Our first day back in our own bed and catching up on stowing equipment and belongings, attending to household chores and sifting through papers or press cuttings and news. Ulster Judge – Justice Higgins – was the real target for the IRA car bombing that killed the Hanna family, Iraq is saying it will withdraw from recent territorial gains as soon as negotiations are completed, and the Glenochil Prison dispute is still out of control
Slept well enough and was pleased to be back in my own bed. Awoke with a headache that was to persist all day, despite me taking tablets. As the Range Rover was still clean from before our holiday, I just sat in bed and read yesterday’s FT weekend supplement, about investment and the economy. It seems that the economic clouds are gathering again, with last week seeing a 500 pt+ drop of the Nikkei average – Japan’s largest fall since January. Once up, I went out and continued the task of laying up The Lady, bringing all manner of equipment, instruments, tools and fishing tackle ashore and stowing the items remaining more carefully. I also retrieved my new bowls set from the hold and tried them out on my games lawn, which I found very uneven. Got out the ladder and trained my wisteria onto the trellis and looked round for evidence of moles but found none.
Was quite exhausted by lunchtime. I still have the after effects of my cold, which makes me hot and breathless when I wrap up against the breeze and exert energy. Soon it was time for lunch. Neither breakfast nor lunch were anything special today, as Diana took the view that it was not really appropriate to celebrate Sunday on our first day back. This afternoon, I took all the last couple of weeks local newspapers into the lounge and went through them for cuttings, whilst watching sport on the TV. Honda-engined, Brazilian-driven, McLaren cars dominated the German Grand Prix and left the others right out of a rather boring race. After tea, I embarked on the long process of sticking in the last four week’s press cuttings into the Little Paxton Scrap Book. In contrast to times past, there are now lots of items on Little Paxton printed and I like to think that I have played my part in raising awareness and a closer sense of community spirit. Rather late and tired writing up my journal and I had to leave much of it until tomorrow morning, in favour of having an early night. News today is of the realisation that an Ulster Judge – Justice Higgins – was the real target for the IRA car bombing that killed the Hanna family on its journey from Dublin airport. South African police have shot dead four black men, who they say were behind grenade attacks. In the Middle East, Iraq is saying it will withdraw from recent territorial gains as soon as negotiations are completed. Sheikh Fadlallah of Hizbollah Iranian faction, the spiritual leader, has called for ‘a happy ending’ to the captivity of the 18+ Westerners held hostage. These include Terry Waite. The Glenochil Prison dispute is still out of control, with the inmates still confined to their cells and having no toilet or washing facilities. After today’s sunshine and blustery showers, tomorrow is forecast wet and windy. After the murders earlier this week, one man has been charged in Essex and another in Dorking.