Dad and Mum having one of their last visits in Stanton
Dad and Mum having one of their last visits in Stanton

After a slow start attending to my plants, fish and doves, I studied the large briefing document that had arrived concerning the HDC Finance committee’s local plans for the Poll Tax (or Community Charge). After an enjoyable cooked lunch, Daniel declined to join me to visit my Dad in Addenbrookes (probably being too upsetting) which probably was just as well is Dad was declining whilst experiencing delays. Bad news also from Mum as she is quite immobilised, in pain, and being admitted to hospital tomorrow.

I was joined by other Little Paxton people to speak up at the HDC Public Meeting on the New Local Plan this evening where DOOM chairman Derek Giles agreed to stand for us in the forthcoming Town Council elections.

I made a slow start to the day but, after breakfast, then spent most of the morning in the conservatory. I started by feeding the fish, watering the plants and feeding the doves and then continued by taking the dead and dying leaves off the conservatory and aquatic plants. It is quite funny to see the small Kahuku GinRin Koi who keeps coming to feed with the large carp even though they suck violently at the food. Funnily enough, they are not threatening it and take great care to avoid hurting it. Then the post arrived and with it a large document on the forthcoming HDC Finance Committee meeting and the working papers on the Poll Tax (or Community Charge).

This took a long time to absorb but I eventually cleared this and the rest of the mail. It was then time for a nice cooked lunch, which had caused Diana some trouble in the making but was justified as we ate every scrap. Daniel had a day at home today and worked hard on his schoolwork. I invited him to join me for this afternoon’s visit to Dad but he declined which saddened me. Di told me later that she thought it was him being to upset the prospect and it would be nice to accept that as the reason. I found Dad noticeably tired and weaker which upset me. His face had sunk with trouble controlling his mouth which looks sore and swollen I did not stay too long as I was a bit upset by this turn of events and I was rather tearful on the way home. I judge that he is declining whilst having to wait for the return of the other surgeons next week. Once home, I rang Freda to discuss the development. Reassuringly, she thinks that it’s the effect of the drugs but she would talk to the staff nurse about the distalgesic. From Mum, the news that she will have to going to Bury St Edmunds hospital herself tomorrow. Trying to be mobile, it seems that her back has gone and she is quite immobilised and in pain. I am going to try to see her tomorrow on the way to Norfolk.

Tea and then, this evening, I went to the HDC Public Meeting on the New Local Plan. It was a reasonably attended affair and I was pleased that three Little Paxtonians were there, as well as myself, and spoke up on the problems the plan created for the village. Village Parish Chairman, John Knight, stayed woefully silent. Afterwards, I went off with Derek Giles, chairman of Doom, who had agreed to stand for the Democrats in the Town Council election. We talked about the running of the election campaign and will meet again at the SLD meeting next week. Home late and straight to bed and asleep. Today Chancellor Lawson was ‘sticking it out’ with tales of ‘there is no alternative’ at the Tory conference. This did not pacify The City