Diana takes Daniel to join his school boating holiday as I renew my Victoria County History book and collect the clip frame for my Little Paxton map and watch an exciting Pakistan vs England cricket match before resuming work on the Norris Library picture descriptions. More disasters again today, as a Brazilian airliner crashes on the Ivory Coast, killing 49 people, after engine problems and the worst storms for seven years batter the US west coast. Up to 15 people are feared dead, there are floods 9 ft deep in Massachusetts. In the UK, the Tories and Labour are dead equal in the opinion polls to dampen election plans
Had worked on a bit last night, waiting for the log fire to burn down and finishing off the inputting of amendments to ‘Little Paxton Hall’. Di sat up and read the notes as well and we turned in about 11.00pm. A little trouble getting to sleep again, as I seem to do when I have been working late, and it was also very cold and I had trouble getting warm. The cows (or rather, bullocks) have gone from the field opposite these last two days – the grass had just about stopped growing and was getting churned up. Also, with the river rising, I am sure it was a good decision to vacate the meadow. The doves are perking up as the days get slightly longer. It is more like 4.00pm rather than 3.15pm that it gets dark and, of course, the dawn comes earlier. One hen has a chick hatched out, which must be in danger from the frost and another pair are nest building. It was an early call this morning, as Daniel was due to leave on his school boating holiday.
Everybody down to breakfast by 8.00am, and I was showered and dressed ready. I had been listening to occasional snatches of news from the 1 day cricket international series in Australia, and today England were playing the West Indies. I had a breakfast of porridge, brown sugar and top of the milk and then scanned the TV teletext and radio for more news of the battle. To my surprise, I found that they were televising it live on BBC2 and so I settled down to watch it. England had scored an inadequate-looking 228, but had hit back by taking early West-Indian wickets, before Richards came on the scene and started hitting the English bowlers all over the ground. The fielders stuck to their guns and had him caught out by Broad and then it was a neck and neck finish, until the W Indians lost their nerve with a couple of overs to go and gave their wickets away. All watching the match were nervously exhausted but, with England and Pakistan having won 2 matches each, they are both through to the final with the last two minor games a formality. Still, England meet Pakistan before this final, in what will now only be a full dress rehearsal. Poor Daniel had to be contented with Di and the girls to take him off to Kimbolton to catch the school trip minibus, but, in the end, he always hates a fuss being made for fear of adolescent embarrassment and went off without waving to them in return. I started a little work after the match, but they were soon home and it was time to lock up and alarm the house and set off to St Neots. There I renewed my Victoria County History library book, collected the special-sized clip frame for my LP map, and got some cheques in and some cash out of the building society. Lunch at the Happy Eater without Daniel and then home for me to put the clip frame together, after feeding and putting away the ducks and doves. Printed out the Hall section before tea and then carried on updating more sections afterwards. This evening I also started typing in the list of Little Paxton photographs at the Norris Library and gave them all effective descriptions. Had finished half of them by bedtime. Time to sit up late with Di, watching an episode of Cagney and Lacey on TV and monitoring the news. Disasters again, as a Brazilian airliner crashes on the Ivory Coast, killing 49 people, after engine problems and the worst storms for seven years batter the US west coast. Up to 15 people are feared dead, there are floods 9 ft deep in Massachusetts and the authorities in four north-eastern states; Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Massachusetts, are urging residents to move inland, as snow, winds and tides batter the south-east coast. In Britain’s own tragedy, miners seem to be winning the battle to save at least some of the Seafield Colliery in Fife, but one of the two faces is already lost. The latest opinion poll has the Tories and Labour neck and neck, with the Alliance a poor third and this should dampen down the election euphoria. Also Labour’s Shadow Minister says that figures due to be released next week will show that 2 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since the Tories came to power in 1979 and that 94% of the losses have been in Scotland, the North, the Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland. He also wants an inquiry into why the figures have been delayed. In preparation for a cold and frosty night, I checked the swimming pool frost protection and ensured the winter pump was running. I cannot see the dove chicks surviving.