Some seed planting, with the weather becoming colder wetter and windier, HDC enquiries and then to St Neots with Diana for some shopping where I bought some parts and materials. Home for lunch after which Nigel Smith visited for a chat and, as a nice surprise, presented me with a fine cut glass decanter inscribed with my full achievement of Arms.
Then to take Daniel to Ely by car to the Ely Boat Chandlers for some necessary boat parts, a new outboard motor and anchor. This evening to rush to get ready for my Southern Area Consultative Committee meeting convened at my request and then late to drive to Norfolk, making six phone calls on the way! The national Tories The Tories have had to make a very embarrassing climb down on the Poll Tax, agreeing grants for the Scots. Today's Parliamentary By-Election was predicted as delivering a stunning defeat to the government Prolonged turmoil in the Japanese financial markets drove some investors to panic
I finished planting the Aster seeds this morning and tended the rest of the plants and fish. Then I quickly telephoned Huntingdon District Council to request the proper papers for a meeting they had notified me of, and I was rather irritated that it was 9.15am before their switchboard was open when it was supposed to be 9.00am. I then took Diana to St Neots where we did some shopping. I bought electrical suppressors from the car accessory shops and then went to Eynesbury to try to get some refrigerator insulation hose. I was reasonably successful, but the hose was very second-hand and a bit short for what I wanted. Back home for lunch and then Nigel Smith visited and, as a nice surprise, presented me with a fine cut glass decanter inscribed with my full achievement of Arms which was most unexpected and very nice. we chatted for a while in the conservatory about his visit to South Africa and boat. He seems fine but still beset with staff problems and now his old-time trusty gardener/handyman has resigned. Nigel and Lynne have such right-wing views that it is strange that we get on so well. I up-dated him on the Local Plan as it affects his property in Hail Weston and we spoke about the the possibility of making a joint visit to Scotland to see my estate and do some shooting.
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Once he had gone, I reverted to my plan to take Daniel to Ely by car to the Ely Boat Chandlers. It is a nice husband and wife ownership team there and they had obtained a couple of things that I wanted and are also stockists for the outboard motors that we were interested in. We stayed a couple of hours and bought the new anchor winch gypsy (of the right size for gripping the anchor chain, the replacement inflatable seat for the Zodiac, a new 9.9HP mariner outboard, a second anchor and multi-plait warp, a coastal coat with life-jacket for me and several other fittings. We had an early-evening tea and then I had to rush to get ready for my Southern Area Consultative Committee meeting. The Tory members and chairman were grumpy with me for forcing the meeting as there was only one item on the agenda, at my request; but I persisted anyway and then there was quite a discussion on a number of items which made it worthwhile in my view.
At about 8.00pm, the meeting ended and I rushed home to complete my packing and set off for a few working days in Norfolk. I made a total of six 'phone calls from the car to my colleagues and relatives which was good use of the time and I still managed to arrive by 10.00pm, even if it was very late by the time I had calmed down and gone to bed. The Tories have had to make a very embarrassing climb down on the Poll Tax to rock still further their shaky confidence. They had a number of hurried ministerial meetings before hastily agreeing to a £4million grant to Scots Poll Tax payers following the Budget amidst opposition glee at the hostility aroused north of the border by their previously-favouring English Poll Tax payers. There is speculation (not denied) that Scottish Secretary Malcolm Rifkind had been prepared to resign if the concession had not been agreed by the Prime Minister.
All this in the midst of today's Parliamentary By-Election where the early morning result was predicted as delivering a stunning defeat to the government. Prolonged turmoil in the Japanese financial markets drove some investors to panic and Japanese authorities intervened to buy currency and implore institutions to buy stocks eased the problem. Strangely enough, in the UK, the trade deficit fell to £1.4bn which made London a bit more comfortable as they seem no longer to fear the worst of a Labour Government in prospect. US Secretary of state, James Baker, visits South Africa to a background of condemnation by black leaders who say this move confers a seal of approval that it did not deserve. The fine weather is ending, and it is becoming colder wetter and windier.