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A mixed day of activities, mending and adjusting bikes and then cycling around Paxton talking to others about Parish Council issues with ‘dog-fouling’ on the playing field being the controversial issue. Also getting advice on keeping parrots with the ‘African Grey’ a favourite. Thatcher and colleagues are stressed over IRA killings of forces personnel, The Nepal earthquake toll has risen above 900 and the new pub hours start today with no break between lunch and evening drinking sessions.
Awoken early this morning by the burglar alarm at 6.00am, which chose to go off by accident. I really am at a loss to know why it keeps doing this, as there is no accompanying sounds from any of the detectors each time. This adds plenty of time to read this morning’s paper and get ready for breakfast. Had French toast again, which was nice. Went into St Neots with Diana and the girls after, dropped them off and then went on to Marshalls of Bedford to get the replacement parts for the Range Rover repair. Back to St Neots and coffee together at 10.15am, then we all did our own shopping. I bought some pigeon mix, a dynamo set for my bicycle and a few other things. Also did the rounds of bank and building society and then we met up and went home. Soon lunchtime and then I worked on my bike and eventually managed to fit all the bits together. Daniel and I also repaired Debbie’s bike. Daniel had previously managed to make 5 holes in the new inner tube with the five levers, which caused all of the confusion. Later on, I peddled off around Paxton, visiting Mrs Ruff, Mr Searle and Mr Baxendale. The first two on the history of The Birches (now Little Paxton Aviary) and I took the chance to ask about talking birds and we agreed that an African Grey would be ideal for my conservatory. It now seems that Mr Baxendale is happy with the new bungalow next door and does not want to involve the Enforcement Officer over the residential caravan and felled tree and I was inclined to take the same view. Home in time for tea. This evening, I then worked on Diana’s bike, adjusting and servicing it and it is really of good quality and in quite good condition, despite being slightly rusty. It has a lot of features that modern bikes do not have.
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Day at home relaxing and writing up my notes on the Redland Aggregates meeting and then tending a bonfire later as the wind was unusually favourable. The battle against the IRA leads the news after internment is ruled out and , in one-minute, a catastrophic earthquake between Nepal and India, kills more than 650 and injures thousands, and renders homeless many thousands more.
A long lay in this morning and Diana grumpily dismissed Debbie, who came in after 8.00am to complain that nobody had got up. I stayed in bed and read yesterday’s Financial Times, until Di announced that our Sunday fried breakfast was ready. I then returned to bed to finish the weekend section as well, before getting up finally and washed and dressed. Tended the ducks and then checked The Lady, which I found to be still being completely watertight. To my office, before and after lunch, to write up my notes on the Redland meeting, which was quite an exercise. Had some nice chicken for lunch and the children ate it for once and earned their pudding properly. The weather was all dull, with showers today, which was conducive to getting on with my work. Worked until a late tea, which I ate whilst my notes and letters to Redland were printing out – five pages long. This evening, I tended the ducks and doves and then lit a bonfire to dispose of a deal of conifer and shrub trimmings and other rubbish that had accumulated in the garden. For once, unusually in the summer, the wind was from the north-west and so there was not any smoke towards the neighbours, who inevitably complain otherwise.
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The day undertaking all manner of correspondence on private and council business, with a lunch break of crab and prawns shared with Debbie but a less successful dinner with Debbie and Della sent from the table for playing up. I phoned my mother and found her quite down and under the effects of this shingles attack and medicines, another IRA bomb wrecked an army coach, killing 8 soldiers and injuring 27 others which had the effect of bringing Thatcher back from her holiday to consider yet reject the question of internment and Holloway prison officers are back to working normally after settling their dispute
Rather slow to wake this morning, as the weather had turned fresher and chillier to discourage an early rising. A scamper to get ready for breakfast and only read a part of today’s paper as the girls wittered on and played up. Out to the doves, finding that somebody had thrown one of our border stones over the riverside garden railings overnight, shattering a paving stone, which is a pity. Got down to my paperwork today. This morning ordering my desk and then starting to type up several letters and other correspondence, which was to take all day. A long letter of three pages to object to 25 acres of housing development at Riversfield. A brief for the builders on my conservatory foundations. Several other letters on Council business and local affairs. My letter of claim to seek recompense for my Rolls Royce repairs. My work took all day and into the evening, and I still have my Redlands report to do, but I have at least started the process of getting up to date and feel better for it. A salad lunch of cracked crab and a prawn tea with Debbie sharing my plate of prawns.
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Some early morning work on The Lady and then a bicycle shop visit for spares before taking my Rolls Royce for use as Linda’s wedding car with my video recorder also lent for taking pictures of the ceremony. US presidential issues head the news, but the prison service crisis at home is more worrying but greater news still at home as Daniel does well in his Maths exam and the girls win swimming certificates.
Awoke quite early and then had to rush downstairs as the fire alarm had triggered, sounding the sirens, but for no apparent reason. After breakfast, I went out to The Lady and screwed on three front windscreens. It had been raining again and we had heavy showers later, but no leaks were apparent, which is a blessing. Then in to town with Daniel in the Range Rover to the Eynesbury bicycle shop, where I bought a puncture outfit and several accessories and tools to fit a bell and panniers to my bike. Then home, where Daniel and I tried twice to fix a puncture in Debbie’s rear tyre, but there was still a leak, if a slow one, when we had finished. Lunch and a little time to fit my own pannier before it was time to get ready to go to Linda’s wedding. The Rolls Royce looked really smart in its white ribbons and I did my bit for Ian and Linda’s wedding for the afternoon and evening. I took Linda and her two bridesmaid daughters – Emma and Holly – there, one returned with Ian and Linda Richardson together. The car was the centre of attraction and provided the ideal setting for all of the wedding photographs.