Debbie and Della made breakfast today, as Di was ill overnight with aches and pains, during a fine start to the day that turned very wet, Daniel was revising ahead of going away on a school narrow-boating this weekend and I carried on trying to progress my Range Rover and Stereo system repairs and evaluating my Fountain Forestry investments. Concern over the US shuttle progress after an explosion ripped through their factory, British Warship HMS York is involved in another Gulf incident, CofE Bishops reject practising homosexuals for the Ministry, the Russians claim to have re-taken Khost in Afghanistan and Mugabe has become both President as well as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
Slept well enough, but awoke to find Diana feeling ill in bed. She had aches in her head, back and legs, as if having more of a glandular problem than the tonsillitis which is her only other symptom. She stayed there and I could only stay with her for a while until, by 8.30am, I felt the need to get showered and dressed, as Joan and Pete would soon be arriving. Debbie was very good and got the breakfast ready with Della and then Joan was on hand to clear away the things afterwards. This morning I read the FT and watched shares regain half of yesterday’s losses, but the markets are still thus and nervous. I started to update my investment summary for the year end but, by midday, I decided to take the children over to the Little Chef for lunch, as Diana was still indisposed. Debbie had played with Amy Law this morning and was invited to go swimming with the family this afternoon, with which I agreed. Daniel did quite a deal of revision and just as well, for we received his joining instructions for the winter narrow boating holiday starting next Saturday. I made a couple of phone calls to book a riding lesson for Debbie on Saturday afternoon (there is again no lesson this Thursday – being New Years Eve), and also arranging the Range Rover repair and collection for Thursday week.
The service manager there, Mr Sargeant, tried to be seasonally friendly, but I am still waiting for the work to be correctly done before I thaw. After lunch, we drove into St Neots to put the ‘surround sound processor’ into JVC audio for repair under warranty, and also paid £1700 into my Barclays Bank account to cover my monthly savings plan and mortgage payment. Back home, this afternoon and evening updating my financial summaries, finishing most of the calculations and reviewing my Thormaid Forestry investments to see what the project is really costing me. I took up some afternoon tea for Diana and at last she stirred and got up to join me for a cup and piece of Christmas cake. She was then up to make tea itself and lasted a couple of hours this evening, before she had an early night. Debbie was very good again, putting Daniella in the bath and getting her off to bed. Although starting fine today, it then turned very wet, but still stayed mild. A fairly early night for me, as I broke off of my work to start again tomorrow. The news tonight is of the concern over the US space shuttle problems. An explosion at the factory, coupled with continued design problems elsewhere, both combine to delay the programme further, as well as leading to the loss of five more lives. Now the USSR seems set to go further ahead in the space race with its first permanently manned space station. The latest collapse of the US $ will hit the European Air Bus consortium, according to the French Trade Minister, wiping out profits, but British Aerospace PLC would not speculate. Meanwhile, today was quieter on the stock exchanges, but analysts are waiting for next Monday’s re-opening of the Tokyo stock exchange. The British warship, HMS York, became involved in another Gulf incident today, as it protected two oil tankers from an Iranian warship, but the incident did not escalate from there. Continuing controversy in the Church of England, as Bishops confirm that ‘practising’ homosexuals are not welcome to continue as church ministers. The Russians now claim that the Afghanistan garrison of Khost has been reinforced and relieved and that 2000 Mujahideen rebels killed. This is not confirmed or admitted by the other side. Zimbabwe has now formally become a one-party state, as Mugabe becomes President as well as Prime Minister