After some domestic chores, , it was time to get ready for our trip to the village of Whaddon. The Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Whaddon, another self-made man and kindred spirit of mine, had opened his house and garden to the party for a produce market and buffet lunch which was a success despite the rain. The England Test match and Wimbledon tennis were less fortunate with the weather.
Having arrived back last night, we had a more leisurely start to the day, and we enjoyed the rest and a nice fried breakfast before pursuing the day. As it was dry to start with, I took down the tennis posts and net so that they could be stored in the shed and then tended the birds, fish and conservatory. To my office for a while and then, approaching 11.30am, it was time to get ready for our trip to the village of Whaddon. The Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Whaddon, had opened his house and garden to the party for a produce market and buffet lunch and we had agreed to go.
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He had always been a kindred spirit, though a Labour supporter for most of his life. As an MP Derek Page (his original name) in his maiden speech on 11 November 1964 during the Budget debate, after references to local industry in North Norfolk, he had raised in detail the problems of purchasing computer equipment from the United States and the need for the British manufacture of high technology, rather than simply relying on US technology. He was also campaigning for us to train more engineers. The rain was forecast to come, and it did just that as we were arriving, but the stalls had been set up in a barn and the house was large and capacious with sufficient rooms to host us inside. It was well-attended despite the weather and seemed to be a fund-raising success with over £500 made on the day. Home by mid-afternoon and a rest from my recent exertions before an evening of work in my office again.
I had left the telephone answering machine off all day so that I could catch up on the outstanding work before much else was given to me! In the Test Match, the England cricketers have saved the follow on and the match as the rain has shortened the playing time. The Wimbledon timetable is threatened by the rain, but more Americans are here than usual and it will be a good tournament. The Tory party are still in trouble over European integration even though the opinion polls are showing better figures for them.