On a strangely mild and damp day after a very frosty I took Della horse-riding for the first time for several weeks, but I led her, and she managed to walk and trot aboard. Then before and after fine roast chicken lunch, distributing delivery rounds and meeting my constituents until home to rest and take some long phone calls with briefing and training our new councillor Derek Giles the longest.
Unrest in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, turning into anarchy with 30 killed and mobs rampaging, 43 die in a Spanish discotheque fire, 100 are feared dead in yet another Dhaka Bangladesh ferry sinking as back home Northern Ireland Minister, Brian Mawhinney, denies there is a Shoot-to-Kill policy
After it started very frosty last night, the early morning was quite mild and damp which was strange. It soon dried up and made a nice day for doing things and I had quite an active day physically. We had not gone to bed until after midnight and I was still groggy when woken at 8.20am. I was still lying in bed at 8.45am when Di broke the news to me that I was supposed to be taking Della horse-riding this morning and so it was all a bit of a rush. A nice fried breakfast and then off with our riding pupil. Our lesson was at 10.00am, but we were there early, and I got Della to pet "Minty" so that she would not be too nervous after several weeks without riding. Then Fiona gave us the news that she would be riding "Muffin" which came as a bit of a shock and she had a little cry! Muffin (I call him "Ragamuffin") is an hairy old thing that looks more like a donkey or an astrakhan coat, with hair so long. At 25, it is an old animal and so is very quiet and gentle. I led the pony during the lesson and Della rode as it walked and trotted, and she soon got used to the sensation again.
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After we arranged another lesson for next week. I took her home and then had to attend to the FOCUS's. I dropped off delivery packs to Kim Holman, Helen Young, Shirley White and left a pack for Mrs Ruff with a note, as I could not find her at home. Then I started to deliver the odd leaflets to all the outlying areas myself, during which process I tend to meet a lot of people who are glad of the attention and consideration which makes the job worthwhile. I came home for a nice lunch of roast chicken and then resumed until I had done them all. I was quite shattered when I got back and so I got Daniel to clean the car and I watched some TV to recover. A few long phone calls this evening, particularly to Derek Giles who I advised about Council procedure and standing orders. We agreed that Derek, Mike and I should meet before their next Town Council Meeting to work out a better modus operandi. The news today is of the unrest in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, turning into anarchy with 30 killed and mobs rampaging and being accused of atrocities. In Spain, 43 die in a discotheque fire and in Dhaka Bangladesh, 100 are feared dead in a ferry sinking. Back at home the Northern Ireland Minister, Brian Mawhinney, denies there is a Shoot-to-Kill policy but there will be opposition pressure in the House of Commons tomorrow.