Recovering from my cold on a fine and sunny day and rising to see my pretty neighbours about acquiring their house for joining it to mine whilst my family went their own ways and then to brief my children about the project and watch some TV. Ten Israeli soldiers killed in a suicide car bomb attack, the GLC agrees to be rate-capped and the start of East/West arms talks in Geneva
Another lay in after a better night; my nose and throat now settling to the cold well. I came down to pour myself a cup of tea and read The Economist until The Sunday Times came. Down to another fine fried breakfast and then up to finish reading the papers and stay in bed most of the morning. At 11.00am up to get washed and shaved for the first time these last two days and then dressed tidily and over to the neighbours to talk of the terms for buying their house. The neighbour, John, was away in St Ives, but his wife was there squatting in nightdress and gown by the front door and talking on the phone. Her daughter in the shower and warned not to come out naked as we spoke, which was a pity. I updated her and left the suggestion of £60,000 as the price and promised to write a formal offer subject to contract and planning permission. It will be a shame to lose such a pretty neighbour and her daughter, but we will be glad of the space.
Up then with the ladder and to see that the grizzle hen has laid a single egg, but her mate does not seem too good at incubating it. In to a good lunch of chicken with pie and cream to follow and then, as Daniel had left to spend the afternoon with Jason Chambers, and Diana to take Debbie to her party and go on to see her parents; I spent a half hour on correspondence at the office before breaking off to watch a live FA Cup quarter final on the TV. Liverpool beat Barnsley 4-0. Back to the office and a fine few letters before 6.00pm and my call to return home to tea. Out first to put away 8 ducks, the rest not appearing for lack of hunger. A full team of match fishermen were lining the far bank on a sunny and fine day today, the last Sunday of the fishing season. This evening to watch The Money Programme on diesel fuel fraud and the last episode of By the Sword Divided, which covered the restoration. Today I showed the children our plans for connecting the neighbouring house and they were pleased. News tonight of 10 Israeli soldiers killed in a suicide car bomb attack on a convoy taking the soldiers across the Lebanese border with Israel. The attack is claimed as retaliation against the car bomb of yesterday. At the GLC meeting today, Ken Livingstone advised the Labour Counsellors to set a legal rate and that means the last of the rate capped councils has toed the government line. The coal industry protagonists are still making public speeches on the issues, with an amnesty the most important one. Both the US and USSR negotiation teams have arrived in Geneva for the arms talks, which will begin on Tuesday. The rain is forecast to move away tonight to give an overnight frost and a bright day tomorrow.