A rainy day away from my history project reading the Sunday papers and tending the doves and nest boxes before picking up Daniel from Gary’s house and taking the family to see my Mum and Dad in Stanton ahead of my Mum’s hospital admission. The Russians offer the USA a medium range nuclear ban but Thatcher will be against that and a fatal ski lift crash in Luz Ardiden kills six and injures more than 100 passengers
After a relaxed evening and early bedtime, I slept soundly and was glad of it. Awoke to find Di in the bed and made the best of it and then the girls came in, hand-in-hand, to take Di off to make the drinks. I got up and looked at our new nest boxes from the house. Already the blue tits had found the box over the pool and the starlings were staking a claim on the larger one, mounted on the sycamore tree. Showered, shaved and changed for breakfast and I really appreciated my fried meal. Stayed at the table afterwards and read the Sunday papers, cover to cover. Then, out to the doves and ducks on a mild, but rainy morning. I noticed that one of the doves was suffering with its legs caught up in some fishing line. It was later in the morning, as it was roosting in the pole-cote, that I caught it and Di helped me to snip off the offending nylon bonds with sharp scissors.
It can easily tighten around a pigeon’s legs, stop off the circulation, and lead to their subsequent amputation. For the rest of the time this morning, I got out Debbie’s repair box and managed to fix many of the broken toys, and also took time to clear up my office. I was pledged not to do my history etc this weekend and the rainy weather rather upset my plans and left me rather at a loose end. Time then for lunch and the normal Sunday routine of best silver, china and a nice roast chicken to eat. Some time washing up and clearing away afterwards. Then it was time to lock up the house, set the alarms and get the girls in the Range Rover for the start of the trip to visit my Mum and Dad. We first had to drop off of the A45 at Cambridge to pick up Daniel from his friend Gary’s house. Eventually arrived at 3.30pm in Stanton, but had a nice visit for a couple of hours. Mum is in good spirits, ahead of her hospital admission later this week. A detailed chat, then the family played ‘Scrabble’ with Mum and she thoroughly enjoys the visit and activity. Home quite late for the girls, but they were very good. So was Daniel, and they had all grown by their measurement marks on the door at my parent’s home. The rest of the evening with Diana, writing up our journals and watching some interesting TV. The Russians have offered the USA a ban on medium range nuclear weapons that could remove cruise missiles from western European countries, including England. The West have given a cautious welcome (USA and NATO) but Thatcher and Germany will probably oppose it. In a horrifying ski-lift collapse in the French resort of Luz Ardiden, 6 people die and nearly 100 were injured. It is the second of such accidents in France in recent months. The weight of football-fan feeling and protest has led to the owner calling off the intended merger of Fulham and QPR football clubs, but the property speculator will still develop Craven Cottage, the Fulham ground, which is a tragedy. The rain is due to clear up, but tomorrow is expected to be colder.