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Late to rise but then to resume work on The Lady, installing a shower-tray pump and bilge pump as Debbie goes to the Evangelical Church with Amy’s family and I then start sorting out the drawers full of mechanical and electrical parts. The news is of possible miners’ strikes resuming. After the recent French landslides and floods, the latest problem is in Italy where 17 are dead as a result of a hotel being swept away and pressure mounts on Reagan
Slept well enough and had my morning tea in peace, as Daniella slept in for a change. Called late and sat a while and so went down in my pyjamas and dressing gown, so as not to be late for breakfast. Sat and read the papers for a while until it was ready and then enjoyed a fine fried breakfast. Just shaved this morning, as I had showered last night. Out to tend the ducks and doves, then went on board The Lady and resumed work on the pumps. I installed the shower tray pump and wired it up to empty the tray without the repeated and difficult hand-pumping we have been used to. In to lunch of roast beef (silverside) which was delicious.
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A morning began by telling Della a host of stories before Debbie went off with the Brownies for a trip to Whipsnade Zoo and Daniel cleaned the Range Rover as I worked on The Lady’s water system before letting the ducks out after 11am and working on until we went to Marilyn’s 40th birthday barbecue this evening. Nick Faldo was the only British golfer up with the leaders in the golf Open Championship
Awoke to the morning tea and Della routine. I told her a half-dozen stories that made me late in getting washed for breakfast and she still wanted more and ended up crying. You just can’t win, can you? Breakfast in my dressing gown as a result and just about kept order in an exuberant meal. Debbie was off with the Brownies to Whipsnade Zoo today and so got Daniel to vacuum and wash the Range Rover whilst I went down to The Lady and worked on the water system. I re-filled the main water pressure pump and then installed the water purifier in line with the galley sink cold water tap.
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Late start to the day due to rain as Di took the kids shopping in Bedford but I then drove to Buckden to remind Richard about The Lady being transported to Norfolk on Tuesday. The news is of more friction between France and Iran but of Thatcher supporting the beleaguered US President Reagan as Yorkshire miners are threatened with dismissal, Geoffrey Archer’s libel case concludes and actor Alfie Bass dies, aged 71.
Slept well enough, though it was cooler than of late. Awoken to my morning tea and then my daughters in turn came in to see me. They were full of beans and quite a trial for a father with bleary eyes. Breakfast with the family, keeping order in my new position at the table. Then retired to my office to read the paper and the morning mail. Many computer journals to go through yesterday and today, but not much the wiser as a result. Then to my desk and finished sorting out the photographs for my scrap book and then sticking them in. Wrote a letter to Gladys Hazelton returning hers, given on loan, and then tidied up and filed everything away before lunch. It was raining this morning and Pete could not come and cut the lawns. Back-flushed the swimming pool filter before lunch as well, as it stopped drizzling at last. It was quite dirty and the cause of the trouble we have been having recently. Gave Daniella a swing in the back garden, whilst Di made a pork pie salad for me. She had taken Daniel and Della shopping in Bedford this morning with Deborah still at school.
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Paperwork and historical archiving on a wet day during which Della has her first unaccompanied session at play-school and the children used the pool again as British Airways take over British Caledonian, the three assault police are jailed for four years and a new miner’s strike is spreading from Yorkshire.
Awoken during the night by a false alarm in the burglar alarm system and got up to bypass the guestroom door in case that was the trouble. Back to sleep, but restless again near morning, as the room got rather chilly. The last to breakfast after my morning shower and ablutions and sat in my new position between the girls to keep order at the table. The children are quite good, but are too boisterous at mealtimes and make the events a misery if it were not for firm control. The rain drizzled down this morning, starting just before breakfast and only stopping in the afternoon. Pete came and trimmed the lawn edges, cleared up the sheds, but was not able to cut the lawns as it was so wet. I made the easy choice of going to my office to do some paperwork.