An early start for breakfast and then off to Bedford with my Rolls-Royce for a technical investigation, then being collected by Diana in the range Rover for her visit to the doctor. Myself then to Pathfinder House and a meeting with the estates officer for a briefing and then back to meet Di in St Neots and after dropping off at home, to collect Nigel from Hail Weston to look at some property investment opportunities. Over to Percy’s tonight for a photo session and to hear shocking news of leukaemia risks close to my forest in the vicinity of Dounreay nuclear power station
Very tired this morning from yesterday’s exertions and a late bedtime. Still, had to get going early so that I could accomplish a range of commitments. Breakfast first, then off to Bedford to take my Corniche Convertible into Alec Norman for technical investigation and report. Left it there, was collected by Di in the Range Rover, and then I took her to St Neots so that she could see the Doctor. She has a sebaceous hair scalp problem and wanted to see him about her varicose veins as well. I am sure that a well-balanced and healthy diet would help both and he could offer little help. A weight reduction is her best bet. I had to take the Law children to school and then I collected Di and Della and we went to Huntingdon. I had a meeting there with the Land/Estates Officer, Alan Worth, at Pathfinder House and got a good briefing on the land situation for my forthcoming Economic Development Committee. It seems that, as a true-blue council, Huntingdonshire followed government land disposal guidelines in 1979 and has left itself critically short of land for housing, leisure and other needs.
I reviewed what land they had left, encouraged the use of the Riverside Park for St Neots Museum sighting, and pledged myself to try and resist this trend for privatising the housing stock, rather than be in possession, to house and shelter the needy. Alan is politically on our side, as are most people in local government, due to the Tory’s central onslaught on the role of the local councils. Met up with Di at Waitrose, and then we loaded up and drove home to Little Paxton. A quick lunch and then I collected Nigel from Hail Weston and dragged him off to look at a couple of property opportunities at Colmworth in Beds. 41 acres of simple arable land for sale at £1500 an acre; and an interesting opportunity for two houses and 10 acres to replace a bungalow, but highly speculative and well priced. Collected my Rolls Royce this afternoon, with a large estimate for rectification, which I will take up with the warranty insurance, and then drove over to the land agents to get details on the properties. I think I will pass them by, as they only represent fair value and no bargain. I really want land close to here. No moles caught today, though both of my traps were unsuccessfully set off. Wrote up these last two day’s journal tonight, before driving over to Percy’s for a photo session. News stories tonight are of a report that the blood cancer (leukaemia) rate being twice normal in young children near to the Dounreay nuclear power station. This is within sight of my Thormaid forestry estate. BP and Texaco put petrol up by 4p a gallon to 1 76.9 due to ‘increasing international oil prices’.