Renewing the glass in the summer house as Mr Larkin eventually gets a handle on our spring water problem, then to the riding stables with Debbie and to talk to Little Paxton school about my forthcoming history talk before some time with Nigel putting the world to rights. India aid boats to the Tamils were turned back today and the Tory’s election lead is narrowing according to the opinion polls.
After a late night, was awoken at my normal 7.00am rising and drank my tea before going through the customary ablutions. During this process, I heard the engine noise of the digger and found that the JCB was gone by the time I had got down at 7.30am. I had arranged for Pete to be there by 7.00 and so he was able to let the driver out and clear up the mud from the path and road as it made its exit. Pete worked all day in the end, as the weather meant that it was not suitable for his other job. He is obviously rueing the physical and onerous nature of the work, as he asked for a pay increase on the strength of the work! I worked from after breakfast until lunch re-glazing the summerhouse. The original erection had been done without putty in the windows and, after replacing the broken window, I felt that the rest ought to be properly done.
Unhappily, I had broken one thin pane in the process and had to go into St Neots after a salad lunch to buy a replacement pane. Just a couple of hours working after lunch and then I went into Little Paxton School to collect Debbie and to talk to Mrs Barlow about her request to speak to the children soon about Little Paxton history. They are doing a village centre historical walk as a project and wish to be briefed on the buildings and road name significance. I agreed to do it and the teachers will now take some pictures and get some slides made up of the walk for me to talk to. Back for an early tea and then on with Debbie to horse riding. She was a bit nervous today riding Flint outside. After her fall a couple of weeks ago on Edwin and difficult ride last week on the road with Rumpold, she was reluctant to kick him on and held everybody up. Home to tend the ducks and doves. Mr Larkin laid in two pipes today and seems to have dealt with the springs adequately. They are now gushing straight into the river. The dredger did well along our front today, but did not get very close as the river widens opposite our boat harbour. This evening, I got a call from Nigel and went over to discuss the arrangements for Sundays christening. Also saw his finely engraved glasses and developments in the swimming pool area, for which he has no planning permission. Talked late, drinking his port, about investment and business matters, before driving back through Hail Weston Ford, the way I had come. Sat up a little late with Di studying our Norfolk Broads itinerary. World news today was of the Indian aid boats for the Tamils in Sri Lanka being turned back. In the election, Labour continue to catch up the Tories and only four points (40.5 vs 36.5) now separate them. Alliance votes are about 21.5.