I bought a Raleigh Chiltern bike today
I bought a Raleigh Chiltern bike today

A further day replacing the glass windows in The Lady and applying more protective varnish to her superstructure and also buying a large-framed Raleigh Chiltern bike from St Neots and riding it home. This as Daniel and friends entertain more girls in the pool and my girls are hosting Amy and Katherine for the night sleeping in a tent! The nurses sisters’ pay dispute is resolving, Nelson Mandela’s health is an issue, the US election conventions are a sad theatrical spectacular as ever but this year in sweltering conditions as it was 97degF in New York today, the 35th day over 90degF!

A rather chilly, but very clear and bright night, that had Diana feeling too cold. Awoke to my morning tea and then, after breakfast of ‘French toast’, I went out to the river garden. I set up the hoses and sprinklers to water the games lawn from both taps and left them to play all day, moving them regularly to give a good soaking. I shall cut the lawn tomorrow and we will see how much I have enabled it to recover from the yellow strips of a week ago. Another fine, warm and sunny day, ideal for varnishing. I had to dry The Lady off, as I had left it without a cover overnight and a dew had formed. Then I gave the entire sliding roof (exterior mahogany surfaces) a coat of varnish by coffee and another by lunch, as the hot sun dried it well. We all went to town then, and I took the three front windscreen sections to Hunts Glass to get some laminated glass of the right size.

I also removed the 6mm float glass panel from the front cabin and ordered a replacement to a more accurate measurement. There has always been a bad leak into the two drawers below and I concluded that the existing glass was always too small, making a waterproof putty seal impossible. For the windscreen, the existing Perspex is so cloudy that I have decided to risk a laminated glass instead, which means that we can also have windscreen wipers. They should be ready by tomorrow. Then I dropped by Claytons to ask about delivery of a 25 inch-framed cycle and found that they had got one in following my enquiry. I felt bound to buy one – a Raleigh Chiltern. It has straight handlebars, mud and chain guards, three-speed gears and is a smart black colour. I cycled round to meet Di and Della at the Cross Keys burger place (Debbie was having lunch with Amy and Katherine and will be staying tonight and sleeping in a tent!) We met Wendy Valentine there (Captain of the winning Little Paxton village sports team) and then I set off across the common on my new bike. It cost me £120, with a pair of cycle clips and lock and chain thrown in and I am pleased with it. This afternoon, after resting and drinking two large mugs from a pot of tea, I took the windows out of the front cabin, cut away rubber sealant from the cracks, sanded it down, and then applied a coat of varnish before tea. Tea was late at 6.15pm and so I just managed to do it in time. Then, this evening, I cleared up and cleared out my shed and put away all the tools from on top of the boat. Daniel helped me lower the sliding cockpit roof back onto its runners and I polished and put back the sliding doors as well. The sliding roof is now finished, apart from the deck paint (for the roof) and the white paint for the handrail supports. Then I put the tarpaulin over the front cabin and called it a day. I noticed that Daniel’s girlfriend, Lisa, is now being taken over by Steven Hicks, but he is too proud to admit noticing. We had four boys and two girls here today. One of my eldest male doves is sickening for something and may soon die – perhaps of old age. The mother hedgehog is still bringing up her babies in the shrub boarder by the back of the house. I think that I have seen three babies with her now, but they never seem to come out. The main news story this evening is of possible reconciliation between nurses representatives and management negotiators. The talks may be back on the rails. Nelson Mandela’s lawyer says that the jailed black ANC leader has Tuberculosis and calls for an independent medical examination. A man is in court charged with the murder of nine-year-old Tiffany Hoiles. She had been beaten and stabbed in what was called ‘a frenzied attack’. US Republican Presidential Candidate, George Bush, has announced Quayle as his running mate. The convention of their party is in full swing and seems to take the form of a theatrical spectacular to motivate the faithful. British Rail fares are due to rise for longer distance London commuters, which could affect the house prices north of here. It was 97degF in New York today, the 35th day over 90degF. Many other places in Central America are over 100degF. All this as rains continue to fall in the river catchment area of Sudan and threaten to swamp more land and property. Another two days fine weather forecast for here.