A slow start on another cold and frosty, but dry, night before working on and then an afternoon meeting with Mrs Davies and her friend recording their memories of old Little Paxton and then supervising homework with Debbie and Daniel before a slightly better lesson for Debbie horse-riding as Whitehouse tapes reveal details of the Iran Arms sales, BBC radio escapes some possible dramatic changes and MPs see the Zircon programme and Greville Janner MP will release details of ex-Nazi war criminals living in Britain next week
To bed at a more reasonable time and glad of it. Slept soundly and then awoke to find Di still asleep in the morning. A little romp together and then let her get up to make the morning drinks. Was too tired to get up and dressed and Di had to turf me out as I lay there and she started to make the bed. Shaved and showered and surprised to find that I was no later than the rest of the family at breakfast, as they had been allowed to lay in! To my office this morning and first read last week’s local papers and then stuck the cuttings into the scrap book. Heard that Mrs Davis would prefer to meet me at her house in the afternoon and so worked on this morning, mounting my photographs in the rear pages of the scrap book as well, for easier viewing.
Soon it was lunchtime and a paper boy brought our new and young white dove over, as it was on the ground again, with a cat chasing it. Needed the ladder to put it back up again, but at least its tail feathers are growing and it is gradually learning to fly. A salad and rolls for lunch. Di had a poor morning shopping, with Daniella playing up, and then was also upset with Debbie for not eating a plate of peanuts for lunch (!). A little more work this afternoon and then along to Mrs Davis soon after 2.00pm and the interview about her memories of Little Paxton. A long session and rather wearing. We were joined by a friend of hers and the two of them fluttered all over the village history and I was glad of my tape recorder, due to their illogical approach. Once back home later, I was quite boggled following it all. Little time for tea and then took Debbie horse riding. She did better, but was still a bit slow and hesitant. A large amount of this evening with Daniel and Debbie on their homework and was quite tired later on. Poor Di had to get up and walk around until 1.30am with her pile trouble last night. News today of the US political troubles and a Whitehouse computer tape reveals details of the Iran arms sales moves, after they were found to duplicate the information shredded by Colonel North and his secretary. Reagan, the President, is a lame duck president, but his top Whitehouse Chief of Staff, Regan, will be expected to actually resign later this week. The Home Secretary has released a discussion document on the reform of UK Radio. The Peacock Committee’s recommendation of privatising BBC Radios 1 and 2 has been rejected, but the government intend to allow a much greater degree of commercial competition. MPs saw the banned BBC programme on the Zircon spy satellite film, as the House of Commons ban was removed for the first time. A Nazi war criminal trial goes on, amidst increasing concern over those said to be still living in Britain. Greville Janner MP will name them in the House of Commons next week. After Syria’s interventions yesterday, a demonstration by the pro-Iranian militia supporters took place today, with crowds on the streets. The UK government have announced the allocation of £14.5 million into research into AIDS. Bruce Kent, the CND and Catholic spokesman is giving up active ministry in the religious hierarchy, to concentrate on his vice-chairmanship of the anti-nuclear organisation. Another cold day today, but dry at least. After another frost tonight, it is forecast to be a rather milder, though breezy day, tomorrow.