Another nice day, after a colder night than of late, which enabled the gardener and builders to make progress, the latter bricklaying and back-filling foundations. Michael Pope was ill with a migraine so there was no chance for his photo session today but Percy Meyer was around for photocopying and I helped him prepare Delivery Information Sheets for all 13 of his Buckden Ward delivery walks. News items today is of Jupiter, a Greek cruise ship, sinking with 400 British schoolchildren on board after a collision with an Italian cargo ship, British Airways have decided to buy £1 billion worth of planes from Boeing rather than the European Airbus manufacturer, Israel has conducted air raids on the Lebanon today and ex-Philippine President and his wife (President and Mrs Marcos) have been charged with fraud
A rather colder night than of late but still quite mild for the time of year. Slept well, apart from an interruption from Della in the middle of the night who wanted a drink of water. Up on time and very pleased, for once, to see that the children had tidied their rooms prior to breakfast and put their lights out. Just wheat flakes and then to the lounge to read the papers and morning mail. The builders were here at 8:30am and worked all day bricklaying and dug out and backfilled with ballast one of the two main floor foundation areas. It was foggy this morning but then turned sunny. I tried to contact Michael Pope to help with getting his campaign photographs taken, but he was ill with a migraine this morning which is always a worry. Percy came over (while I was out getting the morning paper) to do some photocopying for a press release and, in work sessions morning, afternoon and evening, we prepared and produced Delivery Instruction Sheets for all 13 of his leaflet rounds, binding and sealing them in plastic for their protection.
Also paid the builder, cleaner and gardener and the two children their pocket money on a Friday when all these items become due. Di was looking after two other families of girls today as well as our own as the school half term holiday started. News today is of Jupiter, a Greek cruise ship, sinking with 400 British schoolchildren on board after a collision with an Italian cargo ship, but the British Embassy first reported that all of the children of been accounted for. British Airways have decided to buy £1 billion worth of planes from Boeing rather than the European Airbus manufacturer. This is 24 737’s, 6 767’s and a 757 with options to buy more. At least Rolls-Royce engines will be used on the majority of them, but the company has been criticised for being unpatriotic. Israel has conducted air raids on the Lebanon today against ‘terrorists’ and now the pro-Islamic jihad has threatened to harm to US hostages in retaliation. The ex-Philippine President and his wife (President and Mrs Marcos) have been charged with fraud. He is alleged to have used millions of dollars of illegally-acquired money to secretly buy property in Manhattan. Latest economic news is of house prices levelling off and falling a little which is a welcome restoration of sanity. Another nice day today so that the gardener and builders got on well