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A visit to Biggleswade in the pouring rain after playing with Della when she came in to wake me this morning and then home via Sandy garden centre and Eaton Socon where we bought some gammon, free of the supermarket’s additives, and then St Neots for some large shows and boots. Fred Astaire died today, aged 88, four men appeared in court charged with possessing stolen M72 antitank rockets for the IRA, another with handling £9m-worth of cocaine and political talks are mooted in South Korea after recent riots
Awoken this morning by a combination of my morning tea and a bouncy Daniella, who sat in my bed with me for half an hour playing ‘peep-bo’, ‘sleeping piggies’ and other childish games, which I had not the heart to interrupt. It had been the warmest night so far this summer, quite muggy and humid. Rather late down to breakfast, but it was only wheat flakes to eat. Out to feed the doves at 8.15am and also briefed Pete about the planting I had done yesterday, and what I wanted him to do today. I decided to go out with Di and Della this morning to do some shopping. We drove in the Range Rover to Biggleswade and first stopped at Jordan’s for two sacks of layers pellets for the ducks and a bag of mixed corn for the doves. Then into the centre of Biggleswade, where it is always refreshingly-easy to park right by the shops. Just as well this morning, as the rain began to pour down again – what a June this has been! We went to the cake shop for a nice morning drink, but I had to eat Della’s chocolate chip biscuit as she did not want it. Then to the butchers and supermarket for Di’s shopping. I had to carry Della with her legs under each side of my jacket to keep the rain off and her nappy.
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A fraught outing with the girls to Eaton Socon garden centre and then back to work in the riverside garden as the flood levels subsided and then a sandwich tea in the summerhouse with Daniel, Gary and Jason all joining the family before Daniel was sent to revise some Physics for tomorrow’s exams. The Druids and hen the Hippies celebrate the Solstice at Stonehenge. More trouble in South Korea, Gorbechev criticises the US over arms control and the are two large drugs raids seizing hashish and cocaine
Awoken a little early by Di and the two girls, who brought cards and small gifts for Father’s Day. Sat in bed and read yesterday’s paper for a long while, rather too tired to get up and dress immediately. Down to breakfast in my pyjamas and dressing gown, but was rather disappointed in the fried breakfast. Small mushrooms and thin, shriveled-up, bacon rather spoilt the meal. Soon shaved & washed after, dressed and out to feed the doves. I noticed that we only have three of the original flock now, and none of the second flock, the rest being ones that were born and bred at Little Paxton. Decided to go to Eaton Socon garden centre to get some stakes, cable ties and a few more plants and asked if the girls wanted to join me (Daniel had plans to go off by boat with his friends). Rather regretted asking them at first – the delays, tears and general fuss at doing anything was quite a strain to bear – but it was enjoyable in the end. We had an ice cream and the plants I bought were Box for completing my hedge. Home by 11.30am, having dropped Debbie off at St Neots Evangelical Church for her church service (the Laws are away again).
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To St Neots for some shopping to prepare for our BBQ on what was forecast to be the only fine day and then to St Neots riverside Park , To Croxton for a family lunch and on to Hemingford Abbots and then to the Huntingdon and Godmanchester Fair and Carnival where the girls played on a bouncy castle before stopping off at Brampton Garden Centre for £130 of plants and coming home for a swim. Hippies are trying to gather at Stonehenge for tomorrow’s Summer Solstice and there are more violent clashes in South Korea with demonstrators again being dispersed with tear gas
Managed to revive Di when I retired to bed last night and then slept soundly until I was short of covers in the early morning. A bit weary after the work to the moorings last night and so only made breakfast in my pyjamas & dressing gown. Showered, shaved and dressed after and then out to tend the ducks and doves. The river has been well up (and was still so when I went down there this morning), but did not quite pass over the piling. Locked & alarmed the house and took the girls to St Neots to do some shopping. We parked in the Riverside car park and had drinks at the open air cafe. Deb and Della had a play on the swings/slide and then we all walked to Waitrose to do some shopping for a barbecue this afternoon. The weathermen told us that today would be the only fine and sunny day and we wanted to make the most of it. I had phoned the Smith family to see if they wanted to come over for a swim, but they were too busy, but we decided to have a nice barbecue anyway. As an experiment, I got a trout, a dozen chicken drumsticks, 4 kebabs, as well as the normal hamburgers.
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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.