ore nurses' demonstrations today
ore nurses' demonstrations today

The morning at my Dentist’s appointment and getting some folders before Chrisula visits with her babies later as Di helps her to settle in to Sandy. Daniel does well in his geography GCSE mock exam but is too young to drive the Reliant yet. More protests and arrests of nurses today in Downing Street and Trafalgar Square until eventually a delegation was allowed to present a petition as every London hospital has pickets to end ‘non-urgent-operations and the BMA wants an extra £1,500 million of NHS funding.

An early night and slept well to make me much more rested this morning. Up, showered and dressed in presentable clothes for my visit to the dentist in St Neots this morning. First I had a couple of hours and so I read today’s paper and then worked on my history files for a while. Drove in without any trouble from floods etc. The water is down and Pete back to working in the garden. I was at the dentists on time and he handled my filling well. It is the last molar on my lower jaw. It had a broken cusp and this was the last filling possible, as it would have to be crowned next time. He gave me injections around the area and cleaned up my teeth while it took effect. I did not feel any pain from the drilling or filling, but my jaw was numb and sore for most of the rest of the day. Bought a couple of folders from the stationery shop and, once home, had my morning coffee and sorted out my Reliant papers ready for the vehicle’s arrival on Friday.

I checked on its insurance today by phone and we can cover it comprehensively under a collector’s vehicle policy for £45, much better than the insurance broker’s first estimate. Worked on in my office until lunch. Chrisula Jackson and babes had come to visit, as Di is trying hard to help her settle into Sandy. Trouble is, she is such a chatteringly odd person, who never stops talking absolute drivel. She is both superstitious and silly and a queer sort, as even Di now acknowledges. Worked on this afternoon and evening until I had re-edited the history section on the old high street cottages, burnt down in the 1945 fire, which was quite a job. Sent off for Daniel's driving license application today, but I don’t think he will be able to drive the Reliant until he is 17 – unlike the regulations when I was his age. He did well at his geography GCSE mock, coming within a few marks of getting an ‘A’ grade. Amy Low stayed with us today, as she was too unwell for school. News tonight is of the NHS dispute. A nurse was arrested trying to get passed a cordon to No10 Downing Street. There was an earlier rally in Trafalgar Square, a march on Whitehall was then blocked and angry scuffling broke out. Eventually, a deputation was allowed past Downing Street. There were nursing pickets at every London hospital and Lothian Hospital cancelled all ‘non-urgent’ operations for a week. The British Medical Association has called for additional funding of £1500 million. This ended the nurse’s day of action. Just about 100% of the 50-strong British fleet of ferries were idle today, due to the seamen’s strike, but there will be court action to try to stop it tomorrow. A strange nuclear power accident rumour unsettled the world’s financial markets today.