I returned to Norfolk for a boating holiday in cool weather after great success fighting the most demanding and problematic election campaign I had fought, taking over St Neots Town Council and rising to share the task of leading the opposition to the Tories on Huntingdonshire District Council.
I managed a little family time but Di was unhappy with me spending most of my time elsewhere, opening up with opened up with a litany of relationship complaints. We enjoyed time in Norfolk towards the end of the month, cruising around the Norfolk Broads aboard The Paxton Princess.
The UK economy is dead in the water, with many losing their jobs as their companies fold and so many tales of hardship. US President Bush survived a heart attack and, in India, Rajiv Ghandi, leader of the Congress party was assassinated just like his mother, Indhira, had been. The Ethiopian civil war is a cause of international concern with the population facing starvation.
There were some good sunny days when I was too busy to enjoy them but the coolness returned later with days alternating between dull and sunny but mild and with no wind to speak of. Towards the end of the month the weather set to a cool pattern and we pitied the holiday-makers we met as the chilly weather continued.
This month was the reverse of last. It started with the election campaign and ended with a few days in Norfolk with Heronshaw and the Paxton Princess at last. The former was quite a campaign, being the most demanding and problematic that I had ever fought; with the problems not being finished with the close of poll. Even so, it resulted in a Polling Day Triumph as we had won a handsome landslide victory, with both Michael Pope and Derek Giles elected as Councillors and all nine of our St Neots Town Council candidates that stood giving us nominal control of St Neots Town Council.
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There was the business of Mayor-making as our party did not have an outright majority. Deals were needed with the Tories to secure what we wanted as Daisy Seager, the lone Labour representative, was being difficult. Then there was the matter of Tony Carmedy, our successful Eaton Socon candidate found to be disqualified on grounds of a recent criminal record! I had to keep this under wraps whilst securing a replacement and found this best done by recruiting former opponent, Ross McKay. In all, this Eaton Socon Ward's election had been totally troublesome from start to finish and we need more support elsewhere in St Neots in the future to reduce our dependence on it as I tried negotiating with the Labour Party to support us in the St Neots Town Council Mayor making under the veiled threat of ceasing to give them a free run Eynesbury of we fell out over it as we still make the running on press publicity.
Then there was my work as the District Group leader as Labour had done less well and our LibDems were level as joint leaders of the opposition on the District Council where we agreed to cooperate against the Tories; negotiating the committee places and arranging for colleagues to fill them and organising finally my "Thank-You" barbecue. I had forgone an opportunity to fight a doomed parliamentary battle to oppose the Tories and encouraged colleague Sue Sutton to stand instead at the cost of me helping her as campaign manager. I was chairing the Constituency Campaign Strategy Meetings which were difficult affairs with everyone tired after the local elections. Our priorities were different and relationships were increasingly strained.
Several nice sunny days passed and I wished I could have done more work and got nearer my boat than be running round after everyone in local politics. I had to chair of the first meeting of the new Village Hall Committee after the Chairman absented himself and a joint meeting of the Parish Council and Village Hall Committee to agree the design for an extension to the village hall. I supported the St Neots Almond Road re-cycling event. However, I did not mind some local duties and saw how well the Little Paxton Guides had portrayed the Village history after my recent talk to them. I had every pleasure in judging them fit for the award of their Heritage badges.
