After a wet night and then a boiled egg breakfast, combining my carpentry and gardening with watching the test match and taking Debbie horse riding as Short Brothers in Belfast, a Protestant reserve, orders its staff to stop sectarian actions at work on pain of dismissal and in South Africa, the opposition used parliamentary privilege to publicise the government’s use of repressive powers.
A good night and then time to read the paper for once before showered, shaved, dressed and down to breakfast. Boiled egg, which I enjoyed with Della and Debbie, as Daniel is still staying away. A wet night had left the ground sodden, but having cut the grass on Wednesday, the gardener hoed and weeded the flower and shrub beds, which had appreciated the rain. I resumed the carpentry involved with shortening the antique pine window seat by 10 ½” and, when I dismantled it, I could see the name of the original patron penciled on to it –‘ Dr Woods’.
The carpenter had made a good job of it and I had trouble dismantling its sound joints and making the alterations, without losing its symmetry. In to watch the morning’s play in the Test Match, which was slow going, but England got three more New Zealand wickets. I got myself lunch of salad sandwiches, but the afternoon and evening’s play was ruined by rain, bad light, cautious umpires and the New Zealanders playing for the draw. Went to take Debbie horse riding later and she did a canter on her own for the first time. Worked until dark and nearly finished the seat before doing the ducks. News today was of Northern Ireland. Short Brothers, the provinces biggest employer, has told its workers that anyone involved with sectarian intimidation of colleagues faces dismissal. All flags and bunting at the works, supporting the protestant cause, has to be taken down. Meanwhile, John Stalker’s career remained on a knife edge as the Manchester Police Authority meets late into the night and then agreed that he should be reinstated with a critical rider concerning his choice of acquaintances. In South Africa, the Progressive Federal opposition, used the privilege of Parliamentary Debate to criticise the government as being drunk with power and outlined the reality of the repressive emergency powers. After a Bristol jail breakout, two prisoners are still on the run. 9 remand prisoners overpowered 5 wardens and a female driver on the way to court. 35 prisoners and 4 officers were taken to hospital with smoke ailments after a fire at Perth prison. Much congestion as the roads and airports see a flood of people leaving for the Bank Holiday. I hope that the weather improves for the Test match.