Catching up with paperwork and tidying my office whilst the rain was heavy with the river rising ominously within a foot of the quay-heading as we have had at least 3 times normal rainfall for June in East Anglia, and then Daniel returned happy from his exams and still swam with Debbie in the pouring rain. An ETA bomb killed 15 people as they target Spanish holiday resorts and the UK stock exchange falls which might be a buying opportunity
Rather too late to bed for my rest and comfort and was groggy when woken this morning again. Drank my tea and was on time to a breakfast of melon, then wheat flakes with apple juice to drink. Dressed in my better jeans and shirt for a day in the office. Started well by clearing the place up and removing piles of papers and rubbish from most of the chairs and surfaces. Checked a number of matters financial and prepared three more cheques for my Trustee to sign. Took an early coffee and later tried to tune to the radio commentary on the test match, but it had been called off for the day with a waterlogged pitch. The rain has been persistent and heavy today, with the river rising ominously and the ground being afloat.
Pete was here today and tried to do some work, but spent most of his time sheltering, before I suggested that it was not much use carrying on. After all, I now pay him £3 an hour and that’s not much good for him sheltering all the time. Di had been to Bedford with Della, who was quite naughty as she has been lately. I helped her control her over lunch and then sat and read her stories for a while afterwards. Carried on working a little in mid-afternoon and then went into St Neots to get some cheques signed, pay them in to various building society accounts, and take some photos for copying into Alexandra Studios in Eaton Socon. I have given Howard Photography up as a dead loss. Home to see Daniel back from two end-of-term tests in history and French today and he seems quite happy with his performance. After tea, Dan and Deb went swimming in the pool, even though it was still raining. Then I got him to help me to put up the riding poles on the moorings, as the river rose inexorably. Back inside I slumped down, tired out from the exertions. The river was within 6 ins of the top of the piling and still rising. Tried to get to bed early today after recent lack of sleep. News today is of several violent incidents around the world. In the centre of Barcelona, a car bomb killed 15 people near a supermarket in the latest Spanish atrocity, as ETA revenge against some of their number being prosecuted. They target holiday resorts. In South Korea, the first casualty took place in the riots as a policeman died. The government are now expected to bring in the military to suppress these protests in support of democracy. Next year’s Olympic Games there is now in serious question. The Captain of the USS Stark (recently hit by an Iraqi air raid by accident) has been replaced for not attempting to defend their ship. Back in Gloucester, a man armed with a pistol and shotgun killed himself after being cornered by police. The incidents of sexual child abuse are doubling, according to recent statistics. The stock exchange fell again today with continued profit taking, which I hope will turn into a slump and buying opportunity, as I am awash with cash at the moment. An interesting report today of propagating rare plants by microbiological means. It seems that during the lifetime of a child born about now, about 60,000 species will become extinct. The clearance of island and equatorial rain forest habitats are amongst the biggest threats. We have had at least 3 times normal rainfall for June in East Anglia, due to the unusual pattern and direction of the weather. We could now do with some sunshine and dry spells.