- Details
Working on my Little Paxton History book as the weather gets colder and hearing that I am now on the St Neots Museum Steering Committee as my ducks start laying again and flood water gushes out of my outfall. Debbie is doing well as horse-riding again, and so I signed her up for a day’s outing at Easter. The government is defeated in The Lords over child benefit levels, the end of the Brussels NATO Summit with a fudged compromise concerning nuclear weapons, and the launch took place of The Social and Liberal Democrats. Pit deputies awarded a big pay rise but a train drivers strike hits over unsafe braking systems
Very late to bed after my meeting with Percy Meyer last night and felt quite tired today. I read this morning’s paper, then the mail, and then settled to my local history. Today I tackled the end of The Birches section, then West and South Lodge, Cosy Corner and the start of North Lodge. The objective is to try to finish these sections off and get draft copies out to the people who contributed the information and others who own or have been associated with the buildings in question. I heard from Mr Wills of the History Group today and I have been confirmed as a member of the Museum Steering Committee. When out feeding the birds today I was pleased to find three duck eggs. The doves are also starting to breed a bit prematurely. The weather was milder today, with some strong sharp showers. The outfall by the river from the Little Paxton surface water drains was strong, but very muddy and dirty after the dry weather we have had of late. Off to horse riding later. Debbie rode Flint today and did quite well as the youngest member of the ride.
- Details
Some office work first on a freezingly cold but less windy day and the completion of some more Little Paxton local history sections, hearing of an offer to join St Neots steering committee, before another visit from Percy this evening, offering help to canvas for my election campaign. Thatcher is at odds with Germany over withdrawal of nuclear weapons a she wants to increase them and NHS accountants warn of an impeding crisis.
Slept better than of late and was sharply up this morning in time for breakfast. Another cold morning as the river surface froze in places and even the swimming pool pump cut in to protect it from frost damage. All this was lost on me as I finished reading the paper and then did a few chores to get them out of the way. I had finished the local press cuttings and got them mounted last night, but I still had some paperwork to do and telephone calls to make. I arranged for Elm Leisure to come and inspect our pool boiler and get it ready for the new season. Then I heard from the St Neots L H Sty Chairman, who passed on an invitation to join the Longsands St Neots Museum Steering Committee.
- Details
A cold and blustery day with wintry showers which did not stop me using the new ATCO Club 20 deluxe lawnmower with blade set high to roll the new games lawn. Some time on my accounts and then making election preparations, being introduced to John Matthewman and Bill Walston for laying out and printing my election addresses at Glisson Printers. BA is looking to take over the Rover Group to keep this key car company British and, as the Welsh health service unions holds a ‘St David’s Day’ of protest action over funding of the NHS the All Party Social Services Select Committee, says it has been chronically underfunded and needs an extra £1000 million. The government admits defeat on the Spycatcher injunctions and the Irish Prime Minister has expressed disbelief at the British Army’s explanation of the death of Mr McAnespie being due to an accidental ricochet
Had an unsettled night, feeling cold and uncomfortable. The arrival of Della first thing served to further put me back and I ended up a half hour late for breakfast. In the meanwhile, I also cleared up our en-suite and put all of Diana’s things away in the bathroom cabinet, to make the room tidy for once. Ate a couple of croissants for breakfast and then donned my warm clothes, before going out to use the new ATCO Club 20 deluxe lawnmower on the new games lawn. I set the blades right up high and used it as a roller mainly, going in both directions. Got Pete to patch the edges and replace a few weedy bits of turf that were showing up in places. Back inside, I started doing the remainder of my financial chores – checking my Premier Credit Card statements and querying a transaction. Then my accountant over the Trust taxes and my rebate, before finally turning to my election preparations.