Working on my papers in the summerhouse today after a last start for me and the family on a much improved day weather-wise; and then playing with Della and watching over Debbie as she played with Amy on The Lady. Daniel went to find Paul and Louise and then was off on his boat and I went on a long walk around Little Paxton as research for my book before getting home to read to Debbie and then tackle the Norfolk video editing I had intended to do earlier. Perez de Cuellar, struggled to find any common ground in his Iran/Iraq mediation and a sailor is missing after a boat capsized off Blackpool.
Was quite late to bed last night and so led the ‘lay-in’ this morning. Once awake, I opened the curtains and read the rest of yesterday’s Financial Times, until Di brought the drinks up. The whole family slow to shower and dress, but we eventually had breakfast. Debbie did more of her maths prep and I read today’s papers as well. Soon it was time for coffee, which I served by the river in the summerhouse. Debbie collected her friend Amie and they played on The Lady for a little while again, whilst I looked out of the summerhouse window to make sure they were all right. Daniel was off to see Paul and Louise and her friend again. In the hour or so before lunch, I cleaned out the swimming pool and back-flushed and emptied the filters. The heating had cut out again and was only 70degF this morning, but was 74degF by lunchtime.
In for a nice meal of roast lamb, but I was a bit disappointed that we had it in the kitchen, rather than the dining room. Also the behaviour of the children left something to be desired. Back out to the summerhouse after lunch to finish my papers, but Debbie followed me out and I helped her with her maths for a while. This morning I had looked after Daniella and pushed her on her swing and so the summer house is no longer the retreat it first was, as the girls always seek me out there. Daniel got permission to stay out for tea and took Paul and the two girls for a trip in the St Neots area, not returning until 7.00pm. Later this afternoon, I intended to copy more of our Norfolk video tapes, but I started watching an excellent old black & white TV film of the 1960s, staring Peter Sellers in ‘Heavens Above’, with all of the old actors in it. This took me up to tea, with no films copied! We had a buffet tea in the lounge, with Amy joining us and Daniel still off on his boat. Today’s weather was much improved on yesterday. The wind dropped and, after some fine drizzle this morning, the sun came out this afternoon. After tea, I decided to feed the doves and then take a walk around Little Paxton. I took a route along the Hayling Path to the lock and then along Mill Lane, looking at the remaining old cottages. I then walked south along the old Great North Road, crossed over and skirted the field that now ends at the top of the slope with the new motorway. I walked the entire length of the field by the motorway’s edge, pausing at the top of the rise to view Little Paxton below. You can see Riverfield, Paxton Hall, The Grove and (across the motorway) Little Paxton Woods. I mused on the thought that this high point, between the Ouse and Kym, is the site of many old Stone Age finds. Also that, no doubt, soon developers will be allowed to build houses on this whole area. At the moment the harvest is in and large bales of straw are dotted around the stubble. I then came back towards the village along the ditch (once a field hedge that edged Wood Field) and then walked over the old A1 to come back down Little Paxton Lane. Paused to see The Lodge and Riversdale then passed the church and thatched cottage, before taking the track past the allotments and gravel pits, to come back to our house along the other section of the Hayling Way. When I returned, it was time to put the ducks away and then read Debbie a Country Companion. This evening I tackled the copying and archiving of the Norfolk video again and gave Di the chance to see the results of my filming. The news today is of hard going for Perez de Cuellar, as he meets stubborn positions on both sides, with Iran in particular against any compromise. Off Blackpool, one sailor is dead and another missing and two survived after a boat capsized. Manoeuvring on the eve of the Liberal Party Conference, sees the pro-merger majority at 80% plus. The government has announced plans to set up a new ‘watchdog’ for sex and violence on TV, but can give no details, apart from an intention to bring TV within the Obscene Publications Act. Worcestershire won the Sunday League Cricket championship, with Ian Botham doing much for his new team.