A useful visit to see Mr Les Forscutt to borrow more of his 1849 Rix Little Paxton pencil sketches and then back home to carry on reading up about electronic publishing before lunch. The bricklayers were continuing to work on my new conservatory but an HDC Building Plans rejection is cause for concern. News of the USSR making a historic pledge to release all the ‘political’ prisoners by the New Year, which is good news but, in South Africa, the extreme right-wing party is obtaining success in the local elections which is bad news and a blow against the cause of racial integration.
Up on time for breakfast for a change and so I could chase up the children to tidy their bedrooms before the meal. Read the paper and it was then time to go and see the old gentleman in St Neots who has so much history material Mr Les Forscutt. He lent me more of the Rix Little Paxton pencil sketches of 1849 to get copies off. He is always so helpful and friendly and, apart from his common interest in history, he is also a supporter of my political party! Home by 10.30am where I found Di with three ladies and nine child visitors which was quite a houseful. At least the children were very well behaved. I read a bit more of my electronic publishing books until lunch and again after until, at 2:15pm, I felt able to conduct a few expediting phone calls. First, to my Rolls Royce insurance claim people to try in vain to get the balance of my money settled. Then to chase up the development of my camera film left two weeks ago in Huntington.
Much of this afternoon doing some more work and editing of my pre-war Little Paxton chapters whilst Daniel operated the Apple Mac for interest. The builders finished off the brickwork and cleared up this afternoon, ready for the conservatory to be erected but worrying news: the Huntingdon District Council building control office has come back with a refusal on the building regulations approval. They are querying the strength of my pond walls and the rigidity of the conservatory itself which is worrying as we have finished the groundwork and ready to do the erection. This evening Moira Biggins came round to look at the Apple Mac after I had asked her to help. Unfortunately, she does not seem to be keen on spending much more time and so my idea of involving her with the editing and production of St Neots District Focuses seems to be falling on stony ground. News today is of the USSR making a historic pledge to release all the ‘political’ prisoners by the New Year, according to West German Chancellor Kohl. The US remain sceptical until they see it happen. In South Africa, the extreme right-wing party is obtaining success in the local elections, which is a blow against the cause of racial integration.