Daniel did well at his Physics Practical exam today, after his late night, on a warmer and brighter day as the builders started knocking through to the conservatory from the lounge. Some ward issues on the telephone, Debbie had her first evening riding at Staughton and survived a fall and then I contributed to a Parish Council Amenities meeting dealing with a host of playing field improvements.
The government has refused to finance part of the cost of a high-speed rail link for the channel tunnel, another IRA attack has taken place in West Germany on a forces training school classroom and club-wielding "miners" called up by the Romanian government have been beating-up anti-government demonstrators and have also reportedly ransacked the offices of the National Liberal and National Peasants parties, the main democratic opposition
The weather was a bit brighter and warmer this morning and still dry, but not sunny. I was late to get going after my exertions the other night and, by the time I got to the table, the others had already eaten, and Daniel was on his way out to school. It transpires that Daniel had a Physics Practical Exam this morning and I did not remember that when I had my row with him and kept him up late last night. I was upset at all this but still managed to wish him good luck even though he was a bit groggy at the time. As I was eating, some of the builders arrived and got started on the demolition; first taking down the fitted furniture and then knocking a hole through the wall. They were most interested in the pond and size of the fish which had grown a lot since they helped build the conservatory.
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I eventually caught up with my chores and then sat in my office and updated this last few days' journal. I also had to take and make a number of calls on council business and read another volume of council papers to boot. I had two long telephone calls by people upset by the erection of the "No-Ball Games" signs. It was not a very productive day as I was still tired from the late night and seemed in a state of nervous tension over all of the things that I have got to do. I was trying to contact a few people on the telephone which proved difficult and much of my other work depended upon that.
The log-jam eventually cleared and I was able to dash of a few quick letters which Daniel took for me to catch the evening post. He did well in his Physics practical exam in the end and I was pleased about that. He also repaired my croquet post with some Super-glue he bought and played croquet with his friends again this evening and so it had not put them off. Debbie went for her first evening to Staughton for her riding session and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though she caught her foot and stirrup on a gate and fell off in the end! She held on to the reins and got help in fixing the stirrup back on the saddle. The builders finished demolishing the cabinets and wall today and blocked up the unwanted door ready for plastering tomorrow, but our electrician did not arrive in time to do anything before the work started and will have to go in once they have finished.
After tea, it was a Parish Council Amenities meeting where we were dealing with a host of playing field improvements that are going through at the moment. The pedestrian path is being extended to the road entrance, the road is being fenced on either side for safety and to prevent the motorised youth from gathering, the dog fence is being erected around the children’s' play equipment and new bye-laws being implemented for responsible dog ownership. Later, I also brought up the question of making more effective use of the untidy and unsafe area behind the village hall and got support in principle. The idea is to block off both ends and then install "portacabins" for shower/toilet/changing facilities for the playing field sports on the one hand and another for storage to release space in the hall itself on the other. The meeting ended quite late and after two inspections of the grounds.
The news today is of the government's refusal to finance part of the cost of a high-speed rail link for the channel tunnel and of their decision that a private-sector involvement in the link was also impracticable. It has been put back, with much delay, to British Rail to come up with a scheme of their own. Another IRA attack has taken place in West Germany on a forces training school classroom whilst, in Britain, the convictions of the Maquire family for alleged terrorist bomb-making has been declared as unsafe and unsatisfactory by the Home Secretary and will, almost certainly, be referred to the Court of Appeal. Club-wielding "miners" called up by the Romanian government have been beating-up anti-government demonstrators and have also reportedly ransacked the offices of the National Liberal and National Peasants parties, the main democratic opposition. These activities have been denounced by the US and UK governments who are thus given excuses for denying aid to this communist state.