Heysel Riot enquiry admits police partly to blame
Heysel Riot enquiry admits police partly to blame

Stowing my new liquidation chandlery stocks and tending to The Lady on a sunny day that turned showery after selling lots of duck eggs and reading to Debbie as the enquiry about the Belgian football riot also holds the police as being culpable

Awake to my morning tea on a sunny day. To read yesterday’s Economist and the 125th anniversary edition of the Investors Chronicle, before the business headlines of The Sunday Times. Down to a splendid fried breakfast and, after washing and dressing, out at 9.30am to the birds. 11 eggs today and, before lunch, the ‘Egg Lady’ came to buy 2 ½ dozen. The doves still incubating the two eggs, but all manner of cats prowling around after fledglings. This, plus the continuous assaults by the Aylesbury’s on our ducks, makes me wonder if we should get a gun or something to ward them off. This morning continuing to clear out the shed and stow away the screws in ordered fashion. I had to use the wheelbarrow to cart the stock, it being so heavy and also the other bolts and fittings. I put a set of screw boxes on the shed shelf and packed away the additional stocks in a cardboard box, having made a full list of stocks of brass screws, chromium plated brass screws, zinc plated steel screws, stainless steel bolts, brushes etc. I had to dodge the showers, some heavy, as the rain returned again in what must be good growing weather. The river was well up, but just short of covering the main landing stage.

In to a nice lunch of turkey, roast with vegetables and Christmas pudding to follow – all eaten with our silver flatware set. Out after to list and furl the hosing that I also got at the auction. Much more than I though and of heavy duty construction. More than I will need for boat hoses and so I will some time lay a water hose down to my river moorings to act as a water supply for the boat. Eventually, all safely taken to my workshop and in to a tea of more turkey, cold with pickles, and strawberries to follow. This evening I watched England beat 1-0 at football by Mexico on the television, finding time to read a bedtime story to Debbie in the half-time interval and go out afterwards to clean The Lady’s hull. The fine evening and glorious sunset kept the light up until about 10.00pm and the floodwater being high, and air still, gave me an ideal opportunity to get at the waterline on both sides by rotating the boat. In to find Diana already retired to bed and so my evening Bournvita and journal session alone. News today of the Belgian enquiry on the football riot, which blames the police in part for the tragedy, as being caught unawares. The teachers strike seems set to extend beyond the summer into a second term as Prior speaks out today about how the country has been more divided under Thatcher. The weather is forecast as remaining a mixture of sun and rain and in this area it should get better as the day goes on.