A long day working on my local history data files, sorting the content into a single file for each chapter and then starting the editing process, contacting the St Nots LHS ex-Secretary and my photographer Howards to chase him an then the photocopier supplier as it has still not arrived. Sometime organising Daniel and Debbie and ricking my back trying to constrain Della. The news is of a big furore over the Special Branch searches of the BBC and confiscation of film and material which is against proper press freedoms and an emergency debate in the Commons has been forced for tomorrow. Alistair McLean dies, three Italian policemen are convicted of raping a prisoner and the Philippines constitutional referendum seems to be going Cory Aquino’s way.
A better night’s sleep, but very slow to wake up and get washed and dressed in time for breakfast. Dressed in some old clothes and then straight to my office. The start of a long day working with the VDU, sorting record files, so that I ended up with files of each chapter that is to be updated with the scrap book data. Heard from the secretary of the St Neots L.H.S. (Linda Read), who is interested on my results and information on the Reynolds family. She has now given up the post, and also left Nigel Smith’s Modus, and so I suppose she has more time to pursue it. I chased the photograph copies with Howards this morning – he will finish taking the shots and return the originals probably tomorrow. He needs special film for the pencil drawings (or rather, photographic paper) and so I won’t get the copies back before the end of the week. Agreed with him that I should get the negatives back as well, because it seems he is closing the shop down. Also chased the delivery of the Canon photocopier – I received the invoice today, but god knows where the equipment has got to. A salad lunch and a fully cooked tea made me feel full today.
Had to get Di to go to the slimming club tonight – she had missed last week’s session and has been putting on weight again – but she went in the end and had not put on any more. Also spent time with the children. Daniel had not got much homework, but I made up for the lack of it by getting him to read the magazine I had bought him for his English literature. Debbie worked well at her sums. She now says that she has caught up with Amy, her friend, at maths and they are racing one another. Had a problem with Della today, as she tried to play with my computer and I ricked my back stopping her – that did not help. The main news today is of the furore over the weekend Special Branch searches. There will now be an emergency debate in the Commons tomorrow, which the Speaker has allowed, after the House refused to settle without it. Outside, the BBC Chairman has written to both the Home Secretary and the Scottish Secretary, protesting strongly and opposition politicians are urging the BBC to protect freedoms fully by strong legal actions. The Prime Minister denies any involvement, but she did call for the investigation. As the Middle East crisis deepens, Thatcher has written to Chancellor Kohl asking for more resolve to deny the demands of the kidnappers and her government has carefully distanced itself from any responsibility or involvement in the Terry Waite kidnap. The thriller writer, Alistair MacLean, has died from a stroke in his 60s. Three Italian policemen have been convicted of raping a young English woman whilst in jail, but have only received 8/10 years jail sentences themselves. The Philippine referendum on a new constitution seems to be going Cory Aquino’s way, despite all of the attempts in recent weeks to destabilise the country.