Another working day on my book, with some time sent with Debbie and Daniel on their maths homework as SOGAT’82 has to admit defeat against Murdoch, some signs of an end to the BT dispute and The Attorney General, Sir Michael Havers, has stood down from the post after a series of problems over the Westland affair, the MI5 case in Australia and now the Zircon affair
Slept much better than last night and was most reluctant to wake up. Struggled to a sitting position for my morning tea and read some local papers, until it was time to get up. Showered and shaved. It is noticeable how much lighter the mornings are getting now – even though the weather remains dull and overcast – as the days get longer. Soon down to breakfast, after unlocking the house and putting excess lights out and Daniel was remiss again – leaving his bedroom in a mess and I had to tell him off. Breakfast of more wheat flakes and apple juice to drink, then a quick return to my office, where I put the computer on to start the day’s work. Today it was the start of the section of Paxton Park and I first edited the Ramply interview transcript and was about to input some of the Song Book text, when I was overtaken by the need to put in Linda Read’s notes on the Throckmortons, which took until lunch. Di’s Mother was over for lunch and then stayed this afternoon, whilst Di went to her ‘keep-fit’.
We phoned the ‘Three Horseshoes’ near Cambridge and made plans for Di’s Father’s 70th birthday dinner in a couple of Saturday’s time. Back to it for the afternoon, and the evening, and was only half way through the Paxton Hall chapter when it was time to call it a day! Why am I doing this! Spent time with Daniel and Debbie tonight on maths for both of them. Out to feed the ducks and then relaxed in the lounge, writing up my journal at the end of another tiring day. The weather was mild today, with a stiff breeze. The news today is of the print union, SOGAT’82, deciding to call off the picketing of News International, which has been continuing for a year. The union is facing possible bankruptcy, under threat of legal sequestration by the company. The original severance terms for the sacked workers are still to be paid, but there may be a hard rump of London print workers of the Sun Chapel that fight on alone. There are signs of a breakthrough in the British Telecom dispute. Mass meetings are planned for Sunday for the union’s 110,000 members. Mr Roger Cooper, a British engineer, held in Iran, has made a TV confession to charges of espionage. The Attorney General, Sir Michael Havers, has stood down from the post for ‘medical reasons’. He has been advised to rest from stress. A series of problems over the Westland affair, the MI5 case in Australia and now the Zircon affair, have each left him in a position of having to fight his corner, as politics and the law have conflicted. The BBC Chairman, Marmaduke Hussey, has met the Metropolitan Police Chief to demand the return of the materials seized during the Glasgow raid. A large drug seizure has taken place between Morocco and Spain and the merchandise were heading for Europe. 6 Britons are under arrest and it seems the trafficking may have been masterminded from here. It was Hashish. Another killing has taken place in the INLA feud. Tony McCluskey was the victim, but at least the terrorists have now turned on themselves. A train carrying nuclear fuel has been derailed on its way to Sellafield, but the cargo was not damaged. 10 animal rights protesters have been jailed, with the leader getting 10 years, after arson attempts.