The results of my efforts to create the paved walkway as seen much later
The results of my efforts to create the paved walkway as seen much later

A cool and mostly dry tiring day of hard work moving the last of the earth and clay, cutting back the upper bank to make space for a paving stone walkway and create the extra spoil needed before taking Debbie horse-riding and dead-heading the roses. Lower gas prices and mortgage interest rate today, four men jailed for a gold vat fraud and police in South Korea suppress a student riot with baton raids and tear gas.

A good night’s sleep, but still awoke with my head cold. Morning tea and then slowly showered, washed my hair, shaved and dressed, getting down to breakfast some 15 minutes late. The problem was that I was so physically drawn and stiff from yesterday’s exertions, that it was slow going indeed. A light breakfast of wheat flakes and fruit juice, then read the morning paper a little before starting work. Wearily out to the riverside. This morning I measured an even distance of 9 ft and cut back the embankments, re-bedding the paving slabs accordingly. This had the dual effect of tidying up the banks and also finding enough spoil for the area of the ground above the sewer pipe.

In to a steak and kidney pie & veg for lunch and then out again to continue the task. This time it was the turn of the last heap of clay to be moved, spade by spade, to reinforce the bank and then came in at 4.00pm for an early tea. For today it was my task to take Debbie horse riding again. Got there on time and found that Debbie had been allocated Emma, who is slowly recovering from her recent sickness. She rode well enough to earn a mint surprise for Saturday. Once home again I tried fishing, but the water colour is too strong and caught nothing. The sun went in at the end of a cool, but mostly dry day and, after dead-heading the roses and feeling chilly with my cold, I came in to write my journal. The news today is of the results of British Gas, who have profits up by 1/3 rd and announce a reduction in domestic gas prices due to lower prime energy costs. News also of lower interest rates for mortgages. At the Old Bailey, four men were jailed after being convicted of swindling the Excise of VAT by melting down gold coins and selling the scrap gold and collecting and pocketing the VAT. More trouble in South Korea, as students riot in support of democratic representation and the riot police respond with baton raids and tear gas.