A brighter morning for my Reliant speedometer repairs and then a trial drive around Little Paxton and then a meeting with my photographer for some history and election shots. The reality emerging from Gibraltar was quite different to the story as there was no car bomb and an IRA man was shot dead whilst unarmed which leads to anger and demonstrations in West Belfast over the ‘executions’. Arab gunmen also hijacked a bus full of passengers being driven to a secret nuclear plant and died along with three passengers when the Israeli troops attacked. The Thatcher government launches an ‘Inner City’ programme with no new money but Kinnock says that they have actually taken away £8m away from the inner cities.
Awoke to a bright morning, after a sound night. I decided to complete the Reliant speedo repairs first thing this morning and so I just put on my old clothes and went straight out to do it. There was no frost this morning and the day, though starting a little chilly, was quite spring like. Before breakfast I had done the difficult job of connecting the speedometer instrument back in the dashboard and so I could quickly connect the other end soon afterwards. A quick start of the engine was accomplished and the van ready for use. I then went in, showered, washed and dressed and had time to do a few things before we set off. These were to order another batch of parts from the Austin 7 Workshop, order some 1988 rings for this year’s dove arrivals, and phone Colin Howard to get him to come round later. All aboard Percy and we set off for a proving trip. First to the newsagents, then on to the Post Office and finally to the Village Hall to drop Daniella off at playschool.
The speedometer worked well, but the battery seemed a bit low and so I put it on charge later. Then straight down to my history work. Steadily tackled the last of the buildings in the village for the ‘Little Paxton Before the War’ survey. Broke off for lunch and again for tea, then finished the main job and could start printing late this evening. I had my visit from Colin Howard, who took away the latest photographs to copy and we also arranged for him to return some time to take some photographs of me. I want one by the drain outfall into the river to accompany my sewage campaign, one with the Reliant for the May Day car rally and a general shot for updating the photos I issue for general release. We also had a furniture restorer round to look at our older Ercol and he will collect it next Friday. I also heard from Peter Eatonton of the Chelsea Workshop – our Corniche will be ready for collection next Friday morning! The news today is of a very different story emerging about the Gibraltar IRA deaths. First, the bomb concerned did not exist in the car – there was no 500lb bomb! – and second the IRA men were shot dead, even though unarmed. There is, therefore, the possibility that the explosives exist elsewhere and also the turn of events gives credence to Republican claims that the shootings amounted to ‘execution’. Anger mounted in West Belfast tonight, as barricades were created and vehicles burnt out. Over in Israel, three Arab gunmen hijacked a bus full of passengers and died in an Israeli troop action. Three Israeli hostages also died in the attack. The bus was carrying office workers to a secret nuclear plant. The government has launched a new ‘Action for Inner Cities’ programme in a press conference, led by the Prime Minister and flanked by six Cabinet Ministers, but there are no plans to spend more money – only package existing measures. She then called upon the electorate to vote conservative on the strength of it. Neil Kinnock says that the government has actually taken £8 million away from the inner cities.