The day working on The Paxton Princess, finishing the refrigerator installation and then changing both fuel and oil filters for each engine which is always a messy and difficult job. Then visiting Mum in Stanton on the way home and back out for the HDC Planning Meeting in which the members expressed genuine regret at my imminent retirement.
I tried to make an early start this morning and was up early enough. I drove off to Jewson’s first thing and bought another two of the expanding foam canisters and some other tools so as to be able to finish insulating the fridge. I was back in time to call General Refrigeration and establish that they could not come and connect my fridge today which was a pity. I spent the morning servicing the Paxton Princess; managing to change both fuel and oil filters for each engine which is always a messy and difficult job. Up to my ears in black oils, using many rags and tissues to try to curtail the mess.
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I overdid the fridge insulation later, tons of frothy foam welling up out of the cavity, but at least I will be able to trim the excess off later which is not a problem. I worked until ready for a late lunch for which I finished up my bread and cheese before getting ready to set off back. It took some time to actually get away and the wet roads were clogged with slow traffic. I still managed to drop in on Mum in Stanton, but not for long. She sounds very weak and poorly on the telephone but is better in person. Her voice is affected by the sore throat and past cough and her morale low because of the infirmity of her friend from a neighbouring bungalow. I was with her just half an hour, but we chatted a while. It seems that Freda will soon have her room ready, that the plumbers are now in and only the carpet remains to be fitted to make the room complete.
Rushed off and on home to get fed and changed in time for this evening's HDC Planning Committee. Sited in the unaccustomed setting of the staff canteen, it was an unusual and cramped meeting with a long agenda, and we were there, in fact, until midnight before breaking up. The Tories and rest of the committee had just heard about my not seeking re-election and seemed to express genuine sadness and regret that I would be retiring. This is a paradox after opposing them for the last four years, but I think that I made a constructive contribution and at least made proceedings more interesting. Another retiring councillor ended proceedings with a poem in parody of the committee which was a nice touch.