Appreciating the arrival of a huge new bed with Diana, pigeon shooting at Molesworth before and after lunch with Wiggly chatting about our situation.
Then with the family to see the Kimbolton Fireworks display
I had called and left a message with Robert Ward yesterday about shooting on his land today and I got up early today with this in mind.
**"Read More" BELOW for the complete story**
Unfortunately, it was also the day that Diana had planned for the arrival of our new super-bed and our bedroom had to be cleared of the other one for its arrival.
As it was a cooler and misty morning, I delayed my departure and they delivered and assembled it whilst I was out. Upon arrival at Molesworth, there were no pigeons where I had seen them before but a flock of them in some tress on the other side of the large field instead.
I was fooled into setting up my decoys and hide there but, once they left their roost, they flew off out of site and I had a blank morning. Blank, that is, for pigeons but I walked around with Sam and my gun at the end of the session and shot a hen pheasant when he first pointed it solidly and then put it up.
Unfortunately, I shot it too soon and then with the choked barrel so damaging the bird's rear end too much and then, to cap it all, Sam ran in and had hold of it despite my delayed whistles, so I had to let him bring it in straight away and could not tell whether he had mishandled it or not!
Off to a pub lunch as planned with Wiggly, collecting her from her work and letting her choose a pub. I found her in good spirits despite a few reverses at work and a trying LibDem meeting last night when Ross McKay was duly expelled from the Town Council Group.
She was asking me what would happen the next time that Diana became aware of our affair and I had no real answer for her. Diana noticeably does not ask me any awkward questions but cannot really fail to be aware of what I am doing when not with her.
I asked Wiggly how she felt and, although she has highs and lows about being away from me, there is never any time that the agony outweighs the ecstasy we have when together.
A good chat and time together with this lady who seems so intelligent and much wiser than her years before sitting by the river in a nearby village until it was time for her to get back.
I returned to the shooting field afterwards, despite my reverses of the morning, but this time chose a different place to set up, being closer to the flight lines.
Even so, there were few pigeons about and I was on the point of giving up when a lone one was attracted by my decoy and presented itself to the gun. I killed it outright and so at least had one pigeon to show for my day's efforts.
I did not let Sam retrieve it and, in fact, kept him tethered all afternoon after his behaviour this morning. I packed up and let him quarter some of the field under my control as compensation and stopped him well on a hare after he had half-chased one earlier in the day.
I am now using the small whistle for stopping him but still need a well-timed Thunderer to stop him for hares and to shot. Home then for tea with the family and then it was time to take Diana and the girls to the steps on the portico of Kimbolton Castle to watch The Rev. Lancaster's traditional fireworks display.
We arrived early, as requested, but I did not think that there were so many people there as in previous years; perhaps due to the Barcelona vs. Manchester United UEFA Cup match being broadcast on TV.
The display itself was quite impressive but still not one of his best. Home latish and just time to relax a little before retiring to bed in our new edifice. Some 7ft 4ins wide and 7ft long, it is a huge bed, but is nice and comfortable.
Diana has achieved her ambition of being able to hide from my attentions! She helped me out today by buying some flowers and putting them on Dad's grave in Paxton Cemetery.