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Getting Pete to prepare the gardens for tomorrow’s bonfire party whilst writing up my history notes as we welcome Charles and Norma for lunch and then listen to news tonight of a tragic Chinook passenger helicopter crash, of Thatcher’s cabinet organising a mini-boom ahead of the election and of Ken Baker threatening to intervene in the teacher’s dispute
An average night and was awoken to my morning tea on a bright and sunny, but cooler, day. Got the Range Rover out for Pete to wash and shampoo and also did some more preparation on the riverside garden for the bonfire party, getting Pete to put down any flat boards and planks that we could find, to save our guests losing their boots in the mud. Then to my office, where I spent time sorting out my desk and writing up a range of notes on my family history. Also completed the typing of a long summary of my researches a couple of years ago in Bermondsey to send to the couple with whom I am cooperating. Also managed to put my Little Paxton history notes together, to complete an effective session. Both of Di’s parents, Charles and Norma, came to visit for lunch today and they played nonstop with the children.
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Guy Fawkes Night – Working outside with a very reluctant Daniel and then further researching the Linton manors and then off to Kimbolton Castle tonight for the firework display as Terry Waite returns with victory but concerns, Reagan loses both Houses of Congress to The Democrats and the Hyde Park/Park Lane rapist is convicted
Even more reluctantly away this morning, but the family were still at breakfast when I struggled down in the end. Daniel was upset with me for being summoned home last night and not being allowed to go to Steve’s today, but I insisted on him staying at home. We went out to the riverside gardens and prepared the winches and slipway, before getting Aquabean up to the top for winter storage. It was a long task and quite tiring and Daniel was not much help, continually moaning about his fate. Then we straightened out The Lady’s cover, syphoning out a mass of water that had collected, finally propping up the dinghy to drain out. In to a smoked mackerel salad lunch and then I went out again to apply yet more touch-up paint to the Range Rover (!).
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Fine, but cool, day in Cambridge researching local and manorial history about Linton and then a visit there on the way home before home to write up my notes and letters before reading to Debbie in front of a log fire after her ballet. P.W. Botha has replaced many of his cabinet in South Africa with younger and less reactionary ministers to provide some hope of reform
Awoke sluggishly to my morning tea, after a late night watching the television. Dressed and down to breakfast with the others and shared some marmalade toast with Della, who has become most fond of it lately. A little time reading the paper and reviewing the post, before it was time for our trip to Cambridge in the Range Rover. An unfortunate episode on the way, as a young driver pulled out without care and we got yet another scratch on our beautiful car. To Eaden Lilley’s for coffee in time to meet Di’s mother, but her father was not very pleased, as it interrupted the booking of a holiday at the travel agent.
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My 40th Birthday – I was celebrating my birthday with the children first thing this morning before resuming my family history research by travelling to Hertford but back too late for joining the girls for my birthday tea but in time to join Debbie for her ‘Brownies’ investiture and bedtime reading. This as the release of the American hostage aids the Republican congressional elections, East Midlands teachers are called out by their unions, Tebbit is criticised by his own senior colleagues for his rabid BBC attacks and British medical staff in Saudi Arabia are expelled for attending a party where drinks were served
A late retirement to bed, after watching a very nostalgic programme on TV. It was a repeat of the 1963 ‘That Was The Week That Was’ Saturday night satirical show – considered outrageous in its day. I used to stay up late to watch it, at the end of lonely Saturday evenings, after my parents had gone to bed. BBC2 TV channel are presenting a series of 1960s repeats for broadcasting and historical interest. Cold as I went to bed, for the house had yet to warm up after our time away, but I was warm from my log fire and soon went to sleep after the disruption of our unsettled nights away. Awoken early and Debbie was the first to wish me ‘Happy Birthday’, bringing a nice card and a present of a pencil. Then Daniel weighed in with another card and a box of fudge (unwrapped) and then Della and Di were there with a present of a nice Badger and Bristle shaving brush, which I used to shave with before breakfast.