US hostages Alan Steen and Jessie Turner
US hostages Alan Steen and Jessie Turner

I forced myself to start the day despite my cold and the chilly weather and Daniel and Debbie started back at Kimbolton School. David Rudd, Chairman of the St Neots Museum Committee, to see me and then I began tackling a very large mound of paperwork and correspondence; paying bills and checking up on things. Freda had offered £158,000 for the Redgrave shop and cottage against the £177,500 asking price.

The Russians have cut off supplies of crude oil to the Lithuanian refinery, US Hostage Jesse Turner seems to be being released by Islamic Jihad in the Lebanon and now Nicholas Ridley admits in the Commons that the pipes recently seized are indeed components of a gun. Following the votes for strike action by both teaching unions, the Power Workers have also voted to strike over pay

My cold was prevalent as I started the day, but I forced myself to get up and showered and dressed ready for breakfast. The day started sunny and chilly again and then became duller and showery later but still quite cold bit I was due to spend it inside anyway. Kimbolton School started back today, and so Daniel and Debbie had to return to their routine. Della seemed quite content to rest in the playroom, watching TV videos and pleased that the picture was not "wiggly" anymore. The TV reception on the boat in Norfolk left much to be desired.

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I spent the first part of the morning finishing off my journal and then had David Rudd, Chairman of the St Neots Museum Committee, to see me by prior arrangement. He stayed until about mid-day and always takes quite a time to get round to what he wanted to say. We discussed politics, education and much else apart from the museum committee and I was still not sure why he came! This afternoon, I began tackling a very large mound of paperwork and correspondence, first listing out all the things that I had to do and then trying to ascertain priorities. I paid the bills which was straightforward enough and then wrote letters to my accountants, Heronshaw solicitors and builders. I telephoned to check on the progress being made on my Rolls Royce which is not very much in view of the £3000 plus estimate. I also heard from my sister Freda who says that the owners are asking £177,500 for the entire Redgrave property (cottage and shop) and that we are offering £158,000.

Soon it was teatime after which I carried on in the same vein all evening, achieving a great deal but still having much to do. It was quite late by the time I turned in and I went up with Diana. My throat and chest were still suffering with that cough and infection. I think that it improves day by day but not by much. The evening news was that the Lithuanians say that the Russians have cut their supplies of crude oil to their refinery by closing down the pipeline. Now a US hostage is to be released by the Islamic Jihad in the Lebanon and it seems that it will be Jesse Turner kidnapped from the Beirut University Campus in 1987 with two other academics. Now Nicholas Ridley admits in the Commons that the pipes recently seized are indeed components of a gun, but he refuses to answer charges made by the local MP that his department knew this all along. Following the votes for strike action by both teaching unions, the Power Workers have also voted to strike over pay. It seems that the government is in for a ‘summer of discontent’.