Working on the house and riverside whilst having swimming interludes with Daniel and his friends until late in the evening on another hot and humid day. We hear of potential reforms introducing democracy South Korea, potentially ending the riots, the courts and the Commons review the child abuse custody cases
A hot and humid night and then the day continued in the same vein. Just shaved and dressed this morning, as I intended to swim later, and then out to feed the doves before breakfast. My morning meal of wheat flakes with the family – the flakes were Jordan’s newer ones and they seemed harder and crispier than usual. Out to the riverside after and started work shifting more earth. I had set myself the task of levelling the previous works, now that the earth had settled quite a lot. Hard work chipping away at the dry clay surface with a spade and then carting the barrow-fulls to and fro. Took me until lunch to do a good half of it.
No sign of Peter today. Pity, as I wanted him to spray the roses against a greenfly epidemic and then strim the wilder areas of the games lawn space. Went in for a lunch of salad, with pears to follow, then watched the Wimbledon tennis on TV a little, to rest. As it had been so hot, I agreed with Di to urgently fit the bypass switch to our bedroom balcony doors, so that they could be open with the alarms on for hot nights. Took me 2/3 hours to wire and channel in this feature and then pick up the wood chiselling’s after and vacuum the carpet and balcony. Not much time for work before tea, but I did have a go afterwards, just about finishing all the riverside lawns that had surfaces proud of the desired level. Now, Daniel asked me to join Jason and Clare & Heather in the swimming pool and so I did. A second swim for the day, as I had jumped in before lunch as well, to cool off. We played ball and swam until 9.00pm, when I put the ducks away etc. and cleared up. Had to kick the kids out of the pool when I came back at 9.30pm. It was still 80degF at dusk and humid as well and you could walk in and out of the pool feeling quite comfortable. Di had taken Daniella swimming this afternoon and gone to her slimming club this evening, where she found she had lost 2 ½ lbs! No time for the news or journal tonight, but I gather the main story is of reforms in South Korea that will end dictatorship, introduce free elections and end the detention of political prisoners. This should end the widespread riots. The crisis of decision is still with Teesside with the High Court case on child custody coming up tomorrow and questions in the House today by local MPs completely dissatisfied with the new guidelines introduced by the local Health Authority. The end of the British players at Wimbledon today, as Jeremy Bates lost. An SDP National Committee voted 18-13 to resist merger, but changed the referendum question, to be fair.