David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
Home alone with Diana away concentrating on training Sam taking account of the working test feedback, with pigeon shooting and water training to the fore. To bed quite tired after helping Debbie with her school project for much of the evening
Our first full day without Diana and we managed well enough by all mucking in and doing something. I was awake early and so could ensure that everybody got up all right and then they all got themselves ready and were out of the house in good time.
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Sam did not do too badly at his working test against some very good puppies ending in fifth place out of a field of ten. Diana got away all right for Henlow Grange.
Once back, then watched the fifth and final one day test match between England and the West Indies. We won this match but still lost the series by three matches to two
It was chillier today but at least it stayed dry for my trip to Markfield, near Leicester, for Sam's working test. I met up with the Steeles on the A14 and we drove in convoy; arriving quite early and in good time for the test. It was a long day, with a large field of dogs, and time dragged somewhat but, as usual, the mingling with other dogs and handlers was always an experience and education.
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No success decoying pigeons on a mild but quite windy day but then some water training with Sam ready for his puppy working test the next day.
Some poor televised England rugby and cricket and then out to the cinema in Bedford instead but we did not enjoy the heavy AIDS homosexual advocacy of the film "Philadelphia".
It was mild today but quite windy from the west as I got up and joined the others for breakfast. I opted to drive over to the rape field by the sewage works and tried decoying some pigeons without success as they settled down well out of reach. I soon gave that up and then concentrated on giving Sam some water training ready for his working test tomorrow.
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Having failed to get Diana to accommodate my visit, off alone to my Bedford stockbroker to talk about Personal Equity Plans. On to Elstow to prospect a shoot for pigeons with John Osborne’s permission at the end of a mild but windy day.
A day that started badly but then improved as it wore on. Up a little late and a struggle to get to breakfast before the family had left for work and school. Diana was determined to spend the morning at Tescos and Bedford town centre and, despite me also needing to see my stockbrokers there, she refused to change her plans to involve me.
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The gardener got wet in a downpour whist concreting, Di attended her slimming club and School Production and concreting and I gave Sam a more basic couple of runs today, concentrating on the simple tasks.
I took the whole family to Kimbolton School this evening for the first night of "We have ways of making you laugh", a series of musical and humorous sketches put together and performed by the school staff.
The gardener had settled down to concrete another section of the path this morning and managed to get caught in a downpour for his trouble and he was not amused. He was introduced to our new house cleaner who still seems very nervous but is quite proficient. Diana attended her slimming club and actually lost two pounds this week which made up for the last two or three sessions.
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Another good training day with Sam at manor Farm. Depressing England cricket performance as Diana had her hospital appointment with the gynaecologist this morning and awaits test results and I cheered her up by taking her for lunch afterwards at the Brampton Garden Centre. A very poor England Test side lose hopelessly to the West Indies
The weather was quite Spring-like after overnight rain, but I still had to persuade Bill to do some gardening this morning by spending time showing him all the things that needed doing when he just wanted to go home. Some more water-work with Sam, which was still ragged, but I was now developing a technique of standing off of him which seems to stop him hunting around before entering. Up to Manor Farm in the afternoon and some fair hunting from him.
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