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A slow start to a day which became more windy and dull until the rain started again and one to spend back-flushing my pond filter, feeding the fish and welcoming Derek Giles mother and family to see my conservatory carp pond. Pat and Percy Meyer also joined us for a day working on our FOCUS newsletter for which I also drew a very clever cartoon with the computer that really hammers the Tories Poll Tax strategy
I actually got to bed by 10.30 last night and was sound asleep until woken at 7.00am which was welcome. A bit slow then to get going and ate breakfast in my dressing gown, washing and shaving afterwards. I gave the pond sand filter a good back-flushing which was needed to get the filter fairly free of sediment. It had not really been done sufficiently by Pete lately. To my office after opening the mail and feeding the fish, where I had a coffee with Di and then wrote up yesterday's journal before getting down to other work. The weather was much cooler, duller and less inviting this morning and so perhaps we will have to wait for Spring for a few weeks yet.
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A breezy day, despite being sunny and mild, the warmest February day in London for 30 years and in Rome for some centuries, but more wind and rain in prospect for the next day. I started it surveying the garden with Pete for work to be done and, after writing up two days’ journal, a cycle ride around the village to make some visits and review the Anchor Pub bottle bank, which had proved very successful.
To get my foot dressed at St Neots surgery where I declined to chair the Scouts Executive suggested by their nurse and found the shops and barbers too busy with schoolchildren on holiday. To Willington for some bedding plant seeds and then an evening meeting of the Liberal Democrats
I was fast asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow and I did not wake up until called at 7.00am, but I am still not getting enough sleep. I washed and shaved in time for breakfast and then got myself into the bath but needed Diana's help to get me out later! It was a very sunny and mild day, but the breeze was still there. I went out and walked around the garden with Pete, inspecting the state of the plants and ground. The earth is still very damp and there is plenty of work to do in setting out new paths. The daffodils are growing and some of them are in flower already and we will soon have to think about sowing the seeds in the conservatory for the bedding plants. The trouble is that the doves insist on eating most of them, but I hope that if we plant enough of them this year than some will survive.
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Still tired after another late night, I welcomed Percy this morning and passed some matters on to him in return for some photocopying. Then, after visiting my Dad’s grave and documenting my Linton manors, I had time to prepare for my evening talk to The Potton History Society which, though a modest affair, still resulted in 7 more books being sold. Di and Debbie experienced problems with Offord riding stables today, which did not seem to welcome them anymore.
Late news was of agreement between the negotiators on a settlement for the ambulance dispute but without pay linkage to other emergency services and a fine and sunny forecast for tomorrow, I contrast to the gale blowing for the rest of the month
After another late night, I slept well but there was just not enough of it. Joined the others for breakfast and then checked out the conservatory to see if the spray had hurt the fish. It did not seem to have done so, but the plant was still very messy with the aphids although most of those surviving seemed to be in something of a stupor. Percy came around this morning to do some photocopying and I took the chance to off-load a number of items onto him that was of interest to his ward. I also did the rest of my filing and cleared a few things up. Once he had gone, I got out my history notes and prepared a little for tonight's talk to Potton History Society on The History of Little Paxton. I also managed to type up quite a lot on the Linton Manors ready to approach the agencies and others about disposing of them.
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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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