All morning and afternoon working on the eaves and guttering with Daniel’s help when he returned from school and had satisfied me about his homework and then reading Debbie The Country Companion before Nigel dropped round with a burglar alarm. The government is selling of British Airways, The Dow Index suffered its largest ever daily fall as riots continue in Bristol and also in Norway where the visit of Thatcher is inflammatory over her South African policies but £600m will be spent on filters for 3 out of 12 coal-fired power stations
Another weary start to the day, reading a local paper as I drank my morning tea. Noted that our Gordon Road house was being advertised for the fourth time and is still not sold. Late getting showered, shaved and dressed, but eventually joined the others at the table for a humble meal of toast and marmalade. A misty and cloudy start to the day, but soon the sun burned through and it became dry and warm again. Out to the doves, who now feed well at the new feeder, and a long chat with the gardener about my plans for joining together the riverside gardens. He has taken down a lot of the shrubbery and opened up the view even further from the house.
Started on the run of guttering at the rear of the house by the swimming pool – a torrid task, first removing all of the guttering, then the supporting clips, before rubbing down the bargeboard, painting it and putting up the support clips and guttering afresh. It took all morning and afternoon, but today, Di arranged a coffee and tea break to make it more bearable. When Daniel came home, we went up onto the rear balcony and then onto the roof, with a ladder to paint the eaves – and a frightening experience it was too! Checked Daniel’s work tonight and also read Deborah a volume of Country Companion at last. Nigel dropped round a burglar alarm this evening, which I shall fit to my sheds. The air is still full of stubble ash. The news this day is of the government’s plans to sell British Airways, the country’s flag-carrying passenger airline, in the early weeks of next year. The Labour opposition may re-nationalise it when next in government. It is the largest airline in the world. The American Dow Jones index has fallen 80 points for its biggest ever fall, as frantic selling follows fears of interest rate rises. An ugly situation in the St Pauls area of Bristol today, as police raided the area for drugs and a riot is continuing in response this evening. Pat Phoenix, Coronation Street TV actress, has been given the last rights and also married her man friend in her last while alive, before dying of cancer. Police in Norway had to use teargas on a protesting crowd, demonstrating against the presence of Margaret Thatcher for a banquet. They were expressing disapproval of her policies on South Africa. Britain is to spend £600 million on sulphur filters for coal-fired power stations and reduced acid rain emissions by 14%. Environmentalists say it is not sufficient, as only three are being altered out of the twelve big stations