpour. A tiring afternoon visit of Charlie and Chrisula before news tonight of agreement at The Tokyo Summit on terrorism, which pleases Thatcher, and nuclear emission controls but nothing on Japanese protectionism and its trade surplice despite its billing as an ‘Economic Summit’!
Slowly awake again, although last night was not so late as before. Washed, shaved and showered and down to breakfast, all in accordance with my normal routine. Out at 8.00am to get the gardener going and I mount the workshop roof and apply liquid tar adhesive to the felt overlaps. I aimed to stop up the gaps that let the roof leak yesterday, after all of my endeavours. Then, changed and into St Neots with Diana for some shopping. I do some building society transactions and then go to the Hunts Glass Co to buy some new panes for the workshop.
Then, coffee with Diana at Took’s and time after to buy a few more tools and accessories at Fishers in the market square. We then drove to Andersons in Eaton Socon for some beef for a stew and then up to Offord to the riding school to see about a hat for Debbie’s birthday. It seems that we have to go to a saddler in Alconbury Weston, as they do not stock them and Debbie has to come too for a fitting. Home for a lunch of cold beef and salad rolls, as we are still eating up the remains of last Sunday’s lunch. Then, out to work on the glazing again. Stripping the glazing before Charles and Chrisula arrived early for a family visit. A long time with them but, though I had pleasant conversation with Charles, I do find Chris hard going – rather a ‘baby-bore’ with little to say in conversation. Out late to finish my glazing and tend the birds, then in to my journal and TV. News today is of the opening day of the trial of the IRA bomber, Patrick Magee, and four others accused of the Brighton Hotel bombing. After the Tokyo Summit, Thatcher and the British delegation claim success, with the joint communique on terrorism. Time also spent on nuclear emission controls, but the heads of the 7 governments seem to have forgotten that it was supposed to be an economic summit and the Japanese trade surplus and protection measures were scarcely attacked. Kenneth Baker for the Environment Ministry allays the population’s fears today saying that no tap water drinking controls or food measures are needed in Britain. The Russians release the most detailed account yet, after the nuclear accident had been examined by an enquiry. SOGAT decides to purge its contempt of court to regain control of its funds. The rain this afternoon tested my new roof sealing and it came through with flying colours. The forecast for tomorrow is much the same again.