Early morning reading before shopping trips for a new TV , straw and duck food as they lay their first egg and then to start studying local history this evening as the weather is too cold and very windy to be out

A slight lay in and scan of the papers and The Economist before rising for a breakfast of toast and fruit juice and getting washed and dressed. Off by car with Diana and Debbie to the farm for a bale of straw and to Jordon’s Mill at Sandy for two bags of layers pellets. The ducks have now started to lay one small egg a day and we live in expectation of better things to come. By appointment to meet Daniel at the newsagent, Reedwell, and there I bought a copy of Huntingdonshire history notes. On to the Electricity Board where we chose a replacement television after much ado with the display shelf falling down and other things besides.

I have been persuaded to select a large 26” model with teletext and remote control but have insisted that it is modified to include an optional earpiece so that Diana can watch it while I read or study. After to The Happy Eater as usual to lunch and then home to put the ducks away and prepare for a tea of cockles and prawns for Debbie. After an evening mostly reading Pepys, Huntingdon History and the History of St Neots which has recently been of fascination. Di early to bed and I to follow later. The weather today horribly windy so that we felt ill at ease out of doors and the air cold to feel and unpleasant to be abroad.