- Details
Rather frustrating search for turf suppliers in the Sandy area, but some scaffold fittings secured and then the discovery of my picture on the front of The Trader with my History of Little Paxton story. This evening to welcome Michael Pope and Percy Meyer and to be recommended for adoption as their prospective Alliance candidate for Paxton. Another aftershock affects Los Angeles, the Tory Conference backs the introduction of a Poll Tax, Fiji is declared a Republic and two monkeys get up to tricks in a Russian Spacecraft
The normal morning routine, but still rushed to get to breakfast on time. A showery and miserable start to the day, but fortunately the gardener had chosen today to work elsewhere. Decided after breakfast to go out with Di and Della to Sandy and other places on a shopping expedition. There are several turf suppliers in that district and I was hoping to call by and get samples. First we drove down the A1 and stopped at the Sandy roundabout Little Chef for a morning coffee. Then to B&A Scaffolding nearby, where I managed to secure a half dozen ‘finial’ scaffolding joints that had been holding up my construction of the new river frontage riding poles. Then on to Everton, but could find no sign of the Rolawn people, which was quite a disappointment. Next to Gamlingay, where Di wanted to visit a fruit farm that had been recommended by a friend as a fun place to ‘Pick Your Own’ fruit of good quality and low cost.
- Details
A morning working on the Hayling view alarm system, fixing sticking doors and the fire and security alarm settings to avoid another false alarm when we are away as Di shops in Cambridge for holiday goodies. A debtor shoots the Bailiff in a Wolverhampton stand-off, US President’s right wing nomination for Supreme Court judge is rejected as Wall Street experiences its record one day fall on fears of interest rate rises and London follows to a lesser extent
Slept better and was up in good time for breakfast. Daniel and Debbie off to school, as I accompanied Daniella, waving at the rear bedroom window. Di went off to Cambridge today. Her parents were not there to meet her, having flown off to Menorca, but she shopped for things to keep the children amused on our forthcoming trip to Anaheim and then took Della on to Tumble Tots after. I stayed at home and tackled the alarm system. I had left it disabled, after the false alarm on our Norfolk holiday, but today I was up a ladder working out how to re-wire the alarm bell and self-activating alarm protection unit. Took some time to get back into it. Then investigated the alarm design to see how future problems could be avoided.
- Details
Briefing Pete on the work I required to our lawns today as I was preparing for our trip to Anaheim and fielding calls from journalists about my new book as I travelled to St Ives for an auction. It seems that the ending of parole in prisons sparks riots as there is no incentive to behave, the Tory MP caught staging the BT share issue is freed on a technicality and a huge security operation precedes the Tory conference in Blackpool. The Iraq/Iran Gulf conflict escalates with plane and missile attacks
Slept in fits and starts, as the night seemed warmer and muggier than of late. Then read yesterday’s papers in bed for a while, before getting ready for breakfast. After the children had set off for school, I went out to talk to Pete about the outstanding work and care of the lawns. He was to use turves from our planned conservatory area to patch the old lawn and then carry on de-stoning the new lawn bed. It was fine this morning, after the rain of recent days, but I left Pete to the garden and spent this morning in the house, sorting out the luggage labels for our trip to Anaheim. I used highlighting pens to make the Jetsave labels distinctive, used permanent markers to write our address inside and on our new luggage, and onto the accompanying labels. Before long it was time for a salad lunch, as Di and Della had come back from the shops.
- Details
A poor start to the day as our children were mis-behaving before Della settled down and watch cartoons as I worked in my office my mum and dad arrived with news of their visit to Freda and Alf. They found them overweight and in poor health, which was a worry, but the rest of their visit toi us was enjoyed by the children, back from the St Neots fair and circus this afternoon. Another prison office taken hostage in Scotland, a bereaved Iranian, whose brother and father were shot dead in Wembley by ‘hit squads from Tehran’, want the struggle against the Ayatollah to continue and Colonel Rabuka hesitates in declaring a Republic for Fiji.
Slept well last night and had quite a lay in this morning, until well past 8.00am. Sat in bed with my morning drink and read a little while and still had time to get to the table in time for a really nice fried breakfast. Unfortunately, the occasion was spoilt by first Daniel, then Della and then Debbie misbehaving, which led to a cold atmosphere and much embarrassment in front of Daniel’s friend, Gary. In the end I had to smack Debbie and both girls were sent to their room. This morning I first fed the ducks and doves and then sat in the playroom, going through this week’s local papers and cutting out the stories and items on Little Paxton. For most of the time, Della was happy to sit with me and watch her cartoons on video. Soon it was time for lunch and much quieter this time, as the children had learnt their lesson. After lunch, I went to the shed to try and cut a piece of plywood for my Dad, but he and Mum arrived quite early whilst the girls were still at the circus that was on St Neots Common. I chatted to Mum & Dad for quite a while and they had a good visit to Freda and Alf. We are all still a bit concerned about Freda. She has a bad lower leg and does not seem too worried about having an operation to fix it. At 13 ½ stone (with Alf at 15 ½ stone), they are far too heavy for their health and compound their problems.