Commemorating my old Dad's birthday by refreshing flowers on his grave, sorting out the gardener over the compost heap chipping and dealing with a reluctant Nigel before catching up with my journal.
Prime Minister is getting involved in the Ulster crisis and will be presenting his own proposals for new talks but immediately the Unionists laid down preconditions as broadcasters dub actors voices onto video recordings of interviews with Gerry Adams.
More complaints from absent fathers pursued by The Child Support Agency
It has now been nearly four years since Dad died after just passing his 75th birthday and, in honour and remembrance of this, we replaced the flowers on his grave. The weather has continued dull and cold and there was little breeze when we were up at the cemetery. It was also a reminder for us to organise Mum's gravestone soon, using another monumental mason if necessary. The day started with a row over the storage of my clothes as I accused Diana of losing a pair of my jeans and then just stuffing all of my clothes onto the wardrobe shelves.
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Out with Sam, still aggravated over this and my problems with Nigel yesterday and then back to sort the gardener out again. He was supposed to have called a friend of his and got details of a supplier of top dressing for our bowling green but I had to take him home and even then he did not have the number and had to drive round to his friend's house to get the information. I unloaded the repaired shredder and took it round for him to use but he also had no fuel and had to go out and get some! Then I had to work with him for an hour while he got in the rhythm of using both shredders to turn most of the heap into compost fodder. We use the high power motorised unit to break up the foliage first and then the electric one to shred it up really small and the final effect is quite pleasing.
Alternated all this with walking the dog and then typing up a letter and list of desired changes to the plans for 50-52 Cambridge Street. Nigel was going to try and come round to see me but I did not leave this to chance and so typed up my list and dropped it round to Lynn for Nigel's meeting with the draughtsman tonight. I heard later that he thought this was petty and pedantic of me but Lynn annoyed him by agreeing that it was a good idea. Some time also today updating this last few days journal and trying to get the monthly summary for September and October done as months pass so quickly. For a change, I decided to take Diana out for a meal this evening and we booked a table at "The Chinese Bridge Restaurant" in Godmanchester.
I now take Sam for his evening walk at around 4.00pm and, for the second day running, he retrieved a number of launcher-dummies well and is getting steadier to shot. He was rather restless today as it was quite cold and was then very keen on his food. Now at last the Prime Minister is getting involved in the Ulster crisis and will be presenting his own proposals for new talks but immediately the Unionists laid down preconditions and the whole sorry tale continues.
Another Irish row has started as John Major joins criticism of broadcasters for dubbing actors voices onto video recordings of interviews with Gerry Adams. The present daft restrictions allow his pictures but not his voice but, now that the words are synchronised, it is seen as being a silly rule. More squealing from absent fathers pursued by The Child Support Agency and now the agency's attention will be turned from the middle class fathers paying some support to those who are presently paying nothing. In truth, many separated fathers have transferred both the house and mortgage so that the payments are met by social security.