David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
After a howling gale overnight at Harnser, a cold, windy and very wet day followed but I still walked Sam and he did not mind.
To the Horning Tea Shoppe for lunch and on to the Norwich Theatre Royale for the evening performance of Pickwick starring Harry Secombe and Roy Castle.
The IRA three-day cease-fire for Easter dismissed with scorn by all and the future of John Major again subject to newspaper speculation.
The night had passed with a howling gale throwing rain against the front of Harnser and, although I slept through the worst of it, Diana told this morning of being frightened by the slamming noises of the gusts on the building. I washed, shaved and then waited as long as I could for the weather to ease but, in the end, I had to dress up and take Sam out for his walk.
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This was a mild month, if a bit wet but March marked the beginning of my political season's election efforts. I still spent time in Norfolk and progressed our Cambridge Street conversion with Nigel. This month, his wife Lyn had suffered a tragedy with the death of her Mum who was suffocated during an examination and was left to a gradual death in a coma with irreparable brain damage.
Training with gundog Sam was going well and was enhanced by my getting access to the John Osborne’s Manor Farm in Molesworth. Sam won some beginner Rosettes in trials but also suffered a tummy upset after eating too much cheese tracking.
At The Hayling View, new cleaner Susanne started work and our new handyman started work and Bill continued his endeavour, hanging some new gates, extending the concrete path and starting the process of repairing the fence to our gardens.
This was a busy month for recreation with many cinema trips, meals out galore and our first trip of the season to Pleasurebeach in Great Yarmouth. Elsewhere, there was much consternation as the IRA launched an attack on Heathrow Airport just before Her Majesty The Queen was due to land,
John Major created another rod for his own back as he first rejected the customary formula for the extension of voting rights in the enlarged European Community and then had to climb down anyway and was an aftershock in Los Angeles after their recent earthquake.
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A small and gentle walk this morning during which Sam seemed fine even though he was on a fast & strict diet. An agreement with NNDC on property Council Tax before organising sewage pump repairs in Norwich and then to Yarmouth for our first visit of the season to Pleasurebeach. Later with Di to The Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant in the Price of Wales Road. The night began wild, windy and wet
Sam settled and slept well last night considering he had been sent to bed with no food for the first time. A small and gentle walk this morning during which he seemed fine. It was chilly and windy and, once Diana and Debbie had gone off to Norwich to do some shopping, I got on with some telephone calls and administration.
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Sam proved to be ill with diarrhoea on our return from a full day at Winterton and the vet advised an injection of Cortisone and course of antibiotics were prescribed, as well as a very modest diet.
The night went well, and we all got some good rest until Diana got herself up and the rest of us going. Slow to get out with Sam and, though he did not seem to have fouled his kennel, he soon had bouts of diarrhoea which was a bit worrying. His behaviour still seemed fine and he was as keen as ever for his walk.
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An early walk with Sam on a warm and sunny day before dropping off the Discovery for service in Norwich and then welcoming Frank Reader to make the Harnser pump repair.
Diana off Cromer with the girls in the evening to see "Mrs Doubtfire" whilst I watched TV football and listened to radio coverage of the Third Test.
John Major was humiliated in the House of Commons today as he announced the cabinet had decided to accept the new E.E.C. voting terms.
It was mild overnight and my bed seemed a little creased and uncomfortable but I still slept well for a good rest. The alarm clock woke us at 7.00am and, after a quick wash and mug of tea, I was out with Sam for a short walk to get back for the other things we needed to do. Diana and I drove in separate cars to Cromer Road, Norwich, where I left the Discovery for a 24,000 mile service.
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After briefing the Hayling View gardener and handyman, hosting D I’s parents for morning coffee and then leaving Paxton for Norfolk only to find pump problems at Harnser.
The water level had been higher than I had expected but everything else was all right. Tea at home and then the drive to Cromer where we saw "Beethoven II" at the cinema and all the family enjoyed it.
The horrific news story today of a man walking into a school with a knife and stabbing young girls in a class to actually kill one and seriously injure another. Government ministers continue to make speeches preparing the cabinet for a climb down on E.E.C. voting.
I had not really got used to the new time standard this morning and so remained tired from my lack of sleep the night before last. Still gamely up and out anyway with Sam who was still all right after his recent tummy upset. It was raining off and on today and even milder than of late but I found a drier spell to be out with Sam.
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