Moving earth and landscaping today after a late start as the farmer in the meadow opposite made his hay and then had to stop work as it got far too warm and so swimming with the children was a better option. Debbie’s parents evening went well at the school as Jason and Daniel looked after the girls. The Cleveland spoof child abuse row continues, the miners and teachers are holding out for better conditions and the Sizewell AGC reactor will go ahead
Did not get to bed until after midnight yesterday, and the tiredness showed today as I also had to cope with temperatures in the mid 80’sdegF. Awoke to my morning tea and sat for a while, having to hurry in the end to get ready in time for breakfast. A simple fare of wheat flakes again, preceded by a rather unripe melon, that Debbie declined to eat for that reason. Dressed in working clothes and out to feed the doves on a hazy sunny morning. The gardener was already working and so was the farmer opposite, making the hay that he was cutting yesterday. It was being turned over periodically and later he bailed the first of it into the cylindrical bales they seem so keen on these days. I moved earth again this morning, setting certain of the paving stones in deeper on the downstream moorings and using the earth to build up sunken sections (created as the infill settles over the drain pipes).
Worked until 10.45am, then went in to see the end of the third England vs Pakistan test match on TV. The last three England batsmen did not put up much resistance, were out in half an hour and England lost the match by an innings and 18 runs, which was depressing. At a loss as what to do as a result, because the day was now far too hot for physical work. Sat waiting for a salad lunch from Di and then to the lounge to read the Saturday FT and Investors Chronicle. Also watched a TV programme on Carriage Team Driving (4 horses) which made for interesting relaxation. Soon time for tea, after some more reading in my office. Di had been shopping this morning, hosting her friends this afternoon, then swam with Della and Debbie before tea, as it was warm enough for her today. Just as I thought I could do some outside work in the cool this evening, Di reminded me of an appointment to see Debbie’s teacher, Mrs Barlow. We went along and heard that Debbie is bright, good at stories (though not at handwriting) and her other work is satisfactory. She is quiet and shy in class, like Daniel, and needs more confidence to assert herself. Heaven knows she is noisy enough at home! Back to the house to find the girls roaming around and Daniel’s friend Jason Chambers looking after them. Time only to write my journal and then the TV news. The main stories were shared between the continued child abuse rows and a growing number of industrial disputes in the public sector. Middlesbrough Labour MP, Stuart Bell, has accused Cleveland Social Services of manufacturing the recent crisis to build their empire and secure more funds. Teachers unions NAS/NUT have decided to resume more half-day school strikes from next Monday. The British Coal Board are insisting on six-day working weeks for miners before opening a new large-scale pit in Morgan, South Wales, but the NUM President calls for union unity in rejecting these conditions. A Friends-of-the-Earth High Court challenge to the government’s decision to place an AGC (Advanced Gas Cooled) reactor of US design at Sizewell was rejected today, because of the element of undue delay. They had been tackling the decision on safety grounds.