Successfully showing Debbie the dove chick, buying old books at Buckden, attending to The Lady’s electrics as Daniel and Paul take a school trip to Alton Towers and the Bradford fire death toll rises to 52 due to fire doors being locked and trapping them in a corridor
Awake early at 6.15am with my morning tea, but the rest of the family had been awake even earlier and the boys had got ready for their Alton Towers outing. I looked after Daniella as Diana took them to catch the coach at Kimbolton and then read more of the Economist and, when it arrived, The Sunday Times. Di brought me breakfast in bed of fried egg, bacon, sausage and bread and I really enjoyed it. A long lay in reading until 10.30am and then washed, dressed and out to the birds. I took Debbie out and up the ladder so that she could see the dove chick – which she has named ‘Dixie’. 13 eggs from the ducks. Morning coffee and out to Buckden on my own to see the small antiques faire. The stallholders are beginning to know me now, which is a pity. I found most interest in the old books and bought a 100 year old one, ‘Daddy Darwin’s Dovecote’, as well as a mint copy of Aesop’s Fables, a chess book and an old London Bartholomew’s Street Map, all for £7.50. Home for a coffee and sit down before taking the girls out for lunch at the Riverside Park. A spicy tomato soup and bread, steak and kidney for me and blackberry and apple pie and cream to follow. I let Debbie play on the climbing frame. The weather cold and very windy, which meant that the riverside park was virtually empty. Everyone now agrees that the warmer weather must come soon. A drive around St Neots sightseeing and we note that the ‘Daniel Tree’ outside Comart is sprouting, even with the dry spring.
Home and to The Lady where I modify the electrics to properly insert both the charging and discharging currents into the path of the Ammeter. Debbie comes down to call me to tea and then, after, back to feed the ducks and spend some more time in the boat – this time reading my Dovecote Country story. A poignant tale of a workhouse boy who finds his feet by looking after and eventually inheriting a dovecote and so justify his match to the vicar’s daughter. I had tried reading it aloud to the girls, but they were not interested. Time to try the boat’s electricity circuits and the modification works well. I note that the new central heating system is not fed via the ammeter and I will have to modify that tomorrow. Eventually, the ducks run the gauntlet of the Aylesburys and I feed them and put them away. I must change the straw soon as it is very high. We sold 1 ½ doz eggs today and will probably find that we do not have many to put in the auction this week. Inside, out of the cold and then by car to collect Daniel and Paul from Kimbolton. They had enjoyed their day, were somewhat tired from the journey, queues and excitement and pleased to get home. I ensured that Daniel finished his Sunday detention prep and redrew his pond insects before signing his form. An evening writing and reading after settling Daniel to bed. News tonight of the death toll from the Bradford City football ground fire reaching 52 and more are missing. Most of the dead are children or elderly and only one has been identified, which shows the extent of the injuries and damage. The planned celebrations for the football club’s promotion were cancelled today and instead a cathedral service took place. Television pictures show how quickly the fire broke out and flames spread and it seems most of the dead were trapped at a rear corridor where the exit gates had been locked. Hundreds more were burnt and a special session of plastic surgery has been organised en masse for tomorrow. Much agonising tonight on the lessons to be learnt from this tragedy.