Winnie Mandela
Winnie Mandela

I was busy taking Debbie twice to her riding stables to ride and tend Sundance and then for her swimming in-between, whilst also treating my Ohgon Koi with a salt bath as I had been advised to do. I watched England win her rugby union match and then returned to my book, laying out my newly-edited Paxton Park chapter. Salman Rushdie is still threatened despite his apology, Afghanistan is in a state of emergency after the Russian withdrawal, and Winnie Mandela, in South Africa, has agreed to disband her ‘bodyguards’ who are suspected of the factional murder of political opponents

An earlier nigh but not a very early one. This morning I took Debbie to her horse-riding stables (twice each side of a swimming lesson in St Neots) and then left her there for the rest of the day. She went out for a hack and spent the rest of the time grooming, feeding and looking after Sundance and seemed quite happy at the experience. Between times, I gave the Ohgon Koi a salt bath (2 ounces per gallon, 12 gallons), which the fish doctor advises to combat his latest problems. This afternoon, I watched a little rugby; seeing with satisfaction England beat Northern Ireland at the Irish ground. I was back to my history tonight (having also spent some time this morning preparing) and I laid out the first half of my Paxton Park chapter.

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Di was pressing to go to bed and so I finished early. Salman Rushdie, the author of ‘Satanic Verses’, has made ‘an apology’ but the statement has received a mixed reaction. The Afghan president has declared a state of emergency and tension mounts now that the Russians have withdrawn. The food poisoning crisis rumbles on and a Commons Select Committee are preparing a report critical of the government’s handling of the situation. Winnie Mandela, in South Africa, has agreed to disband her ‘bodyguards’ who are suspected of factional murder of political opponents by ‘flaming necklaces’ made of burning tyres.