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The recent warmth and humidity led to overnight storms and torrential rain giving almost eclipse-like dark conditions. I managed to organise pony rides for our village fête tomorrow, had a chat with my Dad and his ear cancer is very worrying and then we had a visit from Di’s Mum and Dad back from their holiday. After lunch, I collected the market stalls and delivered them to the playing field and then spent this evening updating my accounts and then I got the family together to process many more Little Paxton books ready for sale. The National Dock Strike is going ahead after a ballot and the rails strike is still rolling on Wednesday’s, together with an ongoing overtime ban making matters worse.
This was another warm and humid day, but not as bad as yesterday. There was storms overnight and torrential rain which carried on this morning. In fact, after breakfast, the day went dark again, streetlights came on and the heavens opened the like of which I could not remember. It was almost like a partial eclipse of the sun. We have had some strange weather recently. This morning, I telephoned the Wood Green Animal Shelter (at Godmanchester) and was pleased to get their agreement to give pony rides at the village fête tomorrow.
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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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A sunny morning for the Kimbolton school swimming sports event where Debbie competed but came last in the breaststroke swimming, but received her class price for academic progress, which made Diana very proud. Both the Rolls-Royce and The Lady were dealt with in our absence before I attended a Planning Committee meeting in Huntingdon this evening to consider the new Draft Local Plan. Not being allowed to speak, I brief the press anyway as a National Rail Strike took place today and the stock exchange was full of bids and deals
On a warm and sunny day, we went to Kimbolton school to the swimming sports in the morning and speech day/prize-giving in the afternoon. We were proud to have Debbie competing (but coming last) in the swimming race for breaststroke and to see her receive her prize for academic progress for her class. Diana has always wanted to see a child do this. Alec Norman arrange for the collection of the Rolls-Royce while we are away, and The Lady was also craned out at Buckden and transported to Norfolk in our absence!
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After an early start, I failed to start the Rolls-Royce but successfully cruised down river to Offord to deliver The Lady to Buckden Marina for transport to Norfolk. Then to collect Debbie from Kimbolton and take her riding in Offord, where she did very well on the show-jumping circuit in the backfield. This evening Di took Della and the other Brownies on the ‘Butterfly Walk’ and I joined them and put up village hall posters. I then got out the Blue Peter dinghy for our Norfolk holiday as Daniel prepared his boat with Steve’s help. The news was of many strikes in public services, the rail and tube and even passports are not being renewed. Two blasts at the Cheshire chemical works are worrying for local residents and the government ploughs ahead with Water Privatisation and rejects House of Lords amendments
I made an early start and had French toast for breakfast. The children went off to school and I tried to prepare the Rolls-Royce for Diana to take to Bedford for its MOT. Unfortunately, I could not start the car after it had been unused for months. Then I spent the morning preparing The Lady to cruise down to Offord for transporting to Norfolk. I checked the state of the gas and other aspects, and then cleared out the cupboards and loaded up fishing tackle, tools and other items. I grabbed a couple of buttered rolls and some pie for lunch and then set off on The Lady. It was a warm and sunny day again today and I was pleased to be back on the river. There was virtually no traffic and the lock was set in my favour and so I arrived at 2pm at Buckden Marina in time for a rendezvous with Diana as planned so that she could drive me home.