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My parents Grace and Fred arrive on their way to visit Freda and Alf in Cornwall, where Alf has had his shoulder cancer operated on, and then Sunday lunch after which by car to Roxton park to see the steam engines and organs and then home to relax as an earthquake at Kalamata, Greece, kills 17 and injures many more, The SDP conference calls for the cancellation of Trident, a top UVF Loyalist is killed by Republicans and the Nick Daniloff spy swap looks on
A better night, but we woke at least once to tend to Daniella, who had fallen out of bed. My cold a little better this morning, as I shave and dress for a nice fried breakfast. Then out to feed the doves and, whilst doing this, my parents arrived for a visit. They were on their way on a long car journey to Cornwall to see Freda and Alf, but stopped off for a short visit, some coffee, and the use of the toilets. They looked quite fit and well and Mum no worse in her mobility and pain. They soon left, and Debbie also for church, and I phoned on, at their request, to inform Freda of their progress. News of the Butterfields is overshadowed by poor Alf and his recent shoulder operation.
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The rain poured later, ending a dry spell and with it, hopefully, the discomfort of warm and muggy nights but I had time to try relocating the house martins nest and to work on the inner garage guttering as the family attended a school sports afternoon and then to the cinema this evening after Debbie’s horse-riding lesson as Dr David Owen exhorts his SDP Conference followers to be ready for a snap election
A poor night, even though I had a nice relaxing bath before turning in. I felt too warm and kept thrashing about, until Di stomped off to the spare room in disgust. I have also had a cold these last couple of days, which might have something to do with it. Tired when brought my morning tea and turned over afterwards and went back to sleep. Made it down to breakfast, washed and dressed and then went out to resume my toils. The doves were hungry, but I left the ducks until later. Attacked the clearing up from yesterday, sweeping the north balcony and then the area behind the old No 7.
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Off to Bedford on a fine but misty day after tending to Debbie, the ducks and doves and a scare as Di loses Della for half an hour before home to complete my work on the gutters and then to take Debbie for her riding lesson. The USSR/USA spy swap deal progresses, World bourses fall, with Tokyo and London experiencing record one-day falls and inflation is down to 2.4%, a bomb attack in Paris with Lebanese terrorists the suspects and riots in the St Paul's area of Bristol are suppressed by the heavy-handed police
Slept well and awoke reluctantly to my morning tea. Deborah came in and I cut her nails, as arranged last night. Then to get showered, shaved and dressed in sports jacket and trousers, ready for our trip to Bedford this morning. Was twenty minutes late for breakfast, but it was only wheat flakes. Then I sorted out a few things from my office and went out to feed the ducks, ready for us to leave. All in to the Jaguar for once and off on another fine, if somewhat misty day. The fog combines with a blanket of smoke from stubble burning at this time of year and spoils the warmth of even good sunlight. Parked for 50p in the Lurke Street car park and went for morning coffee as usual.
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All morning and afternoon working on the eaves and guttering with Daniel’s help when he returned from school and had satisfied me about his homework and then reading Debbie The Country Companion before Nigel dropped round with a burglar alarm. The government is selling of British Airways, The Dow Index suffered its largest ever daily fall as riots continue in Bristol and also in Norway where the visit of Thatcher is inflammatory over her South African policies but £600m will be spent on filters for 3 out of 12 coal-fired power stations
Another weary start to the day, reading a local paper as I drank my morning tea. Noted that our Gordon Road house was being advertised for the fourth time and is still not sold. Late getting showered, shaved and dressed, but eventually joined the others at the table for a humble meal of toast and marmalade. A misty and cloudy start to the day, but soon the sun burned through and it became dry and warm again. Out to the doves, who now feed well at the new feeder, and a long chat with the gardener about my plans for joining together the riverside gardens. He has taken down a lot of the shrubbery and opened up the view even further from the house.