My parents Grace and Fred arrive on their way to visit Freda and Alf in Cornwall, where Alf has had his shoulder cancer operated on, and then Sunday lunch after which by car to Roxton park to see the steam engines and organs and then home to relax as an earthquake at Kalamata, Greece, kills 17 and injures many more, The SDP conference calls for the cancellation of Trident, a top UVF Loyalist is killed by Republicans and the Nick Daniloff spy swap looks on
A better night, but we woke at least once to tend to Daniella, who had fallen out of bed. My cold a little better this morning, as I shave and dress for a nice fried breakfast. Then out to feed the doves and, whilst doing this, my parents arrived for a visit. They were on their way on a long car journey to Cornwall to see Freda and Alf, but stopped off for a short visit, some coffee, and the use of the toilets. They looked quite fit and well and Mum no worse in her mobility and pain. They soon left, and Debbie also for church, and I phoned on, at their request, to inform Freda of their progress. News of the Butterfields is overshadowed by poor Alf and his recent shoulder operation.
To nip a cancerous growth in the bud, he had had a large part of the flesh on his back and shoulder removed and will have to experience monthly tests for fear of recurrence. He has also suffered psychologically by the results of this deformation, but now that the weather down there is a little better, he can at least get out in the garden to do a few things, though bending and twisting is out of the question. Gathered the boys together (Gary had come round to be with Daniel today) and got them to help me sweep round the pool and clean it out, ready for the winter cover. Then I laid the dining table with our best silver and china and we sat down to a nice Sunday lunch of tomato soup, roast pork, and choice of sweets to follow, all washed down with a bottle of Liebfraumilch. Some time washing up with Daniel afterwards, then, after we put on the pool cover to complete its preparations for the winter, we all set off by car for Roxton Park. The event, an annual rally of steam-powered vehicles and accompanying fun fair. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, seeing a number of fairground organs in exhibition order, a score or more of engines and many novelty items. Then the rides and all the children enjoyed them; Della on the easy rides and the others on the scary ones. We had tea there of sausage and chips from a mobile van. Then home to the birds and a relaxing evening in front of a log fire and the television. News today of at least 17 deaths in an earthquake in Kalamata, Greece. A state of emergency has been declared; some buildings have collapsed (including a block of flats) and others seriously damaged. Another bomb has exploded in a crowded Parisian restaurant, the third of the same type this past week. Lebanese terrorists are suspected, who are trying to get the French authorities to release their leader. The SDP Conference have approved a policy cancelling the Trident nuclear missile system, but in favour of a stronger role in European NATO, with a preference for cooperation in a European deterrent. A top UVF loyalist, John Bingham, has been killed by Republicans and they claim him to have been the Head of Operations of this illegal terrorist organisation. Moves on the future of Nick Daniloff are aimed at an East/West swap by the Russians, but the US spokesmen are against their equal treatment, as they say he is not a spy. The weather forecast, after sunshine today, is of more rain spreading across the country.