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Della was playing up again today when Diana was leaving her at playschool after Debbie and Daniel had left together to go to Kimbolton and that was worrying Di despite reassurances that Della was all right later. I collected Debbie from the school bus and took her for her riding lesson after which she still had time to write her diary and Daniel brought home lots of new text books to cover for the new GCSE syllabus for which, nationally, Heat teachers warn that they have insufficient staff and resources for it. The UN peace mission by Perez de Cuellar for The Gulf gets underway, as more attacks on tankers take place from both sides, Reagan faces opposition in providing more aid to The Contras as The Pope starts his US tour in Miami, 25 UK fans from the Heysel riot are charged with manslaughter and another soldier is shot by sniper in Belfast.
Unfortunately, left our bedroom windows closed last night and so was up in the middle of it, feeling hot and stuffy until the room cooled down again. Slow to get out of bed, but was at the table with the others in good time for breakfast. A simple cereal and fruit juice meal again and then Daniel and Debbie left together to walk to the Kimbolton school bus. Della was rather troublesome on her first day back at playschool this morning, wailing and crying when Diana tried to leave. This upset Di, but I kept her away from the chocolate biscuits and made her a coffee instead! Later, several ladies told Di how well Della had settled down afterwards and this made her feel a bit better.
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Debbie’s First Day at Kimbolton – Debbie took this monumental day in her stride without worries which was not true for Diana who was very nervous for her. With a dozen other pupils for our village, she caught what is now a dedicated Little Paxton bus was put in Stafford House (red) and into Mrs Lee’s class and was mostly logging time-tables into their ‘homework book’ . We collected her from the village upon her return whilst Daniel was trying to contact his girlfriend Louise via Paul. Another motorway pile-up kills four more people on the M4, the BT AGM over-ran with countless shareholders complaining and Sir George Jefferson resigns. England’s first international football match after Heysel takes place against Germany and Iraq resume attacks on tankers in The Gulf
The whole family slept all right and there were no worries about the start of school tomorrow. Awake early to morning tea and then we were all on schedule to breakfast. Some last minute flapping about, but both Daniel & Debbie were all prepared for Kimbolton and so everything was OK. Di took them to the bus stop and then left them to catch the school bus and drove ahead to the school to await their arrival. It seems that the larger number of Little Paxton children (some 12 or more) now means that they run a dedicated bus, rather than make it a stop on the way to Alconbury.
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A busy and varied day that starts with our trip to Cambridge with our routine of Eaden Lilley’s for coffee and The Copper kettle for an early lunch each side of some shopping and other chores. Home to tend the swimming pool and to prepare our children for Kimbolton School tomorrow, Daniel taking Debbie there for her first day. The Belgian trial of English football fans after the Heysel Stadium Riot causes concern, Murdoch’s Wapping dispute aftermath provokes criticism of the Electricians Union and the TUC, so called ‘Loyalists’ shoot a Belfast man in front of his family and ‘Spycatcher’ is banned in Hong Kong.
Slept well and was ready for my morning tea. Went downstairs after and got Di to cut my hair, before returning for a shave, shower and hair wash. This let the family think I was going to be late, but I was first down to breakfast and ready to go straight out afterwards. It was the trip to Cambridge today and date to get the Daimler serviced. We left at 8.00am and arrived in the Cambridge area at 8.45am. How busy the traffic is at that time. We usually miss it when going in later, but today we had to drive around the city to get to Marshalls garage in Cherry Hinton. Left the car there to be serviced and walked into the city centre on a mild morning. Little Daniella managed to walk most of the way and I encouraged her with a few walking games.
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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.