A slow start after a very cold night which froze the Great Ouse and I collected Norma and Charles in my 4WD Range Rover due to slippery roads and took us all to Cambridge for coffee at Eaden Lilleys and lunch at The Arts Theatre Buffet as The Copper Kettle was closed for refurbishment. Home, after buying some stamps for Debbie to start her collection, forgetting to call in at Vinters to sign the sales completion for 39 Gordon Road, and then to my office where I lit the fire after feeding the ducks and doves. Norway join Mexico in joining OPEC’s cut in oil production to protect the price, the dollar carries on falling and a bid by Tory MP’s to bring back the death penalty was lost by 175 votes to 110 and measures to curtail the BBC was thwarted by Douglas Hurd
Another desperately cold night – the river has now frozen, leaving only a small lake downstream, as it usually does. Had dropped off to sleep last night without turning down/off the electric blanket, but did not notice because of the cold. Sat in bed a while this morning, until Di took all the bedclothes off to make it, and waited until the bathroom heater had warmed up the room before showering and shaving. Dressed rather late and had a wheat flakes breakfast on my own. Soon Di was off to take Debbie to school and Dan and I looked after Daniella, to save her going out twice into the cold. I phoned Di’s parents and asked if they wanted us to collect them on our way to Cambridge. They are down a steep slope at Bar Hill, with slippery slopes and leapt at the idea. Poor Pete potters around in the garden, trying valiantly to make work in weather like this and I do not disillusion him, as I know they need the money. Away by Range Rover in 4-wheel drive to Cambridge, picking them up from Bar Hill, and parking at the Round Church car park.
Coffee all at Eaden Lilleys (except chocolate for Dan and orange juice for Daniella) then each to our own until a rendezvous at 12.00 midday. I went round the book shops, but could find nothing for sale on Huntingdonshire. Found the Copper Kettle closed for redecoration and so went upstairs to the Arts Theatre buffet and enjoyed a nice lunch there. I treated Di’s parents to a meal and quite spoilt them today. Charles showed me a stamp shop on the walk back to the car and I bought an album and selection of 100+ foreign stamps for £1.50 the lot. I got the lady to choose a selection of stamps, ‘as if she had a 7 year old daughter starting to collect stamps’. The journey home, realising on the way that we had not stopped at Vinters to sign our sale completion for No.39 Gordon Road and now they will have to post the documents. Once home, got Daniel to make a cup of tea, then fed the doves and ducks, whilst Di took Della to see Katherine with Pat Law and discussed further with them the purchase of our Escort Estate. I lit the fire in my office and spent the evening working on updating my history. I am now ready to start the Gazette and will do that in the morning. There are so many things to do now, but I also spoke to my stock broker today, though his advice seems a bit different to my instincts and I will have to decide accordingly. Deb came and sorted out her stamps and was most pleased and Daniel pestered me about boats to no avail. The news tonight was dominated by the weather and the government have tried to forestall criticism of their social policies in tomorrow’s House of Commons debate, by announcing that this week’s £5 cold weather payment will be made anyway. This has not quelled criticism of a mad formula that upsets everyone. A message of mediation from Argentinean President Raul Alfonsin to Thatcher, is denied in public as anything significant, but the armed forces minister of her government is in the Falklands at the moment on a review of security arrangements for the base. Norway’s government has announced cuts in North Sea oil production, to match OPEC’s quota reductions, and Mexico has already decided to do so. Thatcher will undoubtedly refuse to do so and thus continues to lack any longer term depletion policies on oil reserves. The Dollar continues its fall, despite Japanese attempts to keep down the value of the Yen, and so the world’s currencies are continuing the process of realignment. Tory MPs split in the Commons vote today on the restoration of the death penalty for child murderers and the move, under the 10 minutes rule bill, was lost by 175 votes to 110. The government has ruled out advertising on the BBC and agreed a formula for indexing the annual increases on the license fee, to avoid three-yearly battles, all despite the hard line anti-BBC attitude of some Tory MPs, including Norman Tebbit, the party Chairman. Moderate Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, has had his way on this one.