Shopping trip to Bedford on a bright and warm day and then home to work on my steamer chair as Norman Fowler announces benefits changes with Child benefit the main loser
Awake slowly and still with tired limbs after the other days exertions. Morning tea and then to write yesterday’s journal, before reading the morning paper and catching up with some news. Down to a breakfast of toast and honey and then to shower, to save time, before washing, shaving and dressing. Out to the birds on a warm and still morning. Ten eggs from the ducks. To the office from 9.15am to about 11.00am and then coffee back at the house. Then to watch the cricket for an hour or so and see the Aussies putting up a bit of resistance. Out by car with Diana and the baby to Bedford, where we first had lunch of fried plaice at Debenhams. Then looked at the gifts of china, glass and the electrical goods. We bought some Royal Doulton ‘Bunnyware’ for our niece’s christening, a bathrobe for Charlie and some other items. We part after and I look at a couple of antique shops to examine the silver, but find nothing of interest.
More shopping and then home by car and to the cricket again. England eventually win, after a few frights, and then grilled herrings for tea, which were fine. Strawberries and cream for sweet, which was even better. After, to get Daniel started on his homework and then to feed the doves, put the ducks away and apply the fourth and last coat of varnish to the steamer chair. No cascamite wood adhesive for the repairs to the other and so I fix handles to two boat brushes and apply an initial coat of mahogany varnish to start matching them to The Lady. In to watch Miami Vice on the TV, scan the teletext news and update my journal for today. The hijack saga continues its torrid course, but five more hostages are released, including Greek singer Demis Roussos, who “sang for his freedom” which is rather weak. A row today as Norman Fowler announces the annual benefit increases and, although the long term benefits were increased in line with inflation, supplementary benefit and family allowances were increased less. The child benefit was worst hit and the government critics had a field day. The weather today has been bright, warm and mostly dry, and tomorrow’s is forecast starting dry, but raining later.