Preparing The Lady for our trip to Norfolk
Preparing The Lady for our trip to Norfolk

A finance and tax planning meeting this morning and then time sealing The Lady’s roof leak and loading aboard spares, fishing tackle and all else ready for its journey to Norfolk. UN Security Council members to call for a ceasefire in the Iran/Iraq war, the Finchley miners successfully picket a number of Yorkshire pits, despite the NUM and The Guardian and Observer sought a lifting of the MI5 book injunctions in the High Court today.

A fair night during which I had some trouble keeping myself at the correct temperature. I think it actually got warmer as the night progressed. Tea in bed and sat too long again, but got up when Di came up to get weighed. She was only 10st 2/3lbs on the scales, bereft of all clothes to get the best reading and she looked quite fetching in that double condition. Only the difference to 10st to go in order to win a new wardrobe. Hair washed, shaved and showered before dressing for breakfast. Arrived last at the table, but supervised a reasonable meal.

Even so, Della is being particularly difficult these days and is most tiresome to please. I spent the first part of the morning in the office, reading the paper and post, then updating my financial summaries to include the effect of the Trust disposals of the European Home Products shares. I then gathered together the EHP share certificates and contract notes and took the Daimler into St Neots for a meeting with Roger Brittain, my accountant and trustee. We dealt with the final information for my 1986/7 Income Tax Return, I paid across the £10 sponsorship of his ‘Butterfly Walk’ (he is the President of St Neots Round Table) and dealt with a few other matters outstanding. This chore over, I walked around the shops; withdrawing £250 cash from the Gateway Building Society, buying a ream each of bond and photocopying paper from the office supplies shop, and then getting supplies of engine oil and distilled water from an accessory shop for The Lady. Home a little late for a nice lunch of pork chops, then a rest after, catching up on today’s news and financial news. The stock exchange share prices fall today, which might be the start of a trend, as the effects of inflation and the election boom frighten the City. Later, I went out to The Lady and tackled the cabin leak that had appeared above Diana’s bunk. Sealing mastic had cracked and I stripped it off and tried to dry the joints out. Tissue proved to be surprisingly effective, as it drew out a lot of water by capillary action. I sealed the result later with sealant. I also greased the prop shaft and re-packed the stern gland, then stowed a whole range of paints, maintenance items and fishing tackle below decks. A little packing is left for tomorrow and then The Lady can be taken to Buckden Marina to await its transport to Norfolk on Wednesday. Earlier this afternoon I took the boys and the Range Rover to collect Steven’s boat from Abbotsley and launch it at the public slipway in St Neots. This is the previous wreck that I collected for him from the roadside on the A45 last year and he has made a good job of restoring it. In at dusk after feeding and putting away the ducks, then to the lounge to write up today’s journal and catch up on the news and watch a couple of TV documentaries on BBC TV. Main story is the unanimous decision of UN Security Council members to call for a ceasefire in the Iran/Iraq war and return to the previous frontiers. Iran immediately rejects the call, but is now isolated from world opinion and will suffer in trade and arms deals as a result. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the US reflagging of Kuwaiti oil tankers for ‘protection’, which will be a risky policy. The Finchley miners successfully picket a number of Yorkshire pits, despite the NUM policy and the Coal Board management are showing a loss of patience and conflict seems imminent. The Guardian and Observer sought a lifting of the MI5 book injunctions in the High Court today, but there is no response as yet.