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The final canvassing for my election and preparation for polling day all going to planas my chest injury heals. A further IRA car bomb is discovered in a British base in West Germany and In Poland, the strike of the 3000 Lenin Shipyard workers in Gdansk continues in support of the 8 day Krakow steelworker’s strike, patrolled by Polish riot police following the arrest of Solidarity leaders
Slept well and am now on top of my chest injury, which is responding to the pain killing tablets when I take them. To breakfast reasonably on time and at least Della was still there to eat with me. This morning, I cleared up my bedroom, photocopied some more ‘out’ slips and then sorted some cards, so that I could go canvassing with Joe Wilcox this morning. We got on quite well, with me finding the most people in and then converting some of them. Home at 12.00 midday for lunch, after responding to Councillor Mawer’s request for information on the Poll Tax and said goodbye to Joe until polling day. This afternoon, after lunch, Mike Pope arrived to help sort out the ‘round-up’ slips for delivery early on polling day and I went out canvassing again, completing Gordon Close successfully. Home to tea and then this evening I re-canvassed The Crofts and got a very good result at the end of my six weeks campaign.
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The 42mi road journey via St Neots to collect The Laws in the Reliant to the Rushden Historical Vehicle Rally where ‘Percy’ attracted lots of interest both parked up and in the parade. Further news today of the IRA killings in Holland when a car bomb was followed-up by a shooting and further injuries as well as the two deaths. British anti-terrorist security forces are going over to help there and Israeli troops are making a large sweep in southern Lebanon for Palestinian guerrillas. A propaganda war in the ferry dispute as P&O ferries start operating in Dover, other P&O ferries and ports are drawn into the strike. Unrest in Poland, as the Solidarity movement leaders are arrested
A good night, but I am still suffering from morning stiffness after my subdued nights. Up quite early this morning to get ready for our Reliant road run to Rushden. Got out to start Percy and check it over thoroughly and all seemed well, then I fed the ducks and doves, locked the house up and made to start off. Took Daniella in Percy with me and Diana followed in the Range Rover. We got to St Neots Riverside Park just after 10.00am and attracted quite a deal of attention before the start of the road run to Rushden at 10.30. We met John, Pat Law and their children and persuaded them to come with us and so John and the three girls piled in Percy and the ladies followed on. The drive to Rushden was quite uneventful, with the engine running well throughout. We were dodging showers, but were fortunate to avoid any downpour that would have threatened our prize possession. We all stopped for an ice cream in Higham Ferrers and then drove right on to the Rushden Hall Park site. As a participant, we had no entrance fees to pay and later received a cast brass plaque as well for entering. We parked amongst the commercial vehicles, which was very convenient for the fairground, stalls and amusements. Percy attracted a good deal of fascinated attention all day, with so many people gazing into the open windows and admiring the signwriting.
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A more restful day, mostly away from my election campaign, valeting my Range Rover, servicing my Reliant and havin g drives of both to check election boards and take the girls to the playing field. Two RAF men are killed in Holland by the IRA in retaliation for their three volunteers being executed in Gibraltar, Solidarity activists carried banners in Poland and were molested by security police as Western Envoys attended the Red Square May-Day parade today and the theme was Perestroika & Glasnost. The first P&O Ferry from Dover for three months sailed today
Had a much better night after taking a painkiller and only awoke once in the early hours as the effects wore off and my chest felt very stiff. I got up slowly today, managed to shower, shave and dress in time for my fried breakfast, after which I could take my tablet. This morning started wet and showery, but it did not stop me vacuuming and then washing the Range Rover after driving round to check on my election signs. Daniel and his friend Steve helped me finish leathering the car before the showers returned and I then funded them for a cruise to the petrol pump at St Neots Marina. I then rested for the remainder of the morning until lunch, watching a couple of interesting political programmes on TV about Thatcher’s problems in Scotland etc. This afternoon, I continued watching some sport on TV as I wrote up yesterday’s journal and as much as I could of today’s. The weather had cheered up a bit, the ground dried and so I went out to do some work on Percy the Reliant and my election boards that had been victims of the early part of the campaign. I pumped up the tyres, tightened the wheels, topped up the back axle and engine oil and then took the girls for a run to the playing field.