To Bedford with difficulty after an overnight blizzard and then back later to collect the Range Rover from Marshalls. More London and York nurses and 2,000 ambulancemen considering joining the strike action in the run up to Chancellor Lawson’s budget and Israel is under more UN pressure over its West Bank/Gaza tactics, now that mass beatings are being meted out instead of shootings
A rather unsettled night, but slept OK in the end. An early awakening, for today we were due to get the Range Rover into Marshalls of Bedford early for a steam under-clean and 1200 mile service. Soon learnt on the radio, and had confirmed by opening the curtains, that there had been a heavy blizzard last night and the ground was covered with 4 inches of snow. Evidently there was thunder and lightning early this morning, that is unheard of this time of year. Got everybody ready after breakfast and I then set the children off at the bus stop, before taking Di and Della into Bedford in the slush and snow. At least today was bright and so the snow was melting, but not before the radio news was full of road blockages, accidents and traffic holdups.
Entered Bedford at a crawl, dropped Diana off in the town centre, and then went out to Marshalls. They took over an hour to get the car round the back for its steam clean underneath and then worked on the service. I met up with the girls for a coffee at 10.00am, then we split up, so that she could have her hair done and I could do some shopping. Saw a couple of interesting old hand carts at the auction and then bought a few books on Range Rovers and Rolls Royces. Lunch at Beals, which is good food and cheap, then we decided to come home on the busses, as the service was taking some time. Afternoon tea at home, before feeding the ducks and doves and then taking the busses back to Marshalls to collect the motor. I also managed to buy a new rear bumper trim for the car, to replace that recently rusting, that should put it all back into mint condition. Just read and wrote up my journal tonight and this ended a different day. Pity about the history. Took two attempts to get the inserts dataposted, but managed it in the end. A crispy, crunchy frost tonight & more snow forecast. The abortion reform Bill was passed by 296 to 251 in its House of Commons second reading today, but its sponsor, Davit Alton, indicated that he would accept modifications in Committee to 22 or 24 weeks. But still it has to pass the remaining stages, which will be an obstacle course. More nurses action is planned in London and York and now 2000 ambulance men are voting whether or not to join in. In Scotland, NUPE is planning a rolling series of actions, all of these designed to influence the government in the run up to Chancellor Lawson’s Budget. The Royal College of Nursing is seeking a meeting with Thatcher, as the only one of three nursing unions holding back from physical action. The miners ballot is taking place in the coalfields, with the running fairy equal between Arthur Scargill and John Walsh. It is the eve of the Liberal Assembly in Blackpool and merger approval is sought with a 2/3rds majority. An IRA demonstrator lunged towards the Duchess of York during her visit to York, but him and his IRA flag staff were tackled by a security man. Israel is under more UN pressure over its West Bank/Gaza tactics, now that mass beatings are being meted out instead of shootings.