A day of worry for me concerning IRA security worries over the Kimbolton School Xmas Fayre, which dispersed as I helped with the catering arrangements. FOCUS plans followed and great news later about the Channel Tunnel breakthrough. The US has announced an invitation to Iraq for talks as it receives UN approval for force to liberate Kuwait if necessary.
I was up a little slowly this morning and came to breakfast in my dressing gown again. I dressed afterwards and then did my morning chores quickly so as to be ready for the expected arrival of Peter While. He was due to come and help me with my FOCUS editing this morning. I spent my time waiting for him by continuing to update the FOCUS copy, printing out the edited text in a sequential order. Then I found that he did not arrive until late (after not coming at all last Monday when expected) which was a bit upsetting. It would be good if my political colleagues regarded their party efforts as commitments as it would make all of our efforts more valuable and productive. Diana took Della to her horse-riding lesson later and we were both due to go to the Kimbolton Christmas Fayre; but I was doubtful about the extent of the security precautions.
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I was fearing the worse effects of having the Prime Minister's son at the school at a time when the IRA are planning a Christmas bombing offensive. I was going to go over early and check on things and advise but my colleague coming late prevented that. I satisfied myself with a telephone call to the Bursar instead which was not very satisfactory. Peter arrived in mid-morning (after apologising for having to take his daughter somewhere by car) and we got on with copy changes to my text and then working out which articles we would incorporate where. We worked on until lunchtime when Debbie came home from school and I ate a meal with her. In order to be able to help with the KSS event, Debbie and I left early, leaving a note for Diana and then got to Kimbolton an hour or so before the official event started. The security was virtually non-existent as I feared and cars were allowed to park right up against the meeting hall. We met up with Di and Della and spent lots of money and then I spotted that the refreshment stall was in trouble over supplies and serving of teas and coffees and so I helped there for an hour; getting further supplies and cups whilst also ensuring that the service went faster to clear the queue. I do not know what they would have done otherwise.
I brought Debbie home afterwards and Diana did the same with Della. I watched a little TV sport whilst waiting for Di with Debbie. We had some tea once back together. This evening, I made my final amendments to the FOCUS text and I received another visit - this time from Mark Rainer of St Ives, to whom I gave a copy for him to use in producing the first FOCUS there for six years or so. I watched a little more TV whilst drinking my bed-time drink later but got to bed at a reasonable time in quite a relaxed mood. I have been somewhat tense and excited by the week's political activities and the stress of achieving all else at a time of great business has been quite demanding.
The news today was of the first (service) link of the Channel Tunnel project meeting under the sea. There was great celebration as the engineers broke through from both sides and shook hands and exchanged commemorative gifts and then workers from both sides boarded service trains to emerge in each other's countries. It was funny to see the wind blowing through the hole as the atmospheric pressures equalised and the temperature gradients also levelled. There is still the task of completing the two main transport tunnels and of fulfilling the commercial aims of the exercise, but the project has already succeeded in allowing the first land crossing since the Ice Age.
The US has announced an invitation to Iraq for talks as it receives UN approval for force to liberate Kuwait if necessary. This more conciliatory line has been forced upon it by US and international public opinion that wants to see that all possible peaceful options have been exploited before a messy and bloody war is begun. The weather has become stuck in a dull and cloudy state but at least there is no frost. Daniel raced in and out today on his way to see his friends and take them to Peterborough. He saw me but Diana was disappointed that she missed him.