Started the very windy and showery day after a terrible night still ill from Frank Hall’s whiskey hospitality and then rewarded Daniel with a Sharp compact disk player for his best school report ever. This before receiving offers from Marilyn’s ladies to display window bills and delivering these and many others later. The same news of Ulster and industrial troubles
Awoke early again after my terrible night. Still felt quite ill, but got up, showered etc, to try the breakfast. Could not face it and so relaxed with some drinks (of the non-alcoholic variety!) Then we decided to set off to Bedford to buy Daniel a birthday present. He had a very good school report today – his best ever – and so I agreed to get him his compact disk portable player. Parked in Lurke Street car park and had morning coffee at Debenhams (though I was still on fruit juice). Then we bought the present at a price of £280-odd, but the Sharp player was of good quality and the retailer was Boots. I then bought two torches and some odds and ends at Halfords, which I needed. Home this afternoon and I had a message from Marilyn that the old ladies that have their hair dressed by her (10 of them!) all want window bills to put up in support of me! I also put rear car stickers in three local cars as well. Then Di wanted a trip in the new Rolls and we were just about to go for a run around the block when her Mother arrived and so we took her too. Di was disappointed that she could not take it out for another spin on her own later, but I am anxious not to get the wrong image in the village this early in the campaign.
This afternoon I went round Little Paxton distributing window bills. I put a row up opposite the new post office and several others in strategic positions, with permission from supporters. Left several more with people who were out. Back in time to feed the birds and then have tea. Tonight I phoned around to organise some proxy and postal votes amongst the older ladies and spoke at length to other activists. It seems Percy Meyer is very keen on fighting Buckden Ward and is now lost to my campaign. A little late to bed, but feeling much recovered. I hope to be back to normal tomorrow. The main news stories are still all about Belfast, as two men are charged with murdering the two soldiers. TUC President,, Norman Willis is still fighting to save the Ford electronics factory in Dundee, but the management seem dead against it. Workers at Land Rover have voted by ballot to end their strike and so the dispute seems over. Long delays continue at Dover as seamen continue to disrupt ferry sailings. Crossings are reduced from 50 to 11. The strike-bound lorry driver’s tempers were getting frayed as a Frenchman tried to jump the queue! The weather has been very windy and showery these last two days and there seems little prospect of change in the near future.