Family day at home in front of log fires, reading, relaxing and watching Steve Davis win the UK snooker championship and hearing of Cary Grant’s death after a long life and many marriages. Both the UK and US government will be facing scrutiny over Thatcher’s position on MI5 leaks and how Lt Col North could have arranged the Contra military aid without Reagan’s White House backing. The Israeli nuclear technician, who was allegedly ‘snatched’ from Britain by Israeli security agents after leaking information to the press, has appeared in court
Slept in a while this morning, until my morning tea at 8.00am. Then, after resting a while, sitting up in bed, I showered and shaved and just got ready and dressed in time for breakfast at 9.00am. A nice fried breakfast, as is my habit. Time after to read today’s papers and then start on Michael Wickes book on Huntingdonshire. I thought of going for another walk around Little Paxton this morning, but Di needed some help with the children and so I stayed at home and continued my reading. Also watched some television; Steve Davis winning the UK snooker championship. Towards lunch I let the ducks out, fed them and the doves, and then went in to prepare the table for Sunday lunch. Lunch of pork roast with vegetables was soon ready and we all enjoyed it, even if the girls were playing up somewhat. The chore afterwards of washing up with Daniel and then, after I had got in a couple more baskets of logs and lit the fire in the lounge, I settled down to more reading and watching.
This time, the televised football and Newcastle, spurred on by a frenetic crowd (and home town referee), managed to beat West Ham by 4 goals to nil. Managed to get in some more reading and then it was time for tea. Di had made some toasted tea cakes, but, these being too fattening, I went and got myself some pilchards and ate them instead. More reading and TV tonight, managing to finish Wickes’s book. There is good background information on Huntingdonshire through the ages, but less of deduction and few references. Eventually got Daniel to do some revision tonight and then go to bed on time and read Deborah another edition of the Country Companion. Di was ironing, but joined me by the fire later. The news today is of the end of the trial in Australia and the Judge will soon decide on the outcome. The defence lawyer has denied that there was anything improper in contacts with Neil Kinnock, as only public information was discussed. The week ahead will see a parliamentary debate and combined opposition attacks on Thatcher’s position. In the US, there is still widespread incredulity that Lt Col North could have arranged the Contra military aid without White House backing. Cary Grant has died, aged 82, at the end of a distinguished film acting career, having retired in 1976 and been married 5 times. The Israeli nuclear technician, who was allegedly ‘snatched’ from Britain by Israeli security agents after leaking information to the press, has appeared in open court for the first time on espionage charges and treason. Note: Many years later it was confirmed Mordechai Vanunu had been befriended in London by an American Mossad agent, Cheryl Bentov, who was masquerading as an American tourist. She lured him to Rome with her on holiday on 30 September. Once there he was kidnapped and drugged and returned to Israel on a freighter. The details were revealed by Mr Vanunu himself, who wrote them on the palm of his hand which he held up against the window of a van while being transported from prison so waiting journalists could get the information. The Sunday Times article based on an interview with Mr Vanunu contained the most substantive evidence at the time of Israel's nuclear weapons programme. It led the international community to revise sharply upwards the number of weapons it believed Israel held in its stockpile. Mr Vanunu was subsequently put on trial in March 1987 on charges of treason and espionage and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Eleven of those were spent in solitary confinement. He was freed on 21 April 2004 and has since been refused permission to leave Israel.