Laid in bed with Diana before Daniel and Gary ventured out on the dinghy, Debbie was off to church and so Della came to play with me as I worked in my office clearing my desk of magazines etc. An afternoon watching Spurs beat Arsenal on TV and then enjoying a thatching program, I worked on again. The BT unions secure a 12+% pay rise, four Western hostages in Beirut are threatened with execution with no word of Terry Waite and the US regain the America’s Cup under Connors who beat the Aussies
Was very tired indeed when I turned in last night and then woke up a little early in the morning for a trip to the toilet. Then stayed in bed with Diana for a while, before having my shower, shave and getting dressed. Breakfast of a nice fried meal and then, after the morning paper, I went out to feed the ducks and doves. Daniel and Gary had been to bed late, but slept well and ventured outside this morning to put an outboard motor on the dingy and cruise around a little. It has been much milder these last few days and the days longer too. Spent a little time in my office this morning, clearing my desk ready to do some work, but, with Debbie at the church, Della was at a loose end and she came to see me and I did some pencil drawings for her and then read her some stories.
Soon time to help lay the table and then a nice Sunday lunch of roast beef. Di cuts the meat rather thick and we will have to get a proper spiked plate for carving more delicately. The washing up after, then it was time to watch a live soccer match on TV; Arsenal vs Spurs that Tottenham won 1-0, which was satisfying and a good match too. Then Di brought in a ‘sit-round’ tea on a trolley and we watched a TV programme on thatching, the ancient craft, as well as hurdle making with hazel. Out to the ducks and doves again, some number work with Debbie, then down to some actual work in the office, writing to Jack Ramply, manorial research, and then my instructions to Vinters over the swimming pool, before it was time for bed. The news today is leaders of the striking British Telecom technicians securing 12+% pay rises to put before their members. It seems that the dispute may be over this week. In Beirut, 4 Western hostages face an execution ultimatum. These are Americans and a swap is wanted for prisoners in Israel. The threats need to be taken seriously, as a video film of the hostages was released at the same time as the written ultimatum. Terry Waite is still missing and the latest claims that he will be released have yet to be fulfilled. Labour and Tories at separate party conferences are slogging it out over education and local government, but the election date is still to be decided and the see-saw opinion polls will keep Thatcher on the hop. England won the first of three one-day matches to decide a championship title against Australia. The USA have regained the ‘America’s Cup’ sailing trophy, under the helmsman ship of Connors, which beat Australia’s Kookaburra.