An earlier picture of my dad Fred visiting Paxton
An earlier picture of my dad Fred visiting Paxton

A busy day taking Debbie to the stables, giving Daniel a driving lesson and receiving a visit from my dad who came with me to see Sundance and the Koi carp in Sandy. Working later on election artwork, flag board placement and continuing to train Sundance on entering the horse box. British Aerospace win Airbus orders with Rolls-Royce engines and the final remains of Piper Alpha are blown up as the worst violence in 40 years strikes the Lebanese war-torn nation.

The day was showery with colder air arriving later.  I had a fair night sleep and was then up to breakfast for a round of French toast and glass of apple juice. I then took Debbie (and her friend) to the stables and gave Daniel a longish driving lesson on the way back. In fact, we went via Alconbury and got Sundance some travel stockings and a long ‘lunging rain’ for helping him into and out of the horse box. Later my Dad arrived, after his visit to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. He came with me to pick Debbie up from the riding school and saw Sundance for the first time. After lunch, I took him to Sandy, and we looked at the Koi carp together as he was impressed by the quantity and variety but thought I would be better off with small ones of good form.

** PRESS "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **

I must admit there are more there with problems and disease that I would prefer. Once home again, I extracted some copy from Des Merrill and then typed up the content of his second leaflet. I drop this, and the rest of the election artwork, after Percy in Offord on my way back to the stables. Once there, I struggle with Sundance for a while getting him in and out of Rolly Smith’s horse box and made some progress. There was upset at the stables today as Fiona fell out with two horse-owning sisters and the sparks had flown which is a pity that things have to so that village neighbours cannot end up as friends. This evening I wrote a letter to last year’s flag board display sites asking for their permission to repeat the process and went off to bed. The news today was of British aerospace winning major American orders for their Airbus planes and Rolls-Royce engines. The US airlines are also suffering at the moment due to the passengers preferring to avoid their planes as terrorist targets. The final remains of Piper Alpha were blown up today and sank to the seabed. The worst violence in the Lebanon for 40 years ended with shelling which re-lived the recent troubles of this war-torn nation..