Tessa Jordon's father's Mill in Biggleswade
Tessa Jordon's father's Mill in Biggleswade

Expedition to Jordan’s Mill at Biggleswade for duck and dove food before a visit to the nee St Neots library and then to hear news of Mum’s recovery at Papworth from Dad and an evening’s reading as Terry Waite struggles to free Libyan hostages and Kennedy experiences black protests in Soweto

A poor night’s sleep with both Diana and I alternately restless and waking each other up. A slow start as I read the paper before and after breakfast, but eventually up, washed and dressed. Dad had done the doves and ducks and the small, weak dove, found by Dad last night and put into the garage, returned to the dovecote after a little persuasion. Dad wished to make his own lunch today and so the rest of us out in the Jaguar and first down to The Jordan’s Mill at Biggleswade for two sacks of layer pellets before we return to park in St Neots market square and shop. I trail Daniel between the Gateway Building Society and Barclays Bank. The Barclays statement shows an overdraft and the Gateway money is needed to avoid overdraft interest charges accruing at a daily rate of  2 ½ %, plus Barclays Bank Rate (now a total of 13%). To the fish shop to buy half a pound of prawns and two herrings for tea and then off to the new St Neots Library at The Priory Centre for the first time.

It was crowded with natural interest from most local residents and the visitors were in awe, as were we, on the size and facilities. Yet in truth it is no more than the size our local community should deserve and it has been much delayed in arrival. I find Daniel a book as an ‘Introduction to Dinghy Sailing,’ while he scans the cassettes, videos and records available on loan and hire. As I wait in the long queue, Diana arrives and selects some good books for Deborah as well. All finished and off by car to The Happy Eater for a good lunch, with the children behaving a little better than of late. I had dropped by the office this morning and collected a pile of magazines and post and I open the letters during the meal. Afterwards we drive to Papworth to visit Mum with the children for the last time together. She already has Joan, our cleaner, to visit and another patient has been wheeled in to see her. Mum is better still, but remains a little sore and the children are a bit restless and so we do not stay too long. They are adjusting her blood anticoagulant dosage, but all of her wounds have healed and she is taking increasing exercise of arms and legs. Home directly and to light a good log fire for warmth as a frost is again expected tonight. Dad, who I just miss as he leaves for Mum, has managed to put away the ducks and we cook my two herrings and eat a good tea. An evening reading my computer journals and finishing off the Investor’s Chronicle. News tonight of the church’s envoy, Mr Waite, facing a setback and delay in retrieving the Libyan hostages, of Mr Kinnock meeting Fidel Castro during his visit to Nicaragua and of Senator Kennedy having to cut short his visit to South Africa because of black protests in Soweto. The weather forecast is of more frost overnight and snow showers tomorrow. We try without success to contact the Jersey Hotel for a summer holiday booking. 3 eggs today.