David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
The long and slow journey back from Edinburgh to Eynesbury where we arrived too late for Cathy's video viewing of the last play by their group, The Stagefright Theatre Company.
Missing the girls but finding Daniel at The Hayling View where he appreciated my help with his car repairs.
Wiggly's car had been damaged with paint-stripper all down side whilst we had been away.
The news is of an integrated and strong NATO air attack on the Bosnian Serb artillery positions with planes from the US, UK and France taking part with one French plane shot down.
We made the effort to try to get up early for our journey back but Wiggly was more helpful than I because I was suffering from the amount I had drunk last night and the discomfort from my aching legs and sore blisters.
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With daytime temperatures in the low 90's, it transpired that we had already experienced both the warmest and the driest summer since the 17th century.
This was the first full month with my time with Wiggly during which we did many things together.
We enjoyed energetic walks with Sam and she was preoccupied with her dramatic vocation as I was helping her with Council duties and tussling with property issues.
There were some benefits with her public service, as we could sit on a special viewing stand to see the St Neots Carnival procession aloft of the crowds and had been invited to the VIP lunch beforehand.
Her medical condition was improving we enjoyed lots of films at the cinema and overnight stays in Cromer, Norwich and Horning.
I was making the effort to keep in touch with my girls; taking then roller-skating, Woburn Safari Park, and rewarded Debbie for her 5 "A" GCSE's amongst 9 with the black mountain bike she wanted.
Even so, these visits were very difficult for Diana and we discussed further her demands for me to stay away, and we could not agree.
I had two main holiday outings this month with Wiggly; cruising on The Paxton Princess for a boating holiday and also driving to Edinburgh to enjoy several days at the Fringe Festival.
This was also a decisive month for my ownership of Redgrave. I was organising the conveyance of Redgrave Stores and the Old Post Office Cottage for tax efficiency.
I was meeting Louis Drake of Spar to agree a promising budget and the water board inspector, the electrician and Keith Warnes the builder about separating the cottage from the shop.
I had contracted former employee Sarah Francis to join us as manager and she and her parents were keen for her to move in and so I had several hectic negotiations with contractors in Diss for a bathroom for the shop flat.
Redgrave Parish Chairman, Cllr Roger Gwyn and his wife who were very supportive of my plans and there was another hectic day for Redgrave Stores getting approval from Bury St Edmunds magistrates court for granting our Protection Order to me to trade in alcohol.
Despite my busy and complicated life, I was trying to keep up with my friends and hobbies. I spent the odd evening with Nigel, trying to play snooker whilst getting somewhat inconsistent relationship advice.
I went across to see my friend Jim Bird who had made great strides in terms of finishing off his dog kennels and garage which he showed me with pride.
I was also trying to progress the Heronshaw rebuilding plans and then bad news from Mr Hurrill of Wroxham builders was that Broads Authority planners were querying our rebuilding design.
I also resolved to spend more personal time with my dog Sam and do some training with him as he was getting into some bad habits.
When parking outside Montague Street, I suffered vandalism and had to replace the Discovery's slashed tyres, also mobilising the neighbours and police accordingly.
I checked in with the family and spoke to Debbie who told me all about her night out clubbing in Cambridge and seems very happy at the moment to have discovered the other sex.
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Our last day enjoying the Edinburgh Fringe and overcoming Wiggly’s ‘shoe trantrum’ to see "Like a Virgin" which was so sad it made me cry.
Then ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Southside and a boozy end to the visit at The Advocate pub.
Checked in with the family and spoke to Debbie who told me all about her night out clubbing in Cambridge and seems very happy at the moment to have discovered the other sex.
To bed very tired after the day's exertions.
The weather statisticians have told us that the month of August was the warmest and sunniest one ever, even if only the third driest, but the summer remains the driest ever.
I had a much better morning, getting up earlier and updating my journal, logging into CIX and then shagging Wiggly quickly for my own pleasure so that we were away by 11.00am for the start of our last fringe day.
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Busy day at the Edinburgh Fringe after a tired and grumpy start, enjoying performances of Abigail's Party, after which we relaxed in the Gilded Balloon Cafe with a mug of coffee each and a Danish Pasty.
Then, the Cambridge Footlights review, and on to the Pleasance Theatre to see a one-man show by comedy song-writer and singer John Shuttleworth.
Then dinner dinner at The Arches Italian and then energetic climb up Arthur's Seat before back to the main theatre of The Guilded Balloon for a 10.00pm performance of Donna McPhale.
The walk back after dropping in to The Minto Hotel after the Festival Club as per usual for a pint and to listen to the night's jazz band
The day did not start off particularly well as, having rushed down to breakfast and then gone upstairs to do some computer and telephone work for the morning, I adopted rather a bullying tone with Wiggly and upset her.
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Enjoying a typical day at the Edinburgh Fringe withdrawing cash and booking events and shows at Southside and saw one almost immediately called "BSE2".
This was five actors scripted by "anonymous BBC comedy script writers" and portraying a number of numerous sketches in almost TWTWTW or Monty Python-type style.
Then to see "West Side Story" the original musical being produced with a huge cast and very well done .
We then we walked to the Jazz centre afterwards and listened to a nice, if non-charismatic and ageing, seven piece jazz band.
We slept very soundly after the journey yesterday and our late and active night.
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After sorting out the LibDem Press Release with John Roscoe, the long drive from Eynesbury to Edinburgh and a meal at a nearby seafood restaurant.
Then to see our first event of the fringe festival, Scottish comedian, Fred Macauley at. the Gilded Balloon.
A long walk after to the Mambo Club where it took a while for the atmosphere to get going but we eventually ended up dancing until tired to bed.
I had left the organiser alarm on and it woke us up at 7.00am exactly. We still relaxed with a cup of tea for a short while before getting up, showered, dressed and packed.
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