Della’s teacher, Mrs Jenkins, says that she is in the top six of her 21 in the class
Della’s teacher, Mrs Jenkins, says that she is in the top six of her 21 in the class

A very warm and humid day, probably the hottest so far this year, relieved by storms and floods in Wales and the West Country which would be welcome here. Debbie and Helen had to be made to do their horse-riding chores properly, we had Della’s first report from her new teacher this morning which was very good and this evening’s Parish Council meeting was fractious but productive. The dock strike has become national, there is also a railway’s overtime ban and North Sea oil workers have paused their unofficial action for negotiations. Wimbledon tennis and English test cricket reached its climax today

A very warm and humid day – possibly the hottest day so far this year but certainly the most uncomfortable. I started by further briefing the press to fuel the planning row and then had to clear up my office before starting work. Debbie was rather bad with her friend Helen at horse riding; she hacked out on a forbidden route and did not clean the tack as instructed so had to be taken back to do it properly. We had a meeting this afternoon with Della’s teacher, Mrs Jenkins, and heard her first report on her progress. It was good. She is in the top six of her 21 in the class, good at most things including drawing and reading, but is less keen on speaking out or running and taking part in the sports. She is sociable, well-behaved and attentive.

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Tonight, there was a Parish Council meeting which was a bit fractious. I was on the war path over the way in which decisions were being taken in private without consultation and the hot weather didn’t help. I got agreement to a change in planning procedure, which is good and that was necessary. There were rows over vandalism and the use of the village field for football and then over the safety surfacing on the children’s swings. The new clerk was introduced and will have trouble sorting out the minutes for sure! I also got them to agree to appoint one councillor to issue reports on the Parish Council’s proceedings to the press. Quite a meeting, but things will settle down in the future. The news today is of a national strike being called for the docks over the abolition of the Dock Labour Scheme. ASLEF have also agreed a railways overtime span. The North Sea oil workers are ending their unofficial action at midnight, so that negotiations can take place. The humid weather was relieved by storms and floods in Wales and the West Country. A good sporting day with Wimbledon tennis and test cricket reaching its climax.