Taking Di to Bedford shopping on another very mild day, before home to lunch and then doing some DIY chores for her and watching ‘Anne of Green Gables’ together this evening to please her but she remains in the wars with soreness and coughing. NHS Hospital doctors complain of tiredness after working 80-hour weeks and the threat of an EEC/US trade war increases.
Poor Diana had a rough night with her coughing again, keeping me awake as well, and she went to sleep on the settee in the lounge about 3am. I was first up, checked on Di who was still asleep, and so made my morning tea and then started showering and shaving. Breakfast together with Gary, Daniel’s friend, who was still staying with us. I exchanged affectionate cards with Diana on this, our 20th wedding anniversary, and told her that I was at her bidding for the day. I asked whether I should take her shopping, do practical jobs around the house or restart my history work. She opted for Bedford and we enjoyed a morning looking at the sales. At least, she did that and I went in between Woolworths and Marks & Spencer comparing the plants. I had chosen a fine Croton but it was sold as I decided and so settled for a small Areca Palm instead, which was small but of good value. We drove home and had lunch, as we still have lots of Christmas food left uneaten.
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We always feel bound to finish it up but I’m already half a stone heavier than I once was due to gorging myself. This afternoon, I tried some manual work. I did not get too far trying to install the ventilator fan for the shower room; but I put hooks and strings on Di’s notice pin boards (which he has bought for her and the children) and distributed them around the house. This evening, I watched ‘Anne of Green Gables’ with Diana and Debbie. A week after the Lockerbie air crash, it is confirmed that the aeroplane was brought down by an explosive device in the forward luggage hold. The recriminations begin over security, along with an inquisition as to who are responsible and there are already calls from U S extremists for retaliation against Arab interests. A new health row has broken out over the dismissal by health Minister David Mellor of the complaints by hospital doctors that they are falling asleep and making fatal mistakes by having to work 80-hour weeks. The doctors had mounted a protest over Christmas. The threat of an EEC/US trade war have increased with the commission’s president, Jacques Delors, threatening 100% customs duties on honey, maize nuts and dried fruits after a $100 million US trade sanction over EC bans on hormone-increased meat. As a footnote to this otherwise blessedly affectionate and happy day, I have to report throwing an apple late this evening at an errant Debbie and missed her but hit poor Diana square on the forehead and made her cry! Di is in the wars. She now has a bad breast from laying on her tummy to avoid coughing! Another very mild day today, which is quite unnatural for the time of year. Pete and Joan returned from their break today and we were glad to benefit from the help again.