A fine sunny day, that turned chilly later, working on my roof before switching the swimming pool heating off for the winter and then visiting Cambridge to drop off my hired dinner suit and buy some paint when driving back as The US/USSR have a war or words over spying claims, the recriminations after the Heysel Stadium riot flow with Belgian warrants issued, 1400 jobs go at The Bedford Truck plant and fixed penalties are announced for minor motoring offences
A reluctant start to the day, but coaxed up and into the shower. Also washed my hair as well, as I keep getting smothered in dust from the roofing repairs. Down on time and enjoyed a boiled egg with the children, but Diana would not have one. Fed the doves, but they would not take anything. Strange, because there was a ground frost and the doves are normally hungry when it is cold. To the office and prepared my bank statement and building society accounts ready for some transfers. Tried also to deal with an overdue bill, but found my office number out of order and so I reported it. Off early with Daniel and Diana to Cambridge, taking the Escort Estate to avoid messing up our clean Jaguar.
Parked in the Round Church car park and dropped my dinner suit off at Moss Bros. Then coffee at Eaden Lilley, as usual, and met Di’s parents for a chat. Then looked at carpets with Di, to find a rug for the playroom and had trouble finding one made in England amongst the Belgium and German produce. Eventually settled on a beige one. Split up with Di and went to building societies and met back at the car. Dropped in to a builder’s supplies merchant on the way home and bought lots of paint. Once home, managed to do the next gable and roof above our bedroom balcony. Then swam with the family for the last time, before switching the pool heading off for the winter. A fine sunny day, but the temperature drops again as darkness falls and the frosts will soon be causing the autumn leaves to fall. The news tonight divided between the US/USSR conflict over spies and also the developments in the Heysel Stadium football riot that took place last May. In the latter, 26 British fans are now wanted under extradition warrants to appear before Belgian courts. Last May, 39 people died, as the fans attacked the opposing ones and they were trampled in a stampede. In the Daniloff case, Russia have now accused the United States of whipping up ‘anti-Soviet hysteria’. The US Senate has voted unanimously in condemnation of the arrest, rather predictably. More than 1400 jobs are to go at Bedford Truck plant at Luton and Dunstable. They blame this on the abortive merger with Leyland, but the real reason is lack of investment in plants that are still using outdated machinery and losing £1M per week. The Home Office has confirmed that fixed-penalty fines, pitched at £12 and £24, will be introduced next month for straight forward motor offences, avoiding the need for court appearances. Three ANC guerrillas were sentenced to death and executed in South Africa for terrorist offences and Mrs Martin Luther King (widow of the dead US civil rights leader) has cancelled a planned meeting with S.A. President Botha, following pressure from the black community not to see him.