Day trip to Cambridge to view and order my new Daimler and to buy a pair of bed chairs and then, after lunch at The Copper Kettle, home to borrow Nigel’s chain saw for tomorrow as positive vibes emerge from the aftermath of the US/USSR arms talks but there was inhumane chaos at Heathrow prior to the midnight imposition of visitor visas for Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis without upgrades to the reception facilities that were known to be needed and called for
A better night’s sleep after managing to catch Di awake, for a change, when I went to bed! Dark as I showered and shaved this morning, with more fog and morning mist. Only just managed to get dressed without the lights on. It seems that there are plenty of accidents on the roads these days and many were blocked in the fog this morning as a result. To breakfast with the others and had a couple of slices of toast and my favourite natural honeycomb on it. No apple juice, as Di forgot to get any yesterday, after we drank most of it at Sunday lunch. To the office at 8.00am for an hour, typing up another letter and progressing the paperwork. By 9.00am, Di wanted to get going and so we set off in the Escort Estate for Cambridge.
Stopped first at Marshalls and saw a black Daimler in the showroom, with magnolia leather upholstery. Met the Sales Manager, Martin Hamblin, and specified the colour of our new model as Westminster blue with the magnolia trim. Our delivery is due for January, but orders are stacking up well into next summer now. On then to park at Lion Yard car park and to Vintners to get my TSB returned cheques endorsed. There, my second census questionnaire of the day – I had been stopped by a police census road block coming into Cambridge, and now my solicitors asked me the same questions. It seems that everyone is concerned about Cambridge parking problems. Coffee with Di at Eaden Lilleys and then a trek round the shops getting some shopping. Lucky to find a couple of bed chairs, for £80 on special offer, in our favourite fabric. Lunch at the Copper Kettle amongst the American tourists and Cambridge University law students. Away afterwards, calling at a builder’s merchants on the way for a Cistermiser WC control. Dropped Di off at home and then went back to town for some chores on financial matters. Then visited Nigel and borrowed his chain saw, ready for tomorrow’s landscaping. Checked Daniel’s schoolwork after tea and watched some pleasant TV and news. The news today is of the sanctioning by the authorities of a 1 per cent rise in the clearing bank interest rates to 11%. Mortgage rates may follow and even exceed this increase. Chancellor Nigel Lawson is criticised as being ‘politically corrupt’ for holding off during last week’s Conservative Conference, with the result that it is too little and too late to achieve the required result. In the Iceland Summit aftermath, there is increased optimism amongst the two participants propaganda. It may be that a compromise will occur, or that a deal can be reached on intermediate range missiles (ie those deployed in Europe). The US, rather belatedly, are fielding all of their officials and are engaged on a heavy selling campaign, but Reagan is still being criticised for sticking to Star Wars, instead of agreeing to the arms reductions. There is chaos at Heathrow Airport, as many Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis rush to avoid the midnight deadline for the introduction of visas for visits to the United Kingdom. The masses of people and lack of facilities is leading to conditions described as inhumane by immigration welfare officials. The immigration officers just cannot cope. See Hansard http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1986/nov/05/immigration-rules-statement-of-change. Rescuers searching through the San Salvador debris have been affected by a 5.5 Richter aftershock that sent further masonry tumbling. Calls for more medical supplies and shelters have gone out. The Queen’s visit to China continued today, with meetings with Deng Xiao Peng and other senior political leaders, after the ceremonial with the President yesterday. The forecast is for showers overnight and then some better weather for our earth moving tomorrow.