The Queen was booed during a demonstration by Maori in New Zealand
The Queen was booed during a demonstration by Maori in New Zealand

A better night and day with my scalded foot as I recover but spend the day rather ineffectively working on documentation for my new boat as I received visits from the press and a colleague in my office. News of progress in talks to release Nelson Mandela with a possible end to the State of Emergency but two British journalists were expelled from South Africa because of their reporting of the rebel cricket tour and HM The Queen was booed during a demonstration by Maori in New Zealand, militants over their claim for land rights. In East Anglia, American Air Force planes were grounded completely after two planes crash within 48 hours

By far my best night with Diana managing to spend it with me in our double bed which showed that I was again sleeping all right. I then spent the day at home to save my foot, but the injury is still very painful if I try to stand. I had a bath to make things easier (as a shower is denied to me) and then dressed and sat in my office with my leg up. Diana helped me to get my papers around me and I sorted a few out but was not very effective. Then I had two visitors and spent the rest of the morning on the telephone. Celia Chignall came by to borrow my Plan documents and to discuss yesterday's meeting. Percy was here to do some photocopying as usual.

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After lunch, I joined Daniel in the lounge, and we used my computer to start drawing an accurate layout of our new boat. I then continued that until the end of the day, declining the "urgent" meeting commitments this evening. By this time, I had produced a first-class plan, even though it was a bit of a waste of time really. At least it passed the time and I was with my son who is home from school with the 'flu. There is news that there may be a compromise reached soon between the ANC and the South African government over the release of Nelson Mandela. He had been holding out for the end of the State of Emergency that has been curtailing the freedom of black people. The news is of two British journalists of being expelled from South Africa because of their reporting of the rebel cricket tour which was uncomfortable for the government. Back home, Labour mount an attack on the government in the Commons over their education policy. There is more trouble on the industrial front. In New Zealand, the Queen was booed during a demonstration by Maori militants over their claim for land rights. Here in East Anglia, American Air Force planes are grounded completely after two planes crash within 48 hours. More storms and rain are on the cards for the next couple of days, even though the river has not yet gone down from the last ones.