A day shared between buying materials and renovating Bill’s shed with Daniel’s help and working on my investment summaries as Russia recriminates against officials culpable for Chernobyl and admits 8 are dead, 35 in serious condition with radiation burns and 209 are injured. More Libyan diplomatic expulsions but we cut our conventional defence budget and increase spending on Trident whilst the US announces grandiose space plans
Slept well and went through my normal routine, dressing in clothes for going out. But first I spent a couple of hours in the office, keying in much of the information for our family income summary for tax purposes. Then off to St Neots with Di and, whilst she was shopping in several stores, I spent the entire time in ‘The Handyman’ bespoking a range of accessories and materials; 2 rolls of roofing felt, tacks, a large selection of gutters, down pipes and accessories and the plastic plumbing – all for the rehabilitation of Bill’s shed and the avoidance of the deluge of water between it and the workshops each time it rains.
By the time we return, it is lunchtime and so I carve away the remains of yesterday’s roast pork and we enjoy some nice pork salad sandwiches. Back to my office after lunch and the remainder of my typing into the word processor. This time I update the family investment summaries as well and compose a covering letter to my accountant, attending to a range of outstanding matters. Finished by the time Daniel comes home from school and so I go through his schoolwork with him before tea. Then he helps me put on much of the new felt roof for Bill’s shed before the light defeats us, with the job remaining unfinished. News tonight is of the Russians announcing the first three punishments of officials responsible for inactivity during the aftermath of the nuclear disaster. Six more people are announced dead in the time since the accident happened, bringing the direct death toll to 8. They had died as a result of radiation burns and another 35 are in a serious condition in hospital. 209 are officially listed as injured. More pictures are released, as efforts are stepped up to decontaminate the plant and start up the other three reactors there. Libya have acted to expel 36 Libyan Diplomats in retaliation for the recent measures. The UK defence budget is set to fall by 6% in real terms, with the Falklands garrison being reduced and no new ships being ordered. A large proportion is to be spent on the nuclear Trident submarines and missiles, despite the disagreement of the opposition parties. The House of Lords has agreed to continue its televising. Kodak are making 900 workers redundant in the UK to reduce their costs and ‘be able to compete with the Japanese’ in the film processing industry. The US President’s Commission is pushing for a $700 Bn program to put a manned station on Mars and a spaceship factory on the Moon; putting a brave face on the recent US launches of the shuttle and rockets. Statistics of US visitors to the UK are well down, with the Americans afraid of terrorism and put off by the pound sterling, which is 30% higher than last year.