I carry on working on my history photo collection at home this morning and my investments this afternoon as Diana struggled with Della and has a bad day. Some representations over Range Rover service, Godmanchester riverside playground and rural development. The government injunctions today to try and gag the BBC and Thatcher is isolated at the EEC summit whilst publishing details of her new Poll Tax
Slept well and was awoken in good time. Unfortunately, I sat in bed too long and made myself late for breakfast again! Just had some wheat flakes and then saw the children off to school. Then Diana took Della off to Bedford, but, bless the little girl, she kicked up a fuss and did not want to go ‘without her bestest Daddy’. This was the start of a rotten morning for Di, as the garage gave her trouble over the Range Rover and all else seemed to go wrong. I worked away at the latest photos delivered last night and had them all sorted and stuck in by a late lunch. I made my own lunch of salad and a banana to follow. This afternoon, I tracked our investments on the stock exchange. It is still very weak, with even the recommended stocks slipping back and a cause for continued worry.
Read the local papers and put the cuttings in my album, as well as reading the Financial Times cover to cover, which is a necessity these days. Got Pete to start hoeing the lawn bed today, as it is a bit drier, but he did not achieve a great deal. He shivers with the cold and I wish he would wear more jumpers or something. The gas man came today and repaired a leaking boiler, though I had to go round behind him after, re-bleeding the radiators and setting them back to their previous thermostat settings. Spoke to Nigel on the phone again, who is still keen on Royston district properties. Put the ducks and doves away tonight with the last of the duck food, then settled down to an evening of letter writing. I had to make a harsh complaint about the Range Rover service and also make representations to keep the Godmanchester riverside playground and try to ward off the development of allotment and agricultural land between St Neots and Little Paxton, off the Huntingdon Road. We shall see what results. News today of the Government injunctions to further gag the BBC from broadcasting debates on the accountability of the Security Services. The postal union executive has backed the negotiations settlement with the post office and the EEC summit opens with the prospect of Thatcher’s isolation and obstinacy yet again shaming us and blocking progress. They also publish details of the proposed Poll Tax, but there remain more questions than answers. Robert Maxwell has been blocked by a High Court injunction from completing his takeover of Watford Football Club until Tuesday at least.