The peace of our Paxton moorings in 1989
The peace of our Paxton moorings in 1989

Awake early on a hot and sunny day to deliver ‘vote today’ leaflets throughout Paxton for today’s Euro elections and then a torrid journey by car in the heat and traffic which made us late for our Wroxham meeting. The surveyors report, discussed with our solicitors, revealed unfavourable moorings leases as well as the over valuation. Home to the riverside peace of Paxton, compared with the bustle of Wroxham, and an informal meeting of Priory Doom, now that the threat of development has been lifted

We were awake early (in my case after a very late night) in order to undertake our trip to Wroxham. I also delivered ‘vote today’ leaflets throughout Paxton to our known supporters to try to boost our support in today’s Euro elections. Then we were delayed as our surveyors report did not arrive in the post. Then a torrid journey by car in the heat and traffic which was delaying our progress. Instead of arriving at 10:30 AM, it was 11:15 AM that we got there and went to see a faxed surveyors report copy and our solicitors. The report made sobering reading in terms of the valuation which was confirmed as only £135,000 versus the hundred and £165,000 asking price. Then the contract of sale also had some problems in it. The moorings lease was rather unfavourable and then the ‘freehold’ of the river frontage actually had a 99-year lease upon it from mooring to another party that needed removal. I decided against going ahead with the purchase at this stage and on those terms.

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Okay We are now taking a step back and cancelling this year’s booking arrangements through Blake’s. The decorative state and furnishing/equipment of the cottage is also needing extensive renovation before hirers are allowed in. We visited Blake’s to arrange this and then set off home after lunch at a Riverside café. On the way to Wroxham, Diana was quite negative on Admiral’s Cottage but then, after seeing it, she was more positive afterwards! (Women!) I went to a meeting of Priory Doom this evening which was a pretty informal affair. Now the immediate threat of development has been lifted, there is not much to do stop home in the twilight, and I poured a glass of shandy in the sultry evening air and stood by the river enjoying the tranquillity of our circumstance. Wroxham is interesting and exciting, but it is anything but quiet. My Journal this evening, the news, and then sometime late gauging the election results. The news today is of the Euro election and other political and economic events. The latest opinion polls have Labour ahead again and a low turnout of votes today seems to favour them and not the Tories. There will be a London Underground strike tomorrow, but the three rail unions have agreed to go to arbitration over next week’s planned stoppages. Our friend, Nicholas Ridley, the Environment Secretary, refuses today to dedicate the Rose Theatre site as an ancient monument, which is a pity. After hot, sunny weather today, tomorrow is forecast to be the same.