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Though still very tired, on a fine and sunny, if quite cold day, I took Della horse riding at Offord for a lesson on Minty and then I drove over to Eaton Socon this afternoon and evening and did some canvassing for Derek Giles. IRA bombs in Newry and Colchester. At the first three soldiers were killed and that the second soldier and his wife badly injured as at the EEC summit today, Thatcher was holding things up again.
I was so tired lately but I still carried on. To breakfast in my dressing gown and thereafter to feed the fish and took Della to her horse riding lessons at Offord. We tacked up Minty and she rode in a private lesson with Fiona for well over half an hour. Now she can walk, trot, steer and stop and, I feel, may soon be out to join a ride of ponies in the middle. I had to trot round as well as the helper! A quick change of shoes and jacket and then I drove over to Eaton Socon and did some canvassing for Derek Giles. I did this again after lunch and then, this evening, I worked on my accounts reconciling bank balances and credit card accounts. In Eaton Socon, there is still no sign of the Tory leaflets and now I am held up in my task of producing our third and final leaflet by having nothing to respond to! The news this evening is of the IRA bombs in Newry and Colchester. At the first three soldiers were killed and that the second soldier and his wife badly injured. At the EEC summit today, Thatcher was holding things up again. Today was a fine and sunny one quite cold.
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Late up on a dry but colder day after an overnight frost and then to Bedford for hair appointments and Christmas shopping. Then to Weald House to find dad getting steadily worse but Mum much better before an evening with the family watching the Kimbolton teaching staff, as the ‘Montague players’ put on an evening of humour and music called ‘we have ways of making you laugh’ when our children enjoyed their teachers making ‘fools’ of themselves. The ambulance talks ending in disappointment and rest of the news is of a world full of unrest and violence.
I was late to bed and then late to rise but I came to the table in my dressing gown for breakfast so as to be with the family. Then I decided to accompany Diana to Bedford and, while she had a hair appointment, I also sorted out a hair shampoo and cut for me as well. We met for coffee and lunch at Debenhams and, between that, did some Christmas shopping. I bought nice cards for the family.
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After a slow start and eating my breakfast alone, I dressed in my black tie and suit and then drove down to St James’s Church for the funeral of Frank Hall. Peter Lewis, the vicar, conducted a nice service and read the text of my obituary as a tribute. Later, to The Priory Centre for the St Neots Museum Launch, which went very well, and I then rushed back for tonight’s Paxton planning meeting with HDC’s planning policy chief, Richard Probyn, who got a right grilling over his proposals in line with my Parish Council briefing.
The Tories being castigated for their political dogma and intransigence as opinion polls show them still 13% behind Labour and the government backs down and agrees to talks with the ambulance unions without preconditions after controllers threatened to route calls to Ambulancemen and away from the police and army black legs because of public safety
The start of a long day began slowly for me as I was late to the breakfast table. I had French toast on my own, tended the fish and then did some work at my desk. Before 11am, I dressed in my black tie and suit and then drove down to St James’s Church for the funeral of Frank Hall. It was a nice sunny day, but quite cold, and the electricity supply had been off in the area for Village Hall work. The blessing was it was returned for the service and, although Frank was the last of the family and had no relatives, the church quite full of friends. Peter Lewis, the vicar, conducted a nice service. “All things bright and beautiful” was the recorded music and the use the text of my obituary as a tribute and he said it well as I could not have said because of the emotion. It was nevertheless a sad situation and, as I saw him away in the hearse, I remembered the last time I had stopped and chatted with him within sight of that Jubilee Tree.
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After having to decline an invitation to give Frank Hall’s obituary as a tribute during the service, Di and I went over to see Mum and Dad and found that poor Dad is getting daily worse after which we recovered from the sadness with a ‘Happy Eater’ lunch and drinks afterwards. Only half an hour for me to prepare for this afternoon’s HDC Council meeting, but I put on a first-class show in terms of asking questions and pressing motions. Home to a host of media phone calls.
The autumn statement from new Chancellor Major keeps a tight hold on the economy and the fear of recession grows. The ambulance industrial action is stepped up as controllers join the dispute and four Midlands detectives are charged with fabricating evidence.
Late last night I had a request from the vicar to give Frank Hall’s obituary as a tribute during the service, but I had to contact him this morning and say I couldn’t. I called the nursing home and then Di and I went over to see Mum and Dad. Poor Dad is getting daily worse. He cannot communicate now with his mouth problems and eating and drinking as a trial. Poor soul! The consolation is that Mum is being very good in helping Dad through these final stages and all credit to her. We saw Dr Lyell and Mrs Issett while we were there, and they are doing their best, but Dad did missed his tea last night which is wrong.
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