My Mum Grace Broad has a relapse
My Mum Grace Broad has a relapse

Early rain delaying Daniel and I fitting out his new ‘Little Lady’ but we worked together when the weather brightened up later after taking Debbie to an eventful horse-riding lesson and then planning my new conservatory and koi-carp pond when we receive news from Dad of Mum’s relapse with chest pains from a possible blood clot. News of Russian posturing on the eve of a Thatcher visit raising the prospect of France and the UK losing our nuclear deterrent if East West Arms talks succeed, management of the Caterpillar factory in Strathclyde win a court order to evict 800 protesting strikers and the court of appeal in London has made legal history by directly applying European Community Law directly in an equal pay case, but the defendant employers may still appeal to the House of Lords

Slept well until brought my morning tea and then sat out of bed drinking it. The rain has been falling and the window was wet, which was disappointing for a day when I intended to help Daniel fit out his ‘Little Lady’. I ate breakfast with the others. We had boiled eggs, whose yokes were almost blood red. Each spring the ducks find something in the river which has this effect when eaten. I made for my office after and, instead of doing any history work, read my books on duck husbandry and learnt how to construct a light box for viewing the eggs. I went out to the workshop and, gathering together some off cuts of thin marine plywood, knocked up a box of the right dimensions and then fitted a switch and light into it. By the time I had finished, Daniel had returned from St Neots, where he had his hair cut and helped Di with some shopping. I then surveyed his boat before lunch and helped him afterwards. We fitted the fender eye to the starboard gunwale and then took off the control panel to look at the wiring. A call to E P Barrus (via Walton Marine) gave us the information we wanted and so we cut out a hole for the tachometer with a fret saw and put it in place.

I had just put a hold for the horn-pushpin the wrong place (!), when it was 4.00pm and time for an early tea and to take Debbie horse riding. Daniel joined us and I dropped him off at Buckden Marina to get another switch to conceal our error. Debbie had Barbie for her lesson and rode well, though the ride was a big one, with Edwin throwing his rider and two other children falling off their ponies as well. At the lesson’s end, Daniel joined us by walking from the marina and met Elizabeth Major (Minister John Major’s daughter, the man I knew from my computer company days). Home and then Debbie helped me to put the ducks away, whilst Daniel had another look at his boat. Later, the salesman arrived from PCL Windows of Newmarket, much delayed and after dark, and we discussed my requirements for a conservatory and enclosed pond area, which are perfectly viable, provided we can get planning permission. My Dad phoned tonight, whilst I was out, and said my Mum had had a relapse – chest pains and a possible blood clot, though she is all right now. The fugitive suspect, John Fleming, of the Brinks Matt bullion robbery, has been ordered out of the USA to Britain, as the latest court bid for delay falls through. More posturing from the Russians on the eve of Mrs Thatcher’s visit, this time raising the prospect of the countries of Britain and France losing their nuclear deterrents if an East/West arms talks succeed. They are still smarting after Thatcher’s recent speeches, advocating the success of dealing with the Soviet Union ‘from a position of strength’. After a game fight by the former workers at the Caterpillar factory near Strathclyde, the management have won a court order for eviction of the 800 occupants. A court of appeal in London has made legal history by directly applying European Community Law directly in an equal pay case, but the defendant employers may still appeal to the House of Lords. The day had brightened up later, with the sun shining, but more rain is forecast for the morning.