Some time on the phone organising my meeting contributions for the week and also preparing for my local history talks and then time with Peter directing his efforts on filling the lawn drainage channels and scarifying the lawn prior to my next top-dressing phase. The US discovery space shuttle landed successfully after eventful but successful space journey and the Labour Party conference went well with surprising unity displayed
Went to bed very tired and slept equally soundly until woken with my morning tea on a cool and foggy morning. Slowly up, shaved and dressed and then down to my breakfast of unsweetened wheat flakes and milk. This morning, I got down to making several phone calls to organise my political and personal affairs. Spoke to the Leisure and Amenities Chairman and the District Administrator about my contributions to the meetings tomorrow night and they were quite helpful. Got Pete sifting gravel today to put in my drive drainage channel and then moving the sandstone rocks (from the old Heddings well) to the rockery by the summerhouse. The contractors came and collected the mini digger this morning but no sign of the builders all day.
I think they are waiting for bricks from the bricklayer before they resume. After lunch, I went out to get Pete scarifying the rest of the Riverside lawns so that I could resume the top dressing. And getting quite a quantity of it but am pleased to be improving the lawns quality plus gradually raising the level as well. This evening, I finished off my Little Paxton local history talk for my presentations next Friday and Wednesday and then wrote up my Journal as well. Debbie was struggling to learn a poem for her Prep. News today is of the US discovery space shuttle landing successfully after eventful but successful space journey. It had been 2 ½ years since the Challenger disaster and many lessons were learnt. In the Lebanon, an Indian hostage, Prof Mithileshwar Singh, has been released by the Islamic Jihad group and hopes grow for Terry Waite to be treated likewise. At the Labour Party conference, the successful leadership election was followed by backing for the party’s policy document and the unity is quite striking. The NEC elections also took place today with Michael Meacher losing his place and Bryan Gould retaining his. Robin Cook, Kinnock’s campaign manager, wins a place for the first time. After the foggy start today. The day was dry sunny and warm. This should last until tomorrow but then rain and gales are on the way.