A slow start and sad end to a windy and busy day with my fish and conservatory plants. The morning preparing for my afternoon HDC Council meeting, where Jim Lomax and I effectively opposed the Tory majority as they wet levels for the Poll Tax and opposed my support of the Ambulancemen. At least the government's measures on poor relief have been ruled illegal by the courts for being arbitrary unfair and the Channel Tunnel dispute seems to have been resolved
I did not sleep very well after last night's efforts and then was still in my dressing gown when breakfast was ready. Diana and Della then helped me get bathed and wash my hair and I then dressed and went to tend the plants and fish in the conservatory. It was still windy - it always is these days - but the sun became strong and warm and so I opened the conservatory roof-lights and was able to carefully use a spray to try to kill the greenfly on my Hydrangea. I hope that my fish will not be affected as that stuff is very toxic.
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The rest of the morning, I worked hard at my desk preparing for this afternoon's full meeting of Council. It was a long slog as there was much happening, including the setting of the level of the new Poll Tax and Budget. I had lunch, changed and then had to rush to get to the meeting on time. The meeting actually went well and I was glad I made the effort because one of the main Labour activists was not there and there was only really me and Jim Lomax to make an effective opposition to these Tories which we effectively managed to do although the opposition members are small in number. It ended on a poignant note for me with a motion on the ambulance dispute where I spoke quite emotionally about the service and my father, but the Tories voted against the service to a man. came home rather sad about this and tired after my late night. I sought solace in my fish which still seemed all right after the spraying and then sat in front of the TV all evening to rest.
Today's shock news is of the government's measures on poor relief being ruled illegal by the courts in that they are arbitrarily limiting and capping hardship payments which was deemed unfair. The Channel Tunnel dispute seems to have been resolved with the change of personalities, but the underlying problems remain and will re-surface again.