A very windy day combining a visit to Bedford to spend time with the family and progress my Rolls Royce Corniche repairs with time spent finishing the renovation of The Lady’s sliding canopy. I was also searching for a large-frame bike but will now order a Raleigh via a local dealer. The recently appointed President of Burma, Sein Lwin, now dubbed ‘The Butcher of Rangoon’ is giving up power after his violent response to the widespread looting, petrol bomb attacks, and mass crowd attacks on security forces which have left around 1,000 dead. More relief is being sent to the Sudan and need to be moved from Rangoon to the flooded areas and the nurses are meeting to review action as they seem unconvinced about the government’s change of heart on nursing Sisters re-grading
Very late to bed last night and so was still tired when it was time to get up this morning. Struggled up and to breakfast and then had about an hour to sort my desk out, before it was time to go to Bedford. It was very windy today and it was tussling with my boat cover. It had rained considerably in the night and at least the cover had protected The Lady. After tidying my desk, there was little time to do more and so we all set off for Bedford. I took the Rolls to Alec Norman and Di took the rest of the family, picking up Debbie’s friend, Phillipa, at Barford and then me as well. We parked at the Lurke Street multi-storey car park and then all had morning drinks at Debenhams. I then showed Debbie and Phillipa where the library was and made my own way to bicycle shops to see if there were any 25 inch frame, gentlemens roadster bikes around. No luck in this venture and I think I have decided to order a Raleigh from a local dealer, as my frame size is too rarely available in stock, or as second hand.
All back at Debenhams again for lunch and then home via Alec Norman to pick up the Rolls. It seems an air-conditioning pipe had fractured and needs replacing at the time of my next service. Now the interior lights, the electric clock, and filter cover button have all ceased to work as well and I am sure some fuses must be broken. This afternoon, the girls went swimming, Daniel lounged around, and I resumed work on The Lady. I fitted the sliding door to the port side and lowered the canopy onto its tracks and, after some work with the plane, it fitted fine. I then fitted the forward roof mahogany strip band into position with a seelastic seal and made some repairs to the forward guides, ready to varnish and fit them tomorrow, with luck. A call from the Environmental Health Officer about Mr Shick’s pool cover today, as the problem continues. Worked until dusk, then watched the TV news. The news today is of the President of Burma, Sein Lwin, giving up power after the widespread looting, petrol bomb attacks, and mass crowd attacks on security forces. Official estimates of 90 dead since Sunday are thought to understate the 1000 or so really killed during that time. Back here, police have found the body of missing 9 year old Tiffany Hoyles in north Dorset. They first found her bicycle after going missing from Blandford. More supplies have been sent to Sudan, as the first TV pictures arrive back. Blankets, tents and water purification tablets were on the British plane. The problem is now to move the relief supplies from Rangoon to the flooded areas. The nurse’s union leaders will meet next Tuesday to decide whether to take further action, as they seem unconvinced about the change of heart on nursing Sisters re-grading.