Day visiting our architects to discuss our Hayling View creation after some work at home and before some quality time with Daniel and Debbie as Thatcher courts more controversy over GLC abolition, the Public Order Act, and rating policy and Reagan in Lisbon over his Nicaraguan exploits and all for not involving the Russians in our V E day celebrations
Slept well and woke nearly free of my cold. A toast breakfast and The Financial Times after. Washed and shaved and also a shower and hair shampoo after Di had cut my hair last night. Dressed and out to the birds. Full house of 13 duck eggs and the doves were too good at incubating the chick and so I couldn’t put a ring back on this morning. To the office to read my mail and details of the Wooley and Harris riverside plot for £5250, which I think is too much. Back to the house and off to Huntingdon with Di to the offices of Headley Stokes to see David Stokes. We pore over the plans together and I brief them on the changes we need. We hope to have the plans out for tender in a month and to get the builders started within two. We then had half hour to look round the shops and I spent time in each of the antique shops, but found nothing of interest. Lunch in the riverside café, which was pleasant enough, but the lady was moaning to her daughter all the time about the injustices of life! Home by car and, after dropping Diana off, across the common to spend some time in the auction rooms, but nothing of interest. Then the market (likewise) and to buy a couple of magazines from the newsagent before driving home. Some time in the office and then afternoon tea. After, I managed to tempt the doves from the dovecote and put the ring back on the chick, which was a relief. Amazing to see how fast the bird grows and the ring only just fitted.
Then to The Lady and some time fitting the fire extinguishers before tea with the family. I ate my four grilled herrings, which were delicious and ice cream to follow. A long time then with Daniel checking his classwork, prep and then sharpening and sorting out his coloured pencils. Then with Debbie on my normal poem run! News tonight of the government’s proposals to reform the Public Order Act following past riots and public demonstrations. They propose statutory laws to replace common laws, with more draconian penalties and these will be vigorously resisted by civil rights groups. Another Staffordshire patient dies and nine more are admitted to hospital, but the health minister denies any cause for acute concern. More power station cooling towers are being checked. The Russians celebrate today as their VE Day, hold military parades through Red Square, and criticise the West for not fully recognising their wartime contribution to victory. The Channel Islanders also celebrated their liberation 40 years ago today. President Reagan runs into more parliamentary protests as the communists walk out of the assembly building in Lisbon, Portugal. He makes light of it and completes his European tour, which is a relief for everyone. At the Conservative Perth Conference, Minister George Younger ran into the predicted critics of government rating policy. Former Cabinet Minister, Sir Ian Gilmour, joined the critics of employment policy and the government suffer another defeat in the Lords on the Abolition of Local Government bill. A Scottish conservative MP dies today and the first by-election will be fought for a long while. The cabinet discussed abolition of SERPS today and they agree a watered down scheme, but it will be equally unpopular electorally.