Nicholas Ridley an arch-free marketeer and Thatcherite 'thows Jaguar to the Wolves'
Nicholas Ridley an arch-free marketeer and Thatcherite 'thows Jaguar to the Wolves'

Rather later to bed and to rise on a cooler day and to spend time trying to adjust my dehumidifiers before trying to talk to Mum and Dad about the future after Dad dies as he is deteriorating daily now.

This evening at an HDC Policy Committee monitoring matters due to come before Full Council and then hearing ex-Chancellor Lawson’s revelations about government rifts on economic policy and of Nicholas Ridley opting to surrender early the ‘golden share’ that prevents Jaguar from takeover. The ambulance dispute is stepping up and trouble will surely ensue

I was a bit late to bed last night and suffered this morning as a consequence. A bit late to breakfast as well and my French toast was cold. Diana was running around today over her chores and the children, but I got down to some useful filing and cleared a few matters out of the way. I also made my plans to visit Norfolk next Tuesday via Newmarket and return via Stanton with the items Mum and Dad need from the bungalow. I was also ‘playing’ with the conservatory dehumidifiers, to try to get them to come on and off with the humidity. The large one as a very poor humidity stat and, although I have now adjusted it, I feel sure it will have to be replaced with something more sensitive.

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After lunch I went with Di to Wield House in separate cars. I stayed on as Di went off afterwards to do the ‘school round’, ferrying the children to and from their activities. I tried to talk to Mum and Dad about the future. They are both trying to ignore the fate which is to befall Dad, which is fine as far as he is concerned as it leaves him in peace, but Mum must prepare herself for the consequences. They are planning to have a telephone installed on their own account there, but I’m concerned about it being answered and subsequently moved if the circumstances change. Dad’s face is even more difficult for him to control now and he has trouble with dribbling etcetera. At least he is eating all of his food but he seems to be very tired all of the time. I came home and then was out this evening to watch a meeting of the Huntingdonshire District Council Policy Committee. There were plenty of controversial issues that will come forward for our forthcoming debate in Full Council.

The news tonight is all about ex-Chancellor Nigel Lawson’s speech and that of the new Chancellor John Major. The best laid Tory plans to calm things down were upset by Lawson spilling the beans on the extent of the government rifts on economic policy. The City seems not to have yet woken up to the political and economic consequences of all that.’ Non’-Industry Minister Nicholas Ridley has opted to surrender early the ‘golden share’ that prevents Jaguar from takeover. The opposition accused him of throwing Jaguar to the wolves. The ambulance dispute is stepping up as the unions agree to handle emergency calls only from Tuesday next. Trouble will ensue. The weather is getting cooler now and I’m scheduling a Norfolk/Suffolk visit for next Tuesday.