Britain has negotiated to opt out on both Monetary and Social issues from the Maastricht
Britain has negotiated to opt out on both Monetary and Social issues from the Maastricht

Just the morning outside on the coldest day yet, carrying a few loads of ballast across the frost-hardened games lawn and completing the clearance of leaves from the gutters of The Hayling View. Then inside for Trust administration in front of a log fire ending up exhausted.

Britain has negotiated to opt out on both Monetary and Social issues from the Maastricht Treaty and is criticised by the opposition parties as being relegated to the slow lane of European progress.

Another cold day, the coldest yet, and gardener Bill Medlock only put in the briefest of appearances as he was "going south" to the milder climes of the Wyboston hot-houses to help a retiring market-gardening friend! I arranged with him to be available in the morning when I planned to use the frost-hardened ground to get Range Rover and trailer across the games lawn with a few loads of ballasts aboard. I had a bad headache for much of the day and struggled to sort out the National Savings investments for the Childrens Accumulation Trusts before taking a break later on.

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In the meantime, I lit the fire in my office and the burning logs kept me going for much of the time. Smoked salmon salad for lunch and then out to clear all of the remaining oak leaves from the roof, gutters and balconies which proved to be quite a chore. I ended up quite exhausted and did not do much more until revived later in the evening. The inquest on the Maastricht Treaty goes on with all sides presenting the results as a victory. Now Britain has negotiated to opt out on both Monetary and Social issues and is criticised by the opposition parties as being relegated to the slow lane of European progress.