Winter Solstice - A full programme of work for me finishing off the Hayling View furnishings on a very windy and gusty day, which was also marked by the arrival of the contractors who tarred and tiled our new balcony floors such that I could string up our very bright rows of Christmas lights at last. This as I found the time and energy to make love to the very much slimmer Diana and as Nelson Mandela’s wife was resisting harassment to leave her Soweto home
A late night and a poor night’s sleep, awoken rather grumpily and with aches and pains to boot. I listened to a farming programme on Radio 4, which was all about part time farmers and the satisfaction they get from it, and I thought of Freda. Down late to breakfast under threat of having it cleared away before me, then to shower and shave in the new shower room. It was very comfortable and the shower curtain, though a little short, retained the water quite well. The water has settled down to its former soft texture, due to the effectiveness of the re-installed water softener. Then to get dressed and sit in the luxury of the new lounge, writing my journal for yesterday and waiting vainly for the roof contractors, who had not arrived by 10 o’clock. The day had started windy and gusty and I was afraid that they were not coming, but they eventually arrived at 10.30, with huge vehicles and plenty of noise. We checked that they needed no help and then left for a shopping expedition to St Neots. A windy morning, but I wore my scarf for the first time and so was not uncomfortable.
We got £240 from the building society for holiday cash and then went to the ‘Nice Things’ shop to get the outstanding balance of our Lambeth ware order – some milk & cream jugs and a couple of mugs. Then on to Brittains, where Di collected our new velvet curtain for the dining room and also the remainder of our lamp shades; whilst I got our bank statement and the dry cleaning, before buying sea food for tonight’s tea. The others gone, I went to Fishers to get door bolts for our new bathrooms and then waited at the car park in the market square for them to arrive. Off all together to Sandy and the Happy Eater, where Della gets more mature and self-assured each time. She now gets up onto one of the seats and plays at the Lego table. On to Texas at Biggleswade for some more shelf brackets for the heavier playroom shelves, another bathroom cabinet for the New Year, a glue gun to help with my alarm installation and a replacement extension lead for Di. Then, eventually home to find the tar contractors still covering the balcony surface and glad of a cup of tea. Then to my chores. I got out the outside coloured lights and, in a howling gale, put them up around the balconies. In the absence of a balcony rail, I had to support them by rods nailed vertically to the corners and spaced the walls between the balconies with extension leads. Then I drilled holes in the door frames and wired plugs on inside, switched on and so had all 4 balconies ablaze with light to be seen from all directions; Willow Close, Gordon Road, the Hayling Walk and the valley opposite – a grant site for all! After this longer than expected job, my tea, and then back to it fixing all manner of items to the kitchen; a rack for cooking implements, kitchen scales, kitchen roll holder, and the clock above the door to the hall, before lastly putting down a door-stop to prevent the kitchen door from damaging the kitchen units. Exhausted, I collapsed in the lounge for Bournvita, too tired for my journal and only summoned the energy to lock up with persuasion. At 1.00am I woke up feeling randy and did not finish with Diana until nearly half an hour later. Now she is a stone slimmer, she is getting to be more like a girlfriend again, rather than a wife. No news again tonight, as I was working until too late, but I did see that Nelson Mandela’s wife, being harassed in South Africa, is refusing to move from her Soweto home, in spite of the citizenship laws – and all strength to her in this struggle against the monstrosities of apartheid.