A more active day after a better night which involved an early trip to Jordan’s of Biggleswade to buy mixed corn, and layers pellets for the ducks and doves and wheat flakes for us from their health food shop before we called in at the RSPB’s Sandy Lodge on the way home. Some bank transactions, some swimming with the girls and to hear of the TUC’s reaction to the unpopular Electrician’s Union’s non-strike agreement. The Inquest on the deaths resulting from the Herald of Free Enterprise sinking hear some harrowing evidence of suffering, East and West Germany’s leaders start their reconciliation talks and a huge and complex prisoner exchange takes place in Southern Africa.
A better night, but still sluggish when woken with my morning tea. Showered, shaved and dressed ready for breakfast, where I had wheat flakes and milk as usual. Di encouraged me to start a range of household handyman jobs, but I decided that I would join the girls on a trip to Biggleswade this morning. Got Pete to tend the doves and ducks and then Di drove as I read my Financial Times in the passenger seat for a change. At Biggleswade, we went first to Jordan’s to buy a bag of mixed corn and two of layers pellets. Noticeable how, even after their recent devastating fire, and despite signs forbidding it, the men still smoke in the feed storerooms. We then made our way to the shop and bought some supplies of wheat flakes in quantity, before setting off for the town centre to do some shopping. Coffee to start with, then I took the girls for a walk to the pet shop so that I could buy pigeon-mix and they could look at the animals.
We met up with Di in the supermarket and then drove off to Sandy and the RSPB Lodge shop. Could not get another ‘Robin Smock’ there, but we did go for a nice walk around the reserve, on what had turned out to be quite a warm and sunny day. Home afterwards, a little later than we planned, but soon had our lunch organised. Daniel was back from the morning spent with Paul and then was off again to be with Louise, his girlfriend at the moment. This afternoon, I got down to some deskwork, updating bank and credit card accounts and then had to go into St Neots to balance funds. Di had her friends Helen and Pat, with children, round and they stayed all afternoon. After tea, I went swimming with the girls and had some fun. Della can swim with only 4 polystyrene floats now. News today is of the TUC delegates backing the Council’s bid to put the disagreement to a study group over the non-strike agreements of the Electricians Union. This despite the protestation of the miner’s union. The TUC are coming to terms with lower unionisation and higher unemployment and the increasing use of part time labour. The Belgian government have been reassuring the UK over accommodation planned for British football fans, planned to be remanded on trial for the Heysel Football Stadium riots. But now, Belgian prisoners are rioting over the ‘special treatment’ planned for the fans and there is widespread damage and fire. The inquest has opened on the Herald of Free Enterprise ferry deaths and will hear ‘some of the most harrowing evidence ever to be put before a court’. Education Secretary, Kenneth Baker, has refused to intervene in the case of parents of 29 children that want to withdraw their children from a predominantly Asian school to Overthorpe, Dewsbury. The leaders of East and West Germany met on what is the first state visit for Eric Honecker to West Germany and this implied recognition of both countries in an historic start to reconciliation. We now hope for further relaxation of the boarders and freer travel of all Germans. A huge and complex exchange of prisoners has taken place in Southern Africa between South Africa, Angola, Mozambique. French and Dutch hostages were also involved and all of this could clear the way for the release of Nelson Mandela. Aids now kills one person a day – mainly homo and bisexuals – but, although haemophiliacs are no longer at risk, due to improved blood processing, these unfortunate people are now trying to claim compensation from the government.