A drive to Stanton on my own in the Rolls-Royce to visit my Mum and Dad and check on the health of my Mum who was recovering from a nasty attack of shingles and to see their pond and fish and show them recent photographs. A nice drive back with the hood down enjoying the weather and visiting favourite places before stopping in St Ives for the antiques fair. This as Di takes Debbie to enjoy a friend’s party and ride her pony. This evening at home clearing my desk before our holiday and hearing much remorse over the West German air disaster and the famine in the Sudan as Iraqi/Iran peace talks are also suspended and the Holloway prison officers strike continues.
Great start and steady start to the day with French toast this morning with a minimum of marmalade as I am slimming. I tended the ducks and doves and then did a little desk work, sticking in my recent Little Paxton press cuttings. At 9:30am, I decided it was time to leave for my solo visit to Stanton to see my Mum and Dad as Di had taken Debbie to another girl’s party. I took the Corniche as they had the Range Rover and made fast time on the conventional route; arriving just after 11am with a bunch of dahlias from a nearby garden store. Mum is gradually recovering from her nasty attack of shingles but remains with a perpetual headache relieved by a constant supply of pills. Dad is okay. They showed me the fish in the pond which are of some size these days and may well end up in my new conservatory pond one day. We had a long chat and exchange gifts from our holidays and then I showed Mum and Dad all of my recent photographs before I left for home about midday and cruised back with the hood down enjoying the weather.
It is nice to be able to drive the Corniche without having to worry about the family for once and I went via Mildenhall, Erith, Wicken and many places that we normally visit by boat which was nice. I then stopped in St Ives and visited the antiques fair at the St Ivo Centre, where I also managed to get some ham sandwiches and a shandy for lunch. I indulged myself a little there, buying old-fashioned model Rolls-Royce cars and an old Meccano set and micrometer which were all good value, in my book before driving home in late afternoon as the showers started developing and the sun gave way. It was St Neots Carnival Gala Day today, and Parade Day yesterday but we missed both. Debbie had enjoyed the party and also ridden a pony in the paddock which impressed the hosts. This evening, I finished off clearing up my office and made a few calls to settle outstanding business ready for my holiday before writing up my journal and watch the film ‘Hair ‘on TV, which provided relief at the end of a long day. News tonight is of West Germany declaring a temporary ban on all military aerobatic displays after the death toll rises to 47 with another 400 injured. The Holloway prison officers vote to continue the strike. Famine is now the problem in the Sudan. The Gulf War as peace settlement talks are suspended as Iran and Iraqi fallout over the waterways boundary.