Another clear bright morning working on The Lady, filling in and sealing the cracks in her mahogany superstructure after time in bed with Diana worrying about her health and before a later visit by Nigel, considering whether to sell his business. The death of Pakistan President, Rajiv Zia, killed by the crash of is aeroplane together with 5 Brigadiers and 5 Generals, huge cuts in social services announced by Brent Council and more unrest with Middlesex Hospital nurses voting to strike
Down to breakfast of cereal and, being early, I managed to read the morning paper during the meal. Out this morning to The Lady and, after uncovering the front cabin, I gave it a last coat of varnish. The rest of the morning and much of this afternoon preparing the aft cabin for varnishing. Had to dig out and scrape off a deal of old varnish, then cut into the cracks with a knife to provide a key for the sealant. My technique is to inject the clear silicone-rubber sealant into the cracks after applying two coats of varnish on the dry, bare surface. Raced off this afternoon, after the second coat of varnish on the aft cabin, to collect my panes of glass from St Neots. Then home to let Diana have the Range Rover, whilst I glazed the starboard cabin with one of the panes. As I was well into the job, Nigel Smith popped round and we had a chat. He is thinking of selling up his business for £0.5 to £0.75 million and I can only encourage him to do so, based on any experience of mine. Stayed late in my workshop and then had a night-time swim in the pool on this hot and clammy evening.
Earlier, I had woke quite early on a clear, bright morning and felt cold until I pulled my half of the bed cover back over me. Snuggled up to Diana to get a bit of warmth, but when I found out that she was still having a period, I let her go to make the morning drinks. I had watched her weight yesterday and she is still very overweight, which fact worries me for her health when she gets older. Then, more time that I should watching the television, before I went to bed after midnight. The news today is of the startling news of the death of Pakistan President, Rajiv Zia, killed by the crash of is aeroplane together with 5 Brigadiers and 5 Generals. He took over Pakistan by military might, suppressing democracy and ruling as an extreme Islamic military dictator and the world will be better off without him. The head of the Pakistan Senate has taken over and presides over an Emergency Council and elections will be held, as scheduled, in November. In America, there is growing dismay and doubt over the choice of Bush for a running-mate – Quayle seems too lightweight to be a heartbeat away from the US Presidency. Quayle is unknown to most of the continent. In the UK, the story is of Brent Council announcing savage cutbacks and the closure of day nurseries, old people’s and children’s homes, as well as the school meals service. Nurses at the Middlesex Hospital have voted to stage a 24 hour strike next week and so the path to the nurses pay negotiations will still be troubled. Three people have been shot dead at a house in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The TV programme that kept me up late tonight was all about takeovers and management in the computer industry and it tugged on a few old heart strings. More showery weather forecast for late tomorrow.