Some school worries for Debbie before shopping in Bedford before a fish tea as NACODs seems set to strike and bring the pits to a halt
A quiet day without appointments and I rise normally to be in my office by 9.15am. Deborah has agreed to take school cooked dinners instead of sandwiches for the rest of the week. The school Headmaster had yesterday worried and upset Diana by discontinuing Deborah’s permission to take packed lunches due to other parental pressure and so we hope that Debbie will be happy to continue these new arrangements. An hours work typing and printing correspondence and then out with Diana to Bedford for a few hours shopping. We start with coffee at Debenhams and look at all manner of clothes and shoes for Diana and Debbie. I pick up brochures on garden furniture and bathroom fittings from Albert and we will certainly be buying both eventually. From another store shop, we make our main purchases – two pairs of shoes for Diana. Back by 3.00pm for Di to collect Debbie and a couple of friends from school and take them all to ballet.
I amend my investment records and print them out. Tea of grilled sole for me and salad for Di. Di tastes the sole and could be persuaded to eat it on a future occasion. An evening of reading and watching Daniel’s new computer combat game. News tonight of continuing trouble on the foreign exchanges and of little concerted international attempt at stemming the rise of the dollar. The German central bank steps back again and the dollar soars. The NCN/TUC talks end with a suggestion for ACAS intervention and Arthur Scargill claims the support of more clerics and politicians criticising Ian McGregor. More concern with the high unemployment following the OECD reports. Now about 25% of British youth are unemployed with no sign of change coming. Government claim that the target 3% GNP growth is down to 2% because of the loss of output and the miners’ strike. This week the NACODS Pit Overmen and Deputies Ballot seems likely to bring out the entire coalfield if concessions are not made.