A little late to meet the others for lunch at the Copper Kettle
A little late to meet the others for lunch at the Copper Kettle

Another trip to Cambridge, increasingly busy with tourists, and a look at the unimpressive Grafton Centre but only time for phone calls to the local activists’ executive as I had matters to get agreed at Huntingdon District Council and Little Paxton Parish meetings later.

The national Tories in all sorts of bother again with ex-Prime Ministers, Thatcher and Heath, falling out over Europe in a pretty big way. A showery but milder day that of late

It was another normal morning routine and then, there being only sufficient time for the morning chores, we all left for Cambridge as soon as the girls had gone to school. The traffic and road works on the A45 were a bit of a problem and we therefore diverted through Abbotsley and Gransden to avoid the delays. We met Di's father for coffee in Eadon Lilley's and he was pleased to see us all again. Then we each divided and went our separate ways shopping. I walked over to the Grafton Centre which was singularly unimpressive and has never recently taken off as a shopping attraction in competition with the town centre. Many of the units are empty and others occupied by short-term discount selling operations. I could not even find a taxi to take me back and ended up walking which made me a little late to meet the others at the Copper Kettle.

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This eating place was crowded, and, with the end of the University Exams, the tourists were returning and the city looking quite busy. Home in the Range Rover (paying for the car park at the new increased rates) and so only returned to work in mid-afternoon. Just managed some work before having to prepare for this evening's meetings. Had several telephone calls from Cambridge activists who were preparing for this evening's meeting of the executive that I would not be able to attend. After tea, it was off to the HDC Leisure and Amenities committee where my motion to protect young children from the harmful effects of tobacco was being discussed first. I obtained support from the committee for the items that mattered most and then left to get back to the village in time for a Little Paxton Village Hall Committee meeting.

This was just about successful in achieving most things but Chairman, Alan Cromack, made hard going of many items and the forthcoming fete which looks as likely to lose rather than gain money! Home in time to see Diana and then early to bed as I had scheduled an early-morning interview live with Radio Cambridgeshire. The national Tories in all sorts of bother again with ex-Prime Ministers, Thatcher and Heath, falling out over Europe in a pretty big way. The weather continuing showery but milder than of late