I stayed at home on a reasonably mild day today rather than going to buy a Christmas tree with Diana in Bedford so as to be available to reassure and help Mum by telephone on her first day at home but she was eventually settled down by her home help Doris and the district nurse organiser visiting and by Marie bringing a meal from next door.
Some time catching up on council casework and voluntary endeavours before putting up the Christmas lights later. Daniel is pleased at the end of school term coming but the girls both have colds. Thatcher is isolated in Europe over monetary union and the social charter but the peaceful democratic revolutions in East Germany and Czechoslovakia continue apace.
I slept well enough and was up on time. Diana went to Bedford this morning, shopping, and was due to buy a Christmas tree. I decided not to go out as I had a mountain of work to do and I wanted to be available if Mum phoned. It was as well that I did as she called in a right state upset about being in a mess, missing things and, in all probability, grieving and lonely on her first morning waking up alone. I settled her down and then Doris, the home help, arrived there and reassured her. She had a visit from the district nurse organiser and had a meal brought in by Marie next door. I called again twice later, and she was all right.
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Back at home, I managed to do a lot of paperwork, typing and phoning to sort out the first batch of outstanding council casework and voluntary endeavours. Amongst things to benefit with the Museum Society and local people worried about litter, dog fouling and disabled access to the Paxton pits nature reserve. I also went out this afternoon and put up the Christmas lights on the balconies and conservatory. Christmas is coming! Daniel is in a good mood at the end of term but Debbie and Della both have colds.
The news today is of Thatcher being isolated 11 to 1 in Europe over the progression of monetary union. The heads of government will go ahead without her and she is in a similar trouble over the Social Charter as well. The peaceful democratic revolutions in East Germany and Czechoslovakia continue apace. Today was reasonably mild (40 to 45°F), dry and reasonably bright.