Klaus Barbie, 'The Butcher of Lyon'
Klaus Barbie, 'The Butcher of Lyon'

After a philosophical start the day, an impromptu decision to take apart the riverside summer house and build up its foundation to a better level, breaking off to take Debbie horse-riding as I leave a started Diana to receive the conservatory salesman. Westland Helicopters make 1.00 redundant and Klaus Barbie walks out of his French ‘show’ trial

An early call and cup of tea this morning, as I was awake when Di got up and requested it then. Sat in bed dozing and dreaming for a while afterwards, thinking of the house improvements as being non-ending the way things are going. With some weariness, I got showered, shaved and dressed and then went down to breakfast in time to get the children to clear up their rooms before eating. I then went out with my binoculars to feed the doves by hand and then scan the surroundings for interesting birds. Suddenly filled with enthusiasm (as the early rain had cleared up) I started taking apart the summer house. Within a couple of hours, and with the slight help of Mr Larkin, I had disassembled it and stacked the components on the riverside patio.

Tired and hungry, I then went into the sitting room and relaxed to watch a TV documentary on a woman trying successfully to be a jockey. I had weighed myself this morning at 13 st 3 lbs, which is the least I had been for years. Di returned late from the shops in St Neots and we had a cooked lunch at a quarter to one. This afternoon, I took to my office and cleared my desk of papers, sorted them, but did not do any real work. An early tea of salad sandwiches, then I realised that an appointment with a conservatory salesman conflicted with my weekly task of taking Debbie horse riding. I opted for Debbie and an alarmed Di had to receive the salesman. Deb had Flint to ride in the school and did not do as well as on her regular pony, but managed OK. Home and I then set out the new position and height for the summer house foundation with pegs and ran the power and alarm cables to the vicinity. In at dusk and to clock Daniel’s homework, which was a bit thin. Then to my journal and the TV news. Conflicting opinion polls cause some confusion, but the news is good for the Tories and Alliance. Westland Helicopters has made 1,000 people redundant and the company has lost a third of the workforce. Klaus Barbie walks out of his French show trial, claiming that he had been brought back to France from South America by deception. The US Irangate inquisitions go on, with an emotional McFarlane defending the President. Rain is forecast for tomorrow.