Working in my office monitoring the stock exchange, sorting photographs and investigating my land and property investments, then visiting Huntingdon District Council for gravel extraction policies before welcoming Trevor Smith this evening to share Paxton post cards. Gorbachev and Reagan court the media abroad, 11th hour talks to avert the postal strike, a huge London sweep tackles child indecency and two North Korean suspects take poison pills after the South Korean airliner was bombed
A better night’s sleep and up to get a shower and shampoo my hair. I still felt, however, tired after the recent evening’s activity. I was late down to breakfast, but just saw the children leave for school and then settled down to read today’s paper and dwelt, as many others this morning, on the depths to which the stock exchange shares had fallen. Then I worked at my desk, sorting photographs and making telephone calls to further investigate my land and property investments. Soon I had delayed lunch and so I went to the kitchen and made a simple meal of microwaved pasty, wholemeal crisps and a pot of tea. Went into the lounge and ate this, whilst watching the TV news. The financial markets are steady after the falls of yesterday and Gorbachev appears on an American TV news programme. This afternoon I started working on the sorting and trimming of photographs, ahead of Mr Smith’s visit this evening, but then I broke off and went to St Neots, Boots, to collect two batches of photos on Riversfield, North Lodge and Mrs Bunnage’s monument. Then I decided to drive on to Huntingdon to get a copy of the Planning Department’s gravel extraction plan and also try to find Mr Peter Lewis of Ekins agricultural dept, who was unfortunately not there.
Home by the time the children had returned, but I had to feed and put away the ducks in the dark. Tea with the family and Amy Law, who had come to accompany Deborah to ballet. This evening, Trevor Smith came to discuss post cards again and I collect most of his, then I sorted out the rest of my copies, ready to put in the album tomorrow. The news today is of both of the great power leaders vying for publicity before the East/West summit. First Gorbachev was interviewed for an hour on the NBC national US news network. Then Reagan responds with a few of his ‘One-liners’, against the familiar background of helicopter noise, when he said that the forthcoming talks just represent the beginning of the process for world peace. At home, there are 11th hour talks to try to avert the risk of a postal strike, as the postal workers try to get better and reduced working hours. The management is against a referral to ACAS, the arbitration and conciliation service. After a police sweep across North West London, 140 boys are interviewed and 18 men are arrested, after discovery of a child sex/indecency ring. News also of the details of a safety inspection at Kings Cross, seven months before the disaster. The report is seen as a ‘roll-call’ of complaints relating to lack of cleaning and waste removal. The Irish parliament, the Doyle, is now debating the new extradition rules and has added safeguard conditions to apply in respect of extradition to Britain because of the Diplock single-judge courts. After the crash of the South Korean airliner, two suspects of its sabotage have taken poison pills after being questioned. They had left the fated flight earlier in its route, leaving their luggage on board. The bombing may well have been organised to try to get the forthcoming Olympic Games venue of Seoul cancelled. Despite the recent Iran/France hostage deal, Thatcher has ruled out any negotiations for the release of British hostages, despite the confirmed sighting of Terry Waite in captivity. The weather today was cold and showery, but with light winds. I was disappointed to hear from Ekins Agricultural Division this afternoon that their client wants £850/acre and I had been mistaken in thinking the price is £600/acre. Because of the underlying gravel deposits, it may still be attractive.