Defying the snow and sleet, I wrapped up and delivered the rest of my Southoe leaflets and then return home to welcome political colleague,Tricia from Spaldwick, who had come to write her own FOCUS newsletter. I then left her working to deliver the remainder of my leaflets to Diddington as the sun now shun strongly. Daniel’s teachers were quite pleased with him at this evening’s school parents’ event as another parent embarrassed herself with an undignified fall. An IRA bomb damages a Belfast army base, the government refuses arbitration in the nurse’s pay dispute and there are rumours that the death of Mrs Onassis was by suicide. Thatcher is being pressed for action on environmental issues.
The dawn broke to a day of snow and sleet after we had taken a lay in. I got up, showered and shaved early as there was lots to do today. A nice fried breakfast then, at 9 o’clock, I wrapped up against the cold went off in the Range Rover to deliver the rest of the Southoe outliers. I cut a very lively dash to be seen out delivering newsletters in person in such inclement conditions! I came home at 10 o’clock to meet Tricia from Spaldwick and got her started on the Apple Mac with her first Huntingdon newsletter. Left after a while and went off to deliver the remainder of my leaflets to Diddington. By this time, the snow had melted and a strong sun was quite warm. Home in time for lunch and then I spent an hour or two with Tricia getting her newsletter finished and the results were quite good. ** PRESS "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **
Out again to feed some very hungry ducks and doves and then time for only an hour or two on my history (the Contents page) before tea and then Daniel’s school parents evening. His teachers are quite pleased with him and he will do well. Nine soldiers were injured when a car bomb exploded in Ulster and damaged a Belfast army base. Nobody was seriously hurt. The government has ruled out arbitration of the nurses pay dispute as the rift deepens between the Health Minister and the two unions taking industrial action. The Health Secretary is now encouraging the DHSS management to take legal action. There is controversy over the death of Mrs Onassis as some suspect suicide. Three organisations have combined to throw down a ‘Green Gauntlett’ to Mrs Thatcher and called for action on a wide range of environmental policies and problems. The black ice was forming on the roads this evening and more cold weather and snow are forecast to be on the way. Lastly an anecdote today. We were at the front of the last long queue waiting to see the Head of Mathematics at Kimbolton School. The scene was the illustrious saloon and all parents of public schoolchildren are conscious of their image and anxious to make a good impression. The couple before us finished, went to get up, and then the ladies feet slipped a chair went flying backwards and she ended up on her back with her feet up in the air – a position of acute embarrassment with everybody watching. Each of us shivers to remember half dozen embarrassing incidents and this lady was adding one this evening near to the top of her list! Is no consolation, once helped to her feet the headmaster Mr Peel came over to supervise – just so that she could realise that even he had noticed!