Tour trip to the Nene Valley Railway to take a ride on ‘The Santa Special’ after a Little Chef lunch More trouble in the Gaza Strip, occupied by the Israelis and the Israeli soldiers use live ammunition against stone-throwing youths leading to UN condemnation The Takeover Panel is allowing the BP takeover of Britoil but with a government ‘Golden Share’ and the British current account deficit on visible trade widened from £822m to £1.19Bn
A restful night that was quite chilly and misty, but nowhere near as cold as we might expect in Christmas week. A lay in beyond our usual time, then Della joined us as Diana brought me my morning tea. To the accompaniment of the morning Radio 4 news, I showered and shaved ready for breakfast, but found the children in their night things at the table! The first priority was to brief Pete, who had arrived early at 8.30am. I wanted him to carry on edging the lawn with vertical planks, but also to wash the Range Rover later, when Di was back from shopping. Lastly, to put a new hinge on the broken duck house and change the bedding material (hay, as we could not recently get straw). I read the paper, packaged up Joan & Pete’s wages and a £50 note as a Christmas cash bonus. I finished off checking my recent credit card transactions, but then Di came racing back at midday and wanted us to leave straight away for our trip to the Nene Valley Railway.
We left soon and stopped off at the Little Paxton Little Chef for lunch. The roads and travel cafes were busy today with the seasonal traffic, mostly with people in their 60s and 70s! We arrived in good time for the Steam Railway ‘Santa Special’, parked in a muddy field, queued up under a covered walkway and filed through Santa’s Grotto, where the girls each received a present from Father Christmas. A brush, mirror and comb set for Debbie and batch of ‘Little Pony’ writing pads and accessories for Della. Onto the train and a rather disappointing (for me) and slow journey to the end of the line and back, though the girls seemed to enjoy it. They served more sweets for the girls, sherry and mince pie for us and then Santa came through the train once again to wish us goodbye. Home with all speed in the failing light and just time to put the ducks away and inspect the lawn. Pete has now finished the lawn edge on three sides and trimmed the fourth, but no ditches yet in evidence. To the lounge to read my books on the Morris Minor, then Spycatcher. I am rapidly going off the former – the extent and cost of restoration is best reserved for the Corniche, that is my other choice and would wear the cost better and with more exclusivity and investment benefit. Tea was served in the lounge and I enjoyed a low calorie duck pate, taken with biscuits and some chocolate cake afterwards to undo the good work. Heard from my parents this evening, who confirmed their arrival after lunch tomorrow. This evening watching TV, writing up my journal and reading a little more Spycatcher. The news today is of the hijack of an airliner on route from Amsterdam and of it being forced down at Rome Airport. Later the assailant was found to be a Dutch teenager, who subsequently surrendered the plane and his hostages to the authorities. More trouble in the Gaza Strip, occupied by the Israelis and the Israeli soldiers use live ammunition to fend off young assailants who have only stones as weapons. For this there is condemnation at the United Nations, with even the US accepting criticism of Israel and abstaining on the vote. Public and international opinion is turning against this presence in the occupied Arab territories. Diplomatic exchanges continue to try to release two ‘child brides’ (British born Asian girls, tricked into travelling to North Yemen and being married to boy strangers) and they may be able to travel home soon. The Takeover Panel is allowing the BP takeover of Britoil, but the government plans to use its ‘Golden Share’ to block them taking control. The British current account deficit on visible trade widened from £822m to £1.19Bn in November, worse than expected by analysts, and raising fears that the Chancellor may be persuaded to dampen domestic demand.