Lunch at Wimpole Hall today
Lunch at Wimpole Hall today

A trip in my Rolls Royce to Cambridge and morning coffee with Di’s parents in Eaden Lilley before meeting up with Rural Development advisers about investing in agricultural property and then driving to Wimpole Hall for lunch and back for a SLD meeting this evening. The Nurses pay talks break down, two Tornado jets crash into each other, killing four airmen, UN peace-keepers head off for the Gulf to police the Iraq/Iran ceasefire and Holloway prisoners castigate the 280 striking prison officers.

Awoke to find Diana had slept downstairs last night and then washed and dressed quickly to be early for breakfast. Gary Skinner is still staying with Daniel and also joined us for breakfast. Then half an hour in my office preparing papers, before we all got in the Range Rover for our trip to Cambridge. Arrived there at 9.45am and met Di’s parents at Eaden Lilley for morning coffee. I then walked up to Shire Hall to see Peter While about Rural Development, together with his boss, the Assistant Director of the department. It seems they might be able to help me financially and with advice on my plans to invest in agricultural property. Off by car again to Meldreth for some swimming pool chemicals, then on to Wimpole Hall, where we had lunch and then took the children around Home Farm.

Daniel and Gary were a bit anxious to get back home, where they had invited local girls to come swimming. This afternoon, I went to St Neots to do some shopping, then, this evening, I had a St Neots SLD meeting at Mike Pope’s house lasting until late. Quite a busy, but productive day, after which I can get back to my boat repairs tomorrow. Main news story this evening is of a breakdown of negotiations to implement the nurses pay award, with the unions accusing the government of sabotaging the deal. Two Tornado jets have crashed into one another over the North of England and four RAF men are feared dead, after they originally took off from East Anglia. A UN peace-keeping force is heading out for the Gulf, following the Iraq/Iran ceasefire agreement. Prisoners of Holloway Prison have condemned the 280 officers for striking over staffing levels, by issuing their own typed press release. No name decided and announced yet for the new Princess of York.