The Hayling View's balconies a fine site for Christmas Lights this year
The Hayling View's balconies a fine site for Christmas Lights this year

First to Jordan’s Mill in Biggleswade for layers pellets, getting a Holly Wreath and some Christmas Cards en-route  and then on to St Ives for the antiques auction but nothing of interest before home to put up our Christmas lights that shined across the valley. The tragic heart operation delay case of baby David Barber ends with his death today and Maxwell can buy Watford if he sells Oxford

Slept well enough and awoke early on another chilly, but dry, morning. Too long getting showered and dressed again – seems very difficult these days to get the shower up to temperature. A modest breakfast and then read the Investors Chronicle, as Diana cleared the table and got the girls ready for our trip out. Daniel, of course, was at school. I fed the ducks and doves, locked up and we set off first for Jordan’s Mills at Broom, Biggleswade. I bought two bags of layers pellets for the ducks and one of mixed corn for the doves and, the shop opening at 9.30am, we could also buy a large quantity of wheat flakes to keep us going for quite a while. Started the drive to St Ives, but stopped several times on the way. Once for some fresh vegetables from a farm shop. Again for a real holly wreath for our front door and lastly for some petrol, as the Range Rover was running short. We got to St Ives, parked and had morning drinks at the cafe by the auction rooms.

The girls then went shopping, as I viewed the auction, but could find nothing I could not live without. I then took a walk to Knights, the antique dealer of Town Quay, where there is presently an exhibition of Huntingdonshire paintings. A pretty and wide collection, but none of Little Paxton. I then bought a few Christmas cards before meeting the girls back at the car. Off to St Neots to collect Daniel, then lunch at the Croxton Happy Eater as usual. The girl’s behaviour is a growing problem these days and I had to make sure they behaved today. This afternoon we brought in and decorated the Christmas tree and then I put up our outside lights on the front balconies. 30 coloured, 25 watt bulbs, that make quite a show across the valley. After tea I had this evening off, first watching an old H G Wells film with Daniel and then some live boxing on TV. I felt a bit more relaxed and looking forward to Christmas. News today of the collapse of the EEC talks on the Common Market budget in failure. Now the organisation is in crisis, must perpetrate last year’s budget by the month, and chances of agreement must now be put off until February. At least this time Thatcher was speaking in a more amenable tone and the atmosphere avoided recrimination, but nobody moved from their original position. The main domestic news was the death today of Baby David, the young child that had its heart operation put off five times, due to lack of nursing staff and intensive care facilities. Doctors said they had no evidence that the delays had contributed to his death. The MP for the area is unhappy that no inquest or enquiry will be held, but the parents do not have the heart for it. The football league have reached a deal with Maxwell. They have withdrawn their court action, will let him buy Watford, but he has to give up Oxford United instead. In a fire incident aboard a freight ship off Spain, 23 seamen die by drowning after jumping overboard. They were mostly Chinese and only 8 crew survived.