Di and I setting off for The Kimbolton Ball this evening
Di and I setting off for The Kimbolton Ball this evening

Staying at home to complete the editing of my financial summaries as Di makes a long visit to Bedford and then to collect Nigel and Lynn from Hail Weston House in my immaculate Daimler and an enjoyable night dining and dancing at the Kimbolton Ball . The Barcelona Air traffic controller strike continues, more Iranian oil tankers are hit by Iraq in the Gulf and Israel resume strikes on Palestinian Refugee Camps, killing 25.

A little earlier to bed last night as Diana stayed up with me. But then woke up around midnight and rolled over to visit Di, who complained this morning that ‘a brute had raped her in the middle of the night’. Up as normal this morning and tried to persuade Di to have only a short trip to Bedford, but she wanted to stay for a long shop and lunch as well. I stayed at home, therefore, and spent the day in my office. Read the last two day’s FT’s before settling at my desk, completing the print out of my income summary and then updated the income version. The TV athletics made a big distraction, but I got the job finished and results printed out in due course.

I made my own lunch and then had a small sandwich and drink in lieu of tea, as we were due a proper meal later this evening. I also tended the swimming pool and Daimler today, to make sure that they were in fine fettle. The pool becomes more troublesome, as the sand filter could really do with replacing and the boiler servicing. The car was OK overnight and ready for our evening out. I managed to feed the doves this afternoon, but the ducks stayed out and defied my efforts to find them early enough to put them away. Then Di and I had our scramble to get ready and dressed up in our evening suite and dress. We must have looked very smart as we left in our nice clean and shiny Daimler. We arrived at Nigel & Lynn’s Hail Weston House on time, but a bit flustered. Di hates these formal occasions and is always very nervous, but I take them in my stride. Some nice drinks with their friends and then we took a couple in our car and led the convoy to Kimbolton Castle. A long and pleasant evening in these historical surroundings. A welcoming drink, a slow candlelight meal, and then drinks and dancing until 3.00am in the morning. Di won the first raffle prize of a bottle of Hermes Cognac, which we offered in glasses to our guests. We were the last to leave, as Mr Watson was locking up. This evening we saw our Dentist and one of our Doctors practice and, with last year our accountant, it is strange to have our situation so well known. The house OK on our return and we see the automatic lights going on and off to mimic the situation of the house being attended. In the athletics today, poor Daley Thompson was only 7th after injury and loss of form, but bravely completes the events. He vows to be back for the Olympic Games next year. The Barcelona air traffic controllers strike was called off at the last moment, as the dates for back-pay are miraculously agreed after political pressure to settle. Further strikes by Iraq on Iranian oil tankers, as they claim the legitimacy of using these attacks to bring Iran to the negotiating table. Now Perez de Cuellar is due to see both sides during his forthcoming visit to the Middle East. Ladbrokes are due to take over the Hilton International Hotel Group, which I think is good for the shares that I own, but it will need yet another Rights Issue. Israel have resumed air attacks on Palestinian refugee camps in the Lebanon and 25 are claimed killed.