We were well prepared for Della's first day at Kimbolton for which she was well looked after and settled in well after which I attended some Liberal Dem Party Meetings in which we made preparations for Sue Sutton’s campaign and discussed arrangements for the party conference in Bournemouth and Southampton
Like all the recent days, it was hot again today with the air full of soot and smut from the stubble burning. The nights are quite close which makes it difficult to get to sleep and the garden longs for rain. But today was Della's big day at a new school and Diana had prepared well for it. We both reassured her and there was Debbie to show her the ropes. Di took them both to the bus stop to catch the school bus and then drove to Kimbolton by car and was at the other end to see them safely into school. Della was allocated an older pupil to look after her for the day and welcome her to the school and she seemed to go quite willingly.
** "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **
I had taken a series of photographs of them in their new uniform as Nanny, for one, wanted to see them. They came home later on the bus and were quite all right. This morning, I hosted a campaign meeting of the main constituency officers; PPC Sue Sutton, Chairman Murray White, Agent Peter Facey and others to plan our campaign which could come with a General Election this autumn but which I still think will be next spring. I put them in the picture about Derek and they were not too worried about it. The young agent was most concerned but the rest of us, with some regret, actually think that the balance of public opinion will be in support and that we would actually gain by it as the Gypsies are so unpopular. A good and productive meeting with several action items agreed and the possibility of a snap autumn election covered.
They were worried that I had not had my conference place confirmation and so I chased things up this afternoon without too much success. At least I managed to confirm my Bournemouth and Southampton hotel bookings in the process and have decided to take the Rolls Royce for a treat. The newspaper coverage of Derek was increasing and all of the local newspapers were now on to the story with Percy fielding the requests for further comment. This evening, I attended the S.W.Cambs Executive meeting of the Liberal Democrats and also briefed them on the situation with Derek Giles at the end of another very good meeting.