To Bedford to get the Rolls Royce MOT whilst going for a shopping trip with Diana and home for a fruitful evening’s canvassing with three helpers as the Kuwaiti hijack takes on a new dimension as it is allowed to fly to Cyprus. A soaring British pound forces interest rate reductions to 8%, a 10-year low, and the rain eventually came late tonight after a dry fortnight
Started the day early and sorted out the results of yesterday’s work. Then Moria called with the latest canvass analysis, which looked very encouraging. Then I gathered the family together and we took off in the Rolls Royce for Bedford and its appointment for an MOT. A little trouble finding Alec Normans and then we needed a taxi to get to the town centre. Had a long and tiring morning, following Diana and Daniel around the clothing shops, getting him new trousers etc. This was really no relaxation and rest from canvassing! Lunch at Debenhams, further shopping and then collected the Corniche with its new MOT properly done.
Some fine beef from Eaton Socon and then home in time to spend the afternoon canvassing Hall Close with some success. Time to tend the birds, tea and then a hard evening at it, this time joined by Rob Williams, Michael Pope and Pete While. It all looks very good at the moment. The main news today is of the fate of the hijacked Kuwaiti 747. It took off from Iran this morning, after the terrorists beat a passenger, fired a number of shots and then threatened to blow the plane up if it was not allowed to go. It then circled over Beirut, unable to get permission to land, and then it landed in Cyprus eventually, after nearly running out of fuel. The authorities there have agreed to the plane getting 10,000 gallons of fuel. All this as the freed Britons fly back home and are allowed interviews for the first time with the media. On the financial markets, a soaring pound sterling forced the Bank of England to reduce interest rates to 8%, a 10 year low. This will help British firms with borrowing and export prospects, as the pound was getting too strong. David Mayhew, the Cazenove’s partner involved with Guinness, has been remanded on £ ½M bail. After a dry fortnight, it rained when we finished canvassing tonight, but it is forecast.