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After first valeting the Rolls-Royce, ahead of Linda Nagle’s wedding tomorrow where the car will be used with white ribbons and bows, the rest of the day working on the Lady, fitting my new window glass before the rain came later. The Pakistani authorities believe that a rocket or bomb downed Zia’s plane and Nelson Mandela’s illness might yet lead to his release from jail
I had a very late night and was consequently tired in trying to get up this morning. Still, I had swam last thing yesterday and so could skip my shower and was therefore first down to breakfast, leaving myself time to read the morning paper again. After the meal, Daniel dragged me out to start on the Rolls Royce. He and I brushed and vacuumed the upholstery, carpets and floor for half an hour and I gave him a pound for his efforts. He then had to set off to St Neots and go with his boyfriends and girlfriends to Cambridge, where they were to have lunch and watch a film. He came back rather sad later, according to Di, having lost his ‘girlfriend’ to his friend Steve – though he does not admit the status before or after. This morning, Diana had helped me finish off the Rolls. We took a leather each and I used a bucket with car shampoo in it and Diana one of clean water as we wiped the car all over. We finished with a sparkling result and we then tied on the white ribbons and tied bows to make the car ready for Linda Nagle’s wedding tomorrow.
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Another clear bright morning working on The Lady, filling in and sealing the cracks in her mahogany superstructure after time in bed with Diana worrying about her health and before a later visit by Nigel, considering whether to sell his business. The death of Pakistan President, Rajiv Zia, killed by the crash of is aeroplane together with 5 Brigadiers and 5 Generals, huge cuts in social services announced by Brent Council and more unrest with Middlesex Hospital nurses voting to strike
Down to breakfast of cereal and, being early, I managed to read the morning paper during the meal. Out this morning to The Lady and, after uncovering the front cabin, I gave it a last coat of varnish. The rest of the morning and much of this afternoon preparing the aft cabin for varnishing. Had to dig out and scrape off a deal of old varnish, then cut into the cracks with a knife to provide a key for the sealant. My technique is to inject the clear silicone-rubber sealant into the cracks after applying two coats of varnish on the dry, bare surface. Raced off this afternoon, after the second coat of varnish on the aft cabin, to collect my panes of glass from St Neots. Then home to let Diana have the Range Rover, whilst I glazed the starboard cabin with one of the panes. As I was well into the job, Nigel Smith popped round and we had a chat. He is thinking of selling up his business for £0.5 to £0.75 million and I can only encourage him to do so, based on any experience of mine. Stayed late in my workshop and then had a night-time swim in the pool on this hot and clammy evening.
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A further day replacing the glass windows in The Lady and applying more protective varnish to her superstructure and also buying a large-framed Raleigh Chiltern bike from St Neots and riding it home. This as Daniel and friends entertain more girls in the pool and my girls are hosting Amy and Katherine for the night sleeping in a tent! The nurses sisters’ pay dispute is resolving, Nelson Mandela’s health is an issue, the US election conventions are a sad theatrical spectacular as ever but this year in sweltering conditions as it was 97degF in New York today, the 35th day over 90degF!
A rather chilly, but very clear and bright night, that had Diana feeling too cold. Awoke to my morning tea and then, after breakfast of ‘French toast’, I went out to the river garden. I set up the hoses and sprinklers to water the games lawn from both taps and left them to play all day, moving them regularly to give a good soaking. I shall cut the lawn tomorrow and we will see how much I have enabled it to recover from the yellow strips of a week ago. Another fine, warm and sunny day, ideal for varnishing. I had to dry The Lady off, as I had left it without a cover overnight and a dew had formed. Then I gave the entire sliding roof (exterior mahogany surfaces) a coat of varnish by coffee and another by lunch, as the hot sun dried it well. We all went to town then, and I took the three front windscreen sections to Hunts Glass to get some laminated glass of the right size.
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I was taking advantage of the warm and sunny weather to work on The Lady’s woodwork, as my neighbours were enjoying their riverside gardens, Daniel & Steve were hosting girlfriends in our pool and on his boat and Debbie and Della were hosting friends Amy and Katherine and swam all day. An overheating economy is worrying the markets, authorities are under the spotlight over chid abuse and pollution, postal workers have voted to strike and Enzo Ferrari dies, aged 92
Up several times during the night and to the toilet. First, too warm, and then, too cold, and so did not get a full night’s sleep. A fretful breakfast, trying to read my paper. The girls are getting very naughty these days, playing me up and being egged on by Daniel. I read a little of Saturday’s paper, in which the gurus are becoming quite nervous about the stock exchange. Out to The Lady on another fine day and first took off the tarpaulin that had been protecting her all yesterday. Then I sanded down all the varnish that had hardened in the interim and pieced back together the sliding door surround channels. I screwed them into place using Seelastic to seal them against the weather and it took all afternoon, as well as the morning, to complete this job. My Gordon Road neighbours were well in evidence again on this fine day. Now that Eddie & Stella have filled in their river frontage and turfed it, they share the amenity with not only their next door neighbour, Jenny and Jim, but also with the new owners of No 39, with whom Jenny & Jim seem to be great friends. Di and I are pleased that we sold our old house to suitable people after it was previously let to all and sundry.