Late to bed and to wake up this morning as I followed the Gulf war news and the Saudi ‘Liberation’ of Al Khafgi as over 1000 Iraqi military vehicles mass on the Saudi border. Di went shopping in St Neots as I waded through Council papers and then we prepared more of my books for sale.
A talk later to Little Paxton cubs and their parents on the history of the village for their "Historian Badge". Labour attacked the Tories on their economic policies and John Lewis went into receivership today due to high interest rates in the middle of an economic recession.
I was late to bed and even later to get up. I was anxious to hear the news of how the Gulf War border clashes were going and find the television and radio broadcasts quite compulsive. The Saudi's were claiming the liberation of Al Khafgi this morning and will not specify the number of casualties it took. It seems that the original Iraqi "reconnaissance in force" occupied the town and then was relieved by another, larger, armoured column which helped them to withdraw north of the town where the skirmishes continue. There is talk of a huge massing of over 1000 Iraqi military vehicles on the Saudi border and the Allies just do not understand the tactics of leaving fortified positions in a situation where the allies have total air cover. At least the Allies no longer question the bravery and commitment of Iraqi troops.
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Diana went to St Neots this morning and, by the time that I had got up and ready, most of the morning was gone. I had received a number of large envelopes full of reading material and this took some time to wade through. After another slimming salad lunch, I settled down with Diana to prepare another lot of my History of Little Paxton books for sale by sticking in the enclosure map and putting on the slip covers. After tea, I gathered together my materials and went along to the village school to give a talk to the Little Paxton cubs and their parents on the history of the village. By all accounts, it was much appreciated and enjoyed and now the cubs will work for their "Historian Badge".
Home to take and make a number of phone calls during which I did more election organisation and also completed arrangements with local tradesmen for work to start on the hall/utility area. Rather tired at the end of another demanding day. The other news was of an economic debate in the House of Commons where the blanket of war was parted briefly so that the Tories could be attacked on their economic policies. The department store, John Lewis, went into receivership today as the latest and most prominent example of the effect of high interest rates in the middle of an economic recession.