General Manuel Noriega, the Panama military leader
General Manuel Noriega, the Panama military leader

This sunny and warm day was spent getting my election campaign underway, completing the list of nominations I needed to be able to stand, and documenting my leaflet delivery walks. The news is of the deaths of British soldiers in Northern Ireland and an Israeli soldier as The US tried to get General Manuel Noriega, to resign

Awake and up early to chase up my morning tea. Drank it and showered early so that I could start my election leafleting plans before breakfast. Broke off for a nice fried meal (I still seem to be only 13st 2lbs at the moment, with expending all this mental energy). Carried on afterwards, until I went out in late morning to tend the ducks and doves. The weather was sunny and warm then and I canvassed for a neighbours vote as she chanced by! Checked the baby doves and rings and some are surviving OK and others not. Worked on to lunchtime and then after. I am laminating with a protective polythene film a copy of the route maps for each of my Little Paxton leaflet walks, with a copy of general and specific house-by-house instructions.

Took most of the afternoon and evening to finish them, but I had one phone call from Moira informing me that the Little Paxton Labour candidate may be standing down, and another from John Matthewman on artwork detail and so my first leaflets may be expected soon. I went round to John Law’s and got my last signature that was required. Late tonight updating my journal and left some more work to do tomorrow morning. The news is full of violence, as the British government and media mourn the loss of the executed soldiers who were beaten first. The Israelis are also upset at the loss by shooting of one of their soldiers, although the Arab casualties have always been many more. The US is trying hard to get the Panama military leader, General Manuel Noriega, to resign as the country retreats into disorder and chaos.