A visit from old Bill Clarke today and walks for Sam both in the pouring rain. Then working on paperwork at home and I wait in vain for a call from Wiggly from the Liberal Democrat Brighton Conference.
I had received a call from Pauline last night, the daughter of Bill Clarke who used to own one of my riverside plots, and I agreed to see them this morning.
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Bill is a lovely old chap, now 85, and, though blind and with prostate trouble and a bad leg, is still very much with it mentally. He had followed my progress since selling up and moving away as his sight had deteriorated and had always remembered me and this riverside situation.
Twice in the past he had visited at short notice and had missed me both times but this time I was at home and pleased to break off my work and see him and updated him on all of the developments. Despite the rain, he looked at the plot and made his way home after two hours chatting.
Earlier, I had taken Sam for a walk in the pouring rain, and I did the same later when it rained even harder. At least I did some work with him sitting to gunshot and he seems to be getting steadier in that respect. The rest of the time, I finished summarising my journal for July whilst waiting for a call from Wiggly that did not come.
I had encouraged her to absorb herself in the Brighton Conference and to try and forget about me for the week and she appears to have taken me very literally! I was thinking of a plan to see her but perhaps it was as well that we did not as we have been getting far too intense lately.
Also, I am just healing from the sexual activity last time and my ointment is winning against the Thrush. Diana had a busy day, visiting Cambridge to see her parents, then joining a "Keep Fit" class in the afternoon and a Yoga session in the evening. In between times, she collected Della from her first after-school cookery class at Kimbolton and we all enjoyed the rock cakes that she had cooked afterwards.
I lent Daniel £160 today to try to effect a repair on his car sunroof and he gave us all presents from his holiday in Tenerife: An electronic game for Della, a music tape for Debbie and a painting for Diana and I. Debbie seems to be in a much better mood.
The Liberal Democrat Conference does not start too well as two amendments proposed by the Youth & Student sections to motions of the leadership and MP's are carried in voted by the delegates. They call for the legalisation of marijuana and call for a minimum wage. At least a third vote on abolishing the monarchy was not carried! Paddy Ashdown looks drawn these days after the revelations of his affair and pressures of office and I think he should stand down soon.
Later, I opted to walk with Sam and my gun around the riverside planting on John Osborne's land opposite but there were no geese in sight and nothing else within range to shoot either. Bill was back in work gardening today and Pete also; continuing the process of building up the riverside path wall. Bill had got the day for his hospital appointment wrong yesterday and found out that it was not until tomorrow and so missed a day's work for nothing!