Another day of resuming normality as we take the trip to Cambridge and to meet up with Di’s parents for morning coffee and then the library was closed but I was able to renew my reader’s ticket. Some fishing today early and late today and a trip over to Hail Weston House where Nigel and I agreed our plans for the Kimbolton Ball. The new SDP leader has called for unity and an end to the ‘mid-summer madness’, A Spanish super-tanker was struck in the Gulf and The Midland Bank merchant bank subsidiary has been revealed as laundering the wealth of ex Philippine President Marcos
Slept in a while this morning and was awakened by Di with my morning tea. Lay dreaming a while and then dressed quickly in yesterday’s clothes and went out to do some fishing off of my boat. A bit slow, but I did catch a larger roach than so far. I put it straight back, though, as its tail was swollen and blood oozing from an infection under the upraised scales. In for breakfast with the others at 7.45am and then smartly shaved, showered and dressed to be ready for our trip to Cambridge in the Range Rover by 9.05am.
Previously gave Pete the new edging shears and checked with Joan that the doors and house were fully open for her. A smooth trip to Cambridge, but for the trouble that always takes place in the back of the car between the children. Parked in the Round Church car park and walked to Eaden Lilley’s for coffee with Di’s parents. I walked holding Debbie’s hand, Daniel with Della’s hand, and Di with the new push chair. Charles was friendly with the children, Daniella well behaved and Daniel reasonable with polite conversation. I went to the shops (Robert Sayle) to get a bathroom light fitting with Di and then made my own way to the University Library to renew my Reader’s ticket, which I did for 2 years, which should see the end of my local history project. Wanted to go to the library after, but it was surprisingly closed the day after yesterday’s Bank Holiday and so only went to Moss Bros to collect my dinner suit for next Friday’s Kimbolton Ball. Met the others back at the car and then drove off towards Huntingdon on the A604. Stopped at a Little Chef for lunch, but the restaurant was so hot and ill-ventilated that it spoilt my enjoyment of the food. On to Huntingdon and found Huntingdonshire District Council had struck again and the Council Offices were closed. Better luck at Godmanchester, where I bought some ground bait & maggots at the fishing tackle shop. Once home again, found a message from Nigel Smith and took a trip over to see him across the Hail Weston ford. Sat with him by his ‘natural’ pond and chatted for an hour or two and made our plans for next Friday’s Ball. Home to find Debbie’s party in full swing. Her friends were invited for a swim and party tea and, after an hour, they were reluctant to get out of the pool on a warm and humid afternoon. Di made me a nice salad and bread tea to eat whilst watching the athletics on TV, before going out to fish. Caught another bream, 2 perch, 2 roach and a loach, until a misty dusk ended the session. I bought Debbie a £50 (reduced from £110) rosewood recorder in a case as a ‘starting at Kimbolton’ present today. News today highlighted the SDP Conference, where new leader, Maclennan, made the leaders speech and called for an end to the ‘midsummer’s madness’ of party divisiveness. He emphasised, however, that SDP policies of nuclear arms/power and others will be sacrosanct. A Spanish super-tanker was struck by Iraqi forces today and other attacks have led to Britain protesting to Bagdad about recent escalations. The conflict is now occupying the minds of most world Foreign Ministers at the moment, with the Iranian response feared as a flash point. Midland Bank, the UK clearing bank, has been found to have unwittingly been involved in laundering the secret silting-away of ex-President Marcos (of the Philippines) wealth, via its Samuel Montague Merchant Bank, and in particular the ownership of his refuge home in Tahiti. The morning after the Carnival, stock is being taken on the situation and police say death or serious injury was narrowly averted.