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A worrying start to the day as the river was up, a gale was blowing, and we needed to secure Daniel’s boat for safe-keeping. Then the rest of the day balancing commitments for my local history project with meetings in Cambridge with political colleagues pledged to help me with my campaign. Lawson’s ‘giveaway’ budget helped the better off to the detriment of the poor and there was no more NHS money and that was met with a stormy reception in the House. South African plans for executing blacks is being opposed by their international friends and more trouble in Ireland and Panama
Another fitful night’s sleep and awoke early to find the river up, gale blowing and Daniel's boat looking distinctively threatened. Had to insist on Daniel going out to secure it and, even then, I had to shout further instructions to him as he was not doing it properly! After getting showered and dressed, I went to my office to do some last-minute copying and then telephoned round to get information for today’s Cambridge meeting. All ready then and so off by car to rendezvous with Di’s parents for coffee. Her Dad is quite good with Daniella these days and they made quite a fuss of each other. Then to buy some more letraset and to the library for some space to map out my name in larger print. I also secured a loan copy of the Cambridge Structure plan, before striding off to the Copper Kettle for my rendezvous. Moira Biggins arrived on time, but John Mathewman was a half hour late!
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Securing the support of influential local Little Paxton people for my nomination to the District Council candidature, completing my election paperwork and then receiving many offers of help and support. This as another IRA man is shot dead under the governments’ ‘shoot to kill’ policy, Israel has implemented a night curfew to curb Gaza unrest and South Africa decides to hang six blacks this week. Pre-budget NHS protests continue but Chancellor Lawson ploughs on regardless
Another busy day working on my local history project and political lobbying. I carried on doing my artwork for the second leaflet, laying out the things, like a newsletter with plenty of stories. Later, I plucked up the courage to call Jack Ramply of Southoe and asked him about getting a proposer to endorse my nomination. He did not offer himself, but suggested a Mr Parker, who is an old-timer there with possibly similar political leanings (Ramply is himself a Conservative). Worked until lunch, when it was clear that there would be no photography today. I had hoped that Colin Howard could take some of my photographs today for publicity purposes, but rain and wind ruled this out of the equation. Worked on this afternoon with my artwork and copying and then printed it out ready for Percy to see and approve.
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A good reaction from Percy who visited me to review my election literature designs and then an entertaining visit from my local Mafioso descendent with local and Sicilian news before a welcome call from SLD guru Bill Walston who will lay out my pamphlets. Further avalanches in Austria killed seven more people as hotels collapse under the onslaught; South African church leaders defy the ban on free expression, Israeli ministers are soul-searching on their future occupation of the West Bank and opposition leaders are enjoying the pre-budget tiff between Thatcher and the Chancellor Lawson
After a very, very, late night (pasting up all that artwork) I slept pretty well and lay in a little. I wrote yesterday’s journal whilst Di made the breakfast and then filled in yesterday’s news from the teletext afterwards. Worked hard for a couple of hours on more artwork for a window bill, ‘out’ leaflet and had just done the ‘knock up’ leaflet when Percy Meyer dropped by and I could give him the selection of copies with the other information that he needed for the canvassers. He was most impressed and left quite motivated. More work before and after lunch on the ‘knock up’ slips and then Peter Bernetti of Cock Audley cycled over with his notes on the local history and we sat and talked for a couple of hours, whilst I made notes. It seems that his father was an illegal immigrant from Sicily, the head of a Mafia family, Castagnoli, and was an expert counterfeiter and engraver! He evidently had six passports, languages and identities (his specialty!) and was buried illegally on the farm by Peter. The people I meet in the course of my researches!
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Planning my election campaign and the literature that is needed this morning and later this evening but breaking off for lunch with the family, with Debbie off at a party, and then welcoming Michael Pope and two new canvassers for a trip around Paxton Ward for familiarisation prior to next month’s canvassing. Further South African crackdowns on anti-apartheid groups, the death of a family of three in a Belfast house. In Nepal, nearly 100 people were killed in a football stadium stampede
Slept well enough after a late night and then spent the morning on my election preparations. Early telephone calls to Moira Biggins of St Neots, Michael Pope also and then John Mathewman of Cambridge to help obtain information and then I sketched out a budget and re-plan of the election timetable. Typed up the timetable and then, being late morning, I drove into St Neots to pay in some receipts and buy a job lot of letraset and coloured paper to try some artwork later. Di had to run Debbie across to a party at Huntingdon swimming pool, where they met Debbie’s old toddler friend, Laura Charles. Off to the Little Chef for a lunch without Debbie and then this afternoon I printed out an updated campaign report and budget etc for the arrival of Michael Pope and the two new canvassers who were coming.