Eventually, I found time to return to my personal and financial affairs; after us being away at the time of the end of the financial year. This was a tough task, but I managed to prepare my new savings plans and financial planning transactions but was ‘flogging a dead horse’ trying to save On-Site Training with its franchisees. There was time off, however, to be taken with Steven Bloom and his ‘friend’ Christine to the East Coast Boat Show in Ipswich but there was little new to see there. Then the short trip to Norfolk to put Heronshaw and the Paxton Princess into some sort of shape, after work done connecting the autopilot to the Navstar navigator and plotter and enjoy a few days holiday. Daniel arrived home from University for the weekend, confident of passing his University first year exams, had been staying at Heronshaw and made plans for his new Norwich flat for the following year. In Horning, I found the bungalow and boat rather dirty untidy after Daniel had visited with his friends, and had to buy a set of Addis plastic bowls, buckets and accessories for Heronshaw but at least they enjoyed the facility. refitting all of the cabinets and panels removed in the Paxton Princess for the engineers to do their work lately. We enjoyed time in Norfolk towards the end of the month, taking the girls over to the Horning Leisure Centre for a swim. Then the trip into Norwich to collect Daniel and Angela to lend him Di’s car before we cast off. Downstream past regattas at Horning and Thurne Mouth before mooring up at The Stracey Arms where I made plans for navigating the Yarmouth bridges at low water the following day. Cruise from The Stracey Arms to Great Yarmouth, navigating the Bure Bridges and mooring up at The Town Hall Quay where Daniel joined us for the day to enjoy a McDonalds lunch and visit to the Pleasurebeach. After he left, we went to the cinema and found three Dutch yachts moored alongside upon our return, making it difficult for the night. After an interesting night with the Dutchmen alongside and their shore access augmented by the transit across our decks of the Customs and Excise officers, we enjoyed Great Yarmouth seaside amusements with the snails in Joyland a particular pleasure for the girls. We then cruised upstream under the Bure Bridges to moor at Stokesby where the antics of boat hirers were the next frustration. After a walk and look around Stokesby, we cast off and cruised on up the River Bure with Debbie helping at the helm and me tidying up the boat and lowering the mast and canopy for Acle Bridge on our way to Horning and home. We found Jack mowing the lawns and Daniel with Angela using the washing machine for their laundry. The Jolly to Horning Staithe for lunch before leaving in two cars to visit Mum in Stanton. Then home to receive a bevy of letters and telephone messages and to work on without much progress before bedtime.
I managed to visit Dad's grave at the cemetery for some peaceful thought, refreshing the flowers, and completed some important domestic work with the swimming pool and conservatory. Mum seems to be deteriorating slowly as could be expected and I have made little effort to see Freda and family as they accept so little of my advice and have not made efforts to accommodate Mum. At least I hear Freda’s leg is more comfortable and the business is reportedly making progress. Diana's closer family are well, and I took Di for our customary visit to see her parents in Cambridge for coffee, but we have recently had the funerals of two of the older members who we normally see at Christmas celebrations. Diana opened up with a litany of relationship complaints which I avoided responding to. In truth, we are not exactly an ideal match; but we have lasted this long and with a little more mutual consideration can make the best of it. All this whilst also designing invites for "Debbie's Swimming and Roller-Skating Birthday Party" birthday event at St Neots Recreation Centre to take place on June 1st and often playing with Della, giving her a piggy-back into the conservatory to feed the fish before getting on and tending the plants, fish and swimming pool. I thus spent a little time with the family, joining the Little Paxton Bird Walk to hear the nightingales as well as many other species as we listened to summer visitor bird song. I bought a tennis net and posts and settled up with Mr Larkin for the river work. We had dinner with Nigel and Lynne Smith in The Sun bistro in Kimbolton. We consumed three bottles of wine between us for which I paid and let Nigel settle the meal.
The economy is dead in the water, and this presents many problems to those being made redundant of losing their jobs as their companies fold. So many tales of hardship come in as councillor's case problems. John Major defended his radical National Health reforms and had to agree to meet the B.M.A. as the Tories were behind in the opinion polls and putting back their estimates of the election date. The latest British government scandal is the 31% increase in the profits of British Gas following its privatisation to become a huge monopoly and the government refused to drop the testing of seven-year-old school children in favour of continuous assessment.
US President Bush has had a heart attack and is in hospital with irregular heartbeats. In India, Rajiv Ghandi, leader of the Congress party was assassinated just like his mother, Indhira, had been. The Ethiopian civil war is a cause of international concern with the population facing starvation.
I was left looking forward to a much calmer June where I could fully catch up with all of my outstanding matters and try to relax and enjoy my boat a bit more.