Preparations for a successful bonfire night party tonight with lots of neighbours enjoying our fireworks and huge bonfire but I still managed to take Debbie for a successful horse-riding lesson before the event went ahead un-dampened by the light rain. I am proceeding with the purchase of the Linton Manors as US concerns mount over an Iranian arms deal being made for hostage release, The USSR mounts a huge nuclear weapons display in Red Square and Local Authorities press ahead with teacher dispute negotiations ignoring Ken Baker’s offer of 'help'.
A cold, but sound night, but was a bit tired and reluctant to wake up this morning. Struggled to shower, shave and dress and then went down to find the girls playing up at the breakfast table. Managed to bring them to heal by feeding them ‘Daddy’s special marmalade and toast’. Decided on some time outside this morning, preparing the gardens for tonight’s bonfire party. With Pete, we put up a ‘compound’ or paddock around the shed area, to keep the children out of the deep mud, and arranged the food table and floor coverings within it. I got out the table canopy to cover the food area, cleared Bill’s shed and, with Pete, carried down the hostess trolley. In to lunch, somewhat shattered after my exertions, but I had to go out again after, to move chairs out of Bill’s shed and put more combustible materials under the bonfire. Also found supports for the firework display and made sure the boats were moved and protected. Time then to take Debbie horse riding. This week she had Flint for the first time and was a bit nervous of him. He had been playing up recently and needed the exercise, but he was reluctant to do very much. Though it was not a successful lesson, at least Debbie got to know him and loved him by the end. A friendly old pony, he kept putting his head over the spectators rail and stopping!
Home to put the coloured lights on round the gardens and get right ready for our display. We had a light tea and then I went out with Daniel to start to set up the Catherine wheels and rocket launchers. Then, on the dot of 6.30pm, Daniel lit the first firework and I lit the fire. From a deserted scene, all the guests started scrambling to arrive and soon filled the ‘stockade’. Plenty of food, Di’s cider punch, and me lighting well over a hundred to two hundred fireworks, including some very good ones. Only a slight drizzle and that failed to dampen our spirits. John and Brenda Tomblin and their family came to visit and, after this evening had ended, they were invited in for a coffee and chat. Debbie was tired and fell to sleep! The bonfire burnt on and will do so for a few days yet, until it is all finished. A thoroughly successful and enjoyable do. Today Fraser Paskell of Vinters had been fussing around over the title of the Linton Lordship and, without that, I was prepared to let them go. Late to bed, writing up these past two days journal, which had gone by the board. News today was of the confirmation that all but two of the Chinook helicopter passengers had died and it seems that the two large counter-rotating sets of rotor blades might have demolished each other, after a gearbox failure. Mounting consternation in Washington over reports of arms sales to Iran being the quid pro quo for the hostage release. The Local Authority negotiations are putting a new offer to the teachers and are studiously ignoring the intervention and terms proposed by Education Minister, Kenneth Baker. A huge march past in Red Square, Moscow, today, with large display of nuclear arms, but the speeches are of the need for peace and Gorbachev tables new proposals in Geneva.