To collect our new Range Rover from Marshalls and then borrow a trailer to collect the abandoned boat off of the A45 verge to take to Steve’s place and then really strict with Daniel’s homework before catching up on today’s newes: Mutual diplomatic expulsions as the US and USSR act tough in public, the BBC back down over a programme exposing ‘Thatcher’s Militant Tendency’, cuts to support grants for British Rail (in contrast to the policies of other European governments) and mortgage rates start to rise again
To bed quite early last night and slept with Di on the best of terms. Another wet and windy night and still raining as I drank my morning tea and showered and shaved. After Di cut my hair last night, I shampooed it this morning and it was much more comfortable and manageable. Breakfast of boiled egg with the family, then read the Financial Times, as they all left about their business. At 9.00am, I phoned Marshalls of Bedford to see if my Range Rover was ready, but Mr Pink was not in and so we left anyway, with the Jaguar limping along in the pouring rain. Wiper blade coming adrift, exhaust blown, fuel tank nearly empty and gasping, but we managed to get there and changed into the new Range Roger, with automatic transmission and air conditioning. Rather a different style, but a luxury working vehicle.
Parked in Luke St multi-storey, after outchecking the headroom, and enjoyed the prospect as we rode so far off the ground. To the coffee shop and, leaving Di and Della to start Xmas shopping, sat and read the handbook. Then to Halfords to buy a number of accessories, before lunch back at Debenhams. Home after, in time for Di to meet her friends and I returned to St Neots for some building society transactions etc. Then, after making up a trailer number plate, I collected Daniel and Steve from school. We borrowed a trailer from St Neots Marina and collected an abandoned boat from the A45 verge and took it to Steve’s place. A mission of mercy, but the 4-wheel drive and tow bar reigned supreme. Once home, had to be really strict with Daniel over his homework, but got there in the end. In the war of diplomatic expulsions, the USA has waded in with the expulsion of 55 Russian diplomats, which seems a rather excessive response to the 5 dismissed by the USSR. Reagan receives Chancellor Kohl of West Germany, as the first European visit after Reykjavik and Thatcher will visit Reagan at Camp David in November. It remains to be seen how the expulsion war continues and whether it will affect arms control negotiations. The BBC backed down in the High Court today, apologising to two Tory MPs accused of being part of ‘Maggie’s Militant Tendency’ and paying them £20,000 each. This is after pressure from the Board of Governors and some opponents are saying they were influenced by political consideration. British Rail is having its grant support cut by 25% over the next three years and this is greeted with alarm by the rail unions and commuter & user groups, who point to the larger grants that continental trains receive from their governments. With the outcome of sterling and the bank rates still unclear and unstable, Halifax Building Society has jumped the gun and risen its mortgage rates by 1 ¼ % from November the 1st. More rain is forecast overnight, but a brighter start is in prospect tomorrow – though it won’t last long.