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A trip to Cambridge on a bitterly cold but much calmer day where coffee and lunch with Di’s family was followed by the drive to Kimbolton Preparatory School where we were treated to two hours of presentations and displays which demonstrated how strict they were and then home to the ducks and doves and news of a 10% increase in Prescription Charges and harsh measures including £1,000 airline fines against Tamil refugees
Slept well, but was still wanting more when I was awoken for my morning tea. A bitterly cold morning, even though the wind had turned into a stiff breeze. Showered and dressed in good time to put the children right for breakfast and then helped a little with them afterwards, reading a story to Della whilst Di got ready. Gathered together a list of a large number of things to do and then, with Daniel gone to school and Debbie left with Pat, we set off early in the Range Rover for Cambridge. A clear run, via the shortest route, arriving quite early at 9.30am in the Eaden Lilley coffee place, and even that after parking in what is usually a very busy Lion Yard car parking place. Had to wait until nearly 10.00am for Di’s parents to arrive and then I treated them to a coffee and sausage roll to share between them (!) as is their habit. Norma took Della for a play on the ride in the basement and then to the Early Learning Centre, whilst Di and I did some shopping together.
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A late start after a very windy night and day that carried our dinghy across the lawn on its launching trolley and into the river whilst I sat in working on my scrap book and supervising the children’s work later. NATO (including Thatcher) welcomes the Soviet missile offer, Ken Baker gets Royal assent for his Education Bill and the NCB wants miners to work a six-day week! A massive earthquake in New Zealand, and callous murder of two 90-year-old sisters, beaten to death
Slept very soundly and was dead to the world when Di brought in the morning tea. It had been very windy in the night, but we did not seem to have suffered any damage. Washed, dressed and showered in time for breakfast, but Daniel was late this morning, after his exertions at the weekend. Went out to look at the doves and ducks, but they seemed to be alright and then read the paper and the morning post. It was full of computer journals, as they still insist on sending them, even though I have retired. Then I settled down to my desk in the office and started typing a range of outstanding letters to all and sundry. Soon time for lunch, as Di comes back from her shopping expedition and then she takes Della off to play with her friend Cary this afternoon and I carried on. Finished the letters and then prepared more pages for my new scrap book and mounted most of my photographs, until the children came home from school. Out to the ducks and doves. The weather was still wild and windy. Our Blue Peter sailing dinghy, kept on its launching trolley, was blown across the lawn into the river and Pete saved it. It was damaged by the experience, however.
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A rainy day away from my history project reading the Sunday papers and tending the doves and nest boxes before picking up Daniel from Gary’s house and taking the family to see my Mum and Dad in Stanton ahead of my Mum’s hospital admission. The Russians offer the USA a medium range nuclear ban but Thatcher will be against that and a fatal ski lift crash in Luz Ardiden kills six and injures more than 100 passengers
After a relaxed evening and early bedtime, I slept soundly and was glad of it. Awoke to find Di in the bed and made the best of it and then the girls came in, hand-in-hand, to take Di off to make the drinks. I got up and looked at our new nest boxes from the house. Already the blue tits had found the box over the pool and the starlings were staking a claim on the larger one, mounted on the sycamore tree. Showered, shaved and changed for breakfast and I really appreciated my fried meal. Stayed at the table afterwards and read the Sunday papers, cover to cover. Then, out to the doves and ducks on a mild, but rainy morning. I noticed that one of the doves was suffering with its legs caught up in some fishing line. It was later in the morning, as it was roosting in the pole-cote, that I caught it and Di helped me to snip off the offending nylon bonds with sharp scissors.