Continuing swimming pool maintenance and researching the size and design of a suitable conservatory, calling in at Great Barford and Willington Garden Centre in the process. News of mounting tension in Japan, of a threat for Customs officers to strike, details emerging of Herald of Free enterprise safely failures and of BA buying the Royal Ordinance factories for £190 million, which the opposition say the move will threaten 3500 jobs
Awoke to my morning tea and had a little read of my goldfish book, before getting ready for breakfast. Managed to get the children to clear up their rooms, with a little encouragement. Boiled duck egg and toast fingers, which would have been even more enjoyable if they were not a little overdone. Debbie off to school, Daniel on his boat again and me to my office to spend time on my financial affairs, with the end of the financial year upon us. I received the contract notes for the children’s trust EHP disposals from BZW today and so that was all right. Also the last of the TSB dividend cheques arrived today. A long task updating my financial summary with all of the transactions, calculating the capital gains and adjusting the remaining holdings. Took a break from the paperwork and tended the swimming pool.
Used the suction brush to remove the algae debris from the bottom, breaking for a morning drink with Della and Di. Lunch of sausages and veg. with Di's mother and the others; pie and ice cream to follow. Worked on for most of the afternoon, paying all outstanding bills and other matters. At 4.00pm, I changed and went out in the Range Rover to do some shopping. Started in St Neots by posting my letters, buying another job lot of postage stamps, and going to the building society. Then to Great Barford to try the alternative swimming pool suppliers, but they were no better than Elm Leisure. Stopped at Willington Garden Centre on the way home and bought four books on conservatories, which should give me some idea of the different designs and uses! Home for a late tea, then put the ducks away and got Daniel to moor his boat properly. As dusk fell, I went out and measured up the lawn by the lounge, to calculate the largest size of conservatory and pond that I could manage. By the end of the day, the swimming pool was looking much better, though still a bit milky. The news today is of mounting trade tension with Japan. The British government has taken powers under the Financial Services Act to exclude Japanese companies from London’s stock exchange, because of lack of reciprocal access in Japan for British firms. A threat is growing of industrial action from customs officials over the forthcoming Easter holiday, over a pay dispute. The Tory MP accused of illegal dealing in applying for BT shares, has had his case details sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Thatcher reported to the Commons today on her USSR visit and discussions. She confirms her opposition to ‘a nuclear-free Europe’, seeing the weapons as a means of securing continued peace. The First Officer of a British freighter and coordinator on the ‘Herald’ rescue has spoken out in details about the lack of vital search and rescue equipment on the night of the wreck. Malcolm Shakesby has sent detailed reports to the Belgian and British disaster enquiries. British Aerospace is to buy the privatised Royal Ordinance factories for £190 million, which the government says will secure the company’s future. The opposition say the move will threaten 3500 jobs.