Daniel losing things on his first day back at Kimbolton School after a hectic breakfast and before I settle down to some work and planning. Out to brief the gardener after some lunch and stomach pains and then to take Debbie horse-riding who rode Flint on some road work. Resurgent unrest in South Africa after firebombs and 16,000 rail workers sacked, Security forces kill 2-300 Tamil rebels, the first meeting of the Anglo-Ireland pact take place after the Eire elections and the UK teachers are furious over their treatment by the government
Slept well again last night, retiring early and still having to be awoken at 6.30am. Noticeable how well Diana manages to wake up when she has to, and how reluctant she was to do so in the boat. Showered and shaved, then down to breakfast in time to get the children to tidy their rooms, and they needed persuading! Dan was also feverishly preparing for his first day back at school today. He had lost his French exercise book (and Mr Horrocks takes no prisoners!) and also his locker keys that he needed for PE. Managed to find both with Di’s help and then I gave him his lunch snack and waved him off to school. I sorted the weekend’s mail and then today’s arrived. Waded my way through lots of computer journals and then went into my office to do a little work.
Printed out conservatory letters for Andega and one other and then chased Marston & Langinger by phone for a response to my enquiry. Then out to my workshop, where I sanded down and secured the seat to the wooden high chair that I am restoring. It was mild and dry outside, but the breeze was a bit too cool for me. I am still suffering from diarrhoea and am rather weak. In late morning I rested, read the paper and watched a little of the world snooker finals on TV. Then I made my lunch of poor salad and pears to follow. Had real stomach griping pains as a result and had to lay down until they had passed. This morning I also walked the grounds with the gardener and instructed him. Checked on the doves this afternoon and had to put the two rings back on the chicks, who had shed them. Took Debbie horse riding. She had Flint on a road hack, but did not distinguish herself. Dan had a lot of homework to do tonight and the girls had a swim. News today is of resurgent unrest in South Africa after police attempts to suppress a railway workers strike. 6 workers were shot dead in their protest over black evictions from Soweto after a rent strike. There has been a week’s attack of fire bombs and 16,000 black railway workers have been sacked. Johannesburg police offices were occupied by protesters who were evicted and held in custody. In Tamil Jaffra in Sri Lanka, the security forces mounted an air raid against ‘Tamil Guerrillas’, killing 80 and injuring as many more after a bomb had been planted killing civilians. Further attacks on the guerrilla bases are also being made and a further 200 are said to have been killed in these. The first meeting of the Anglo-Ireland pact since the new Irish government took over took place at Stormont today, against a background of demonstrations by the DUP; MPs Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson were arrested. The latest opinion poll gives Conservatives 44% with Labour on 29% and the Alliance 27% as MPs returned to Westminster after the Easter break. The teachers unions are having their annual conferences and are voicing fury over the treatment of the teaching profession, but they are stopping short of falling foul of the Tory employment laws and will fight the government on their own terms. In the US, there are second thoughts over the speed of progress towards a deal on the elimination of intermediate nuclear weapons. It would be a shame if the real chance of disarmament is derailed by political posturing in the run up to a presidential election. The weather forecast for the next few days is sunny and warm and we will get good use out of our pool, which is now up and running.