Creating more election aids on a wet day and then collecting my magnificently-painted Reliant ‘Percy’ and rewarding Christopher Childs well before taking the children on another ride before returning to my election preparations. More violent pictures of the British soldier murders appear, Reagan plans to visit Moscow for the arms negotiation summit and Iran claims Iraq used mustard gas, after a Kurdish city had been taken.
Slept well enough and again woke up early. At this time, before the clocks go back, it is so light then that it is difficult to stay asleep. Showered in good time for breakfast and scanned the headlines. The rain teemed down this morning and I am sure that the river will be soon up again. Spent the morning copying and creating car stickers and posters from some orange day-glow material. Soon time for lunch, which was taken by our family, plus Debbie's friend Philipa, plus Chrisula and Catherine, who were visiting. I heard that Percy was ready at the signwriters and so we dodged the showers this afternoon and went over to pick it up. The sign writing was magnificent in gold, silver, red and black.
Though I had agreed a bargain basement price of £100 with Christopher Childs, I decided to pay him £200 which is much more the commercial rate. The trip back was without incident and we went on to Little Paxton playground for the girls to play and then on to St Neots Riverside Park, where we had an afternoon drink as well. Then home, after another circuit of the village, this time arriving when the little children were leaving school for the afternoon. They waved and cried at the sight, as I tooted Percy’s horn! Later, I started sorting my office out, but this afternoon I took Daniel to Huntingdon to put his radio controlled cars in to be fixed. I also bought a couple of notice boards and some pins for my ‘committee room’. Then Daniel helped me, once at home, to move desks and tables around and the room was in the right shape, but a poor muddle when I had to get involved with a few phone calls later on. The leaflets had not been delivered from Cambridge and so I arranged to go over myself in the morning to get them. I also called my out-of-town canvassers and ascertained which days they could come next week. Late on, I wrote my journal and got an update on the news. The main story tonight was the seizure by RUC officers of un-transmitted BBC and ITN news tapes of the murder of the two British corporals. The two bodies were received back in England, with full military honours, as a memorial service took place involving the people of Belfast. US President Reagan plans to go to Moscow for an arms negotiation summit from May 29th to June 2nd. The target is a 30 to 50% reduction of long range nuclear weapons. The TUC Council has ratified the single-union plan for Ford, Dundee, and two union officers will fly to America to try to change the company’s mind over cancelling the plant. The mass meeting of Land Rover workers was inconclusive on a vote by show of hands and now a ballot will have to be held on the deal. There are claims by Iran over the use by Iraq of mustard gas, after a Kurdish city had been taken.