Time with my friend Nigel today
Time with my friend Nigel today

Cancelled the Coventry trip to exchange my Daimler for a Bentley and advertised it in the Sunday Times instead and then played with Di when she returned in her ‘Fairy Godmother’ outfit before taking Debbie horse-riding and then enjoying an evening at The Caxton Gibbet with Nigel and Lynne in his souped-up Jaguar. The 50% Reagan/Gorbachev Arms deal is signed and prison security will have to be reviewed after a helicopter landed and picked up three criminals in the East Midlands

Had another difficult night and another difficult day. Was troubled in my sleep again by this ‘full’ feeling and had trouble getting going this morning. I was late to breakfast, with Diana and the girls starting early, just to make sure Daniel and I ate alone. Then I decided against making the appointment with the Bentley salesman in Coventry and so phoned up and cancelled it, also calling Nigel to let him know, as I had let him down somewhat in the process.) Then I called both the Observer and the Sunday Times and placed the following advertisement to appear next Sunday, ‘New 1987 (D) Daimler 3.6 automatic, air cond., Westminster blue, doeskin, only 1960 miles, hardly used by one retired owner. Under full Jaguar warranty, with possibility of extension to February 1990. First bank transfer of £32,000 secures. Mr Broad, Huntingdon (0480) 215040’. I had seen two other dealers advertising ‘D’ registration Daimlers for £32,000 in last week’s Observer that had done 11,000 and 7,500 miles respectively.

Then I settled down to read the last two day’s papers and became aware that Di had not arrived back for lunch and so I made my own and ate it whilst watching the television news on the Washington Summit. Diana had gone to help at the playschool party, as a ‘Fairy Godmother’, dressed up in a ball gown and carrying a wand. When she came back later, Della was happy to sit in front of the TV and so I chased Di as she went upstairs, stripped her naked, except for her makeup, necklace, watch and perfume and made love to her on the top of our large bed, neither of us feeling the cold, even though there was no heating on upstairs. To my office this afternoon to do some financial transactions and attempt to clear my desk. I reconciled my bank and credit card accounts, before it was time to have an early tea and take Debbie to her horse riding again. She had Dylan again and had a struggle getting him to do everything she wanted. He is young (at 5/6 years) and naughty and needs a strong rider to stop him playing tricks all the time. Debbie kept the reigns too long and did not kick and smack him on, as she should and so I will get her some new ‘gripper’ riding gloves and try to get a private lesson organised for her to get on top of him. A rush back home, shower, change of clothes and then ready for our evening out with Nigel and Lynne Smith. Even more of a rush, as they had arrived early. We drove in Nigel’s souped-up Jaguar (the ‘Mean Machine’), which was a bit hair-raising, and had a pleasant meal. The Caxton Gibbet is newly redecorated and struggling to make its reputation and clientele. The decor is very nice, the food well prepared and presented, but the staff so nervous it was embarrassing. It didn’t help that we were just about the only ones there. Interesting conversation on all manner of topics, with education high amongst them. It is funny that we get on so well, because our politics are poles apart, with the Smiths being staunch Tories and Lynne being involved now with the Institute of Directors. Home by 11.00pm and just time to scan the teletext before bed. The Reagan/Gorbachev summit had ended, with instructions to their Geneva negotiating teams to finalise the 50% strategic missile cut treaty in time for signature next spring/early summer in Moscow. Russia have agreed to do this, despite Reagan’s unwillingness to hold back on Star Wars research, though the two sides interpret the existing ABM treaty differently with regards to the testing of new weapons in space. This should eventually lead to the 50% cuts, but Russia will hope Congress and a future President would cut back on SDI and be more amenable to a deal. The worst ever US trade figures today led to sharp reverses on the UK and US stock exchanges and the dollar fell by two cents again. A daring break out at a high security prison in the East Midlands, as a helicopter was hijacked and the pilot forced to pick up three convicted criminals from a sports field inside the enclosure. Soon prison guards will have to be armed and watch-towers arranged if this goes on.