Some close supervision of our children today, with Daniel now expected to do 2 ¼ hrs homework nightly and Debbie taken horse-riding on a dry day after a cold night when the builders had completed the foundation for the new wall and were bricklaying again and then Diana and I had spent our customary day in Bedford and we heard of terrorist incidents in Jordon and The Lebanon and Ulster but the main news was of Reagan seeming to lose his stand against South African sanctions, as Thatcher’s ally, because an 80% Congress vote stands to rule out his veto.
A cold night, but we slept well until the dawn of a misty morning. Washed and shaved ready for breakfast and it was boiled egg this morning. Out to the doves and soon the builders had arrived. Yesterday they had completed the demolition and laid the foundations and today they laid some bricks, although far fewer than I had expected. Took Di to Bedford today for our normal Friday shopping expedition. Set off in the Escort and, after our traditional coffee (orange juice and biscuits for Della), went our different ways. To Peacocks and a quick look round the auction.
A couple of nice old storage trunks, but I will not be bidding for them. Then on to Gibbs and Dandy Gale, where I managed to get the Dulux weather shield paint that I had been looking for. I am pleased to have selected this type. It is supposed to be specially formulated to last two years longer than other paints, by staying flexible to withstand the movement of timber frames. Met Di at Debenhams for a salad lunch and then returned to G&DG to get a variety of Bloomsbury tiles to match those in our bathrooms. I had decided to put this selection behind the panelling in the bath against any future needs to repair or replace tiles in the event of alterations. Home to see the state of the builder’s progress and by now the day had warmed up to become a beautifully fine autumnal day. Spent the afternoon working on the ironing room and kitchen windows, applying the final coat of gloss. Tea of grilled trout, which I shared with Della, as Debbie seems to have gone off them. Di took Debbie to the horse riding today, to let me get on, but I found time to read her a Country Companion before bedtime. I insisted that Daniel spent a long time on his prep tonight, which must now be 2 ¼ hrs nightly. The news today is of David Steel’s fighting speech to the Liberal Party assembly, demanding that his critics fall into line behind his defence policy. He took no pains to conceal his frustration over the conference decision earlier this week and rejected a non-nuclear policy. Despite a bit of heckling, he received a 6 minute standing ovation at the end. A Jordanian has been jailed for 25 years at the Old Bailey, after being arrested in charge of four hand grenades in a bag, destined for the terrorist group Abu Nidal. A British journalist in Lebanon fought off a kidnap escape to gain his freedom. President Reagan is heading towards his biggest ever political defeat, as Congress looks set to override his veto on the Bill for sanctions against South Africa. Both houses have already voted by 80% majorities in favour of the Bill and they only need a 2/3rds majority to force it through again. Two soldiers in Northern Ireland have been convicted of a sectarian Roman Catholic murder, and have been sentenced for ‘life’. The weather is forecast to continue dry in our part of the country, as an anticyclone diverts depressions and storms to the north of the British Isles. Wick, and thus our Scottish forest, got ½ inch of rain in the last 24 hours.