Visit on a fine and warm day to St Ives to visit the auction viewings and L H Jones Chandlery before lunch and back in time to Eynesbury for the St Neots Carnival Procession before home for a quiet evening as The SDP party is divided with Owenites resisting the new leader and its plans to merge with the Liberals and the bloody aftermath of the failed coup against Cory Aquino in The Philppines
Slept well after yesterday’s disturbances, then awoke to Di and Della with my morning tea. Fortunately, Di took our baby girl off me and finished reading the story I had started so that I could get washed and dressed. Everyone on time for breakfast and then I went out to feed the doves on a warm morning. In fact, I was moved to change my clothes into something cooler, but later today it became cooler again as the cloud cover increased and it started to rain. Fine this morning as we set off in the Range Rover for a visit to St Ives. A nice chance to look round the auctions, before walking to L H Jones Boathaven to make our planned rendezvous.
I took the route of the footpath passed the cattle meadows on the way and was intrigued by the traditional scene and also the big crop of cherries on the wild trees lining the route. On to the Croxton Happy Eater for a nice lunch, with good waitress service, then home for a cup of tea and short rest. Next on the agenda was a trip to see the St Neots carnival procession. We parked the Range Rover by Eynesbury & Shortsands and watched the floats and celebrations. Put more than £5 as our contribution in coins into the collection buckets and the girls got sweets, hats and balloons in return. At least the rain held off and I hope the organisers can claim a successful procession. Home to tea, then this evening I catch up on recent daily paper reading and then my journal. A pleasant break to go out and put away the ducks, which made me regret not doing any fishing tonight. News today is dominated by a telling air attack by Iraq on Iran oil installations and a tanker. This is the first such attack since May, as an informal ceasefire on these attacks is abruptly ended. On the eve of the SDP Conference, the media is speculating about the split in the party as Dr David Owen’s comments are widely reported and new leader, Robert Maclennan, struggles to present an impression of calm consideration. Party members, including myself, know that there is overwhelming support for an alliance in the field and that the Owenites will be isolated. In the Philippines, there are still incidents and some military activity as the final stages of the rebel pacification take place. Mrs Aquino attends the funeral of three bodyguards, who were shot dead defending her son, who was still shot in the neck. The World Athletics Championships have started in Rome, with British athletes passing through the opening rounds.