Cruising from the Stracey Arms to Horning with Wiggly at the wheel and me philosophising and then home via McDonald’s for lunch and then Redgrave.
Some time with Sarah’s family at the shop and then trouble with Diana as I dropped by The Hayling View at the end of a hot day.
It was already both the warmest and the driest summer since the 17th century.
We made the effort to get up quite early, taking Sam for a walk along the flood banks to let him let off steam.
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I had tried to control him more than of late and would not let him jump back over a gate when he wanted so that he barked in frustration.
I was hot, tired and thoughtful so I layed on the front cabin for a change, enjoyed the breeze and watched the world go whilst I thought about my situation and philosophised. Wiggly took the helm to give me this much-needed break.
The morning radio news was about the growing drought conditions with most of the water companies introducing restrictions as we had no rain and so much hot sun. It was already both the warmest and the driest summer since the 17th century.
We got back at Horning around lunchtime and stopped off at the Ferry Marina for a pump out before mooring up at Ropes Hill Dyke to end our voyage. We had little time to do very much but grab our things and leave Horning for our lightening visit home and to Redgrave.
A drive-thru McDonalds for some milk shakes and a couple of Big Mac meals with an apple pie to round things off as I embarked on another of my hectic drives .
Once back in Eynesbury, we set up the portable computer; checked, altered and printed out Sarah's job offer, after which I left Wiggly to carry on whilst I went over to the Hayling View to collect Della's library books.
Diana and the girls had just arrived back as I was leaving but it was as well that they did because I had gathered up a pile of library books of the kitchen table that had only just been got out of St Neots library. Della soon put me right and gave me the correct ones.
I was then upset by Diana blandly stating that she did not want me visiting regularly and was intending to redirect my mail. I felt that this did not recognise the need I had to keep in touch and see the girls in a home environment, not withstanding the necessity of collecting my mail, swapping files and doing other things in my office.
I felt that by coming on Tuesday and Friday mornings when she was out anyway would have been no real intrusion. She raised this as I was just seeing Della briefly and try though I may I couldn't avoid tears in front of Della as I left her for the evening.
Back to Wiggly who had had a much better session, arranging hotels for Glasgow and Edinburgh and was full of her own news. We soon set off at 6.30pm for Redgrave but it was some time before I could talk to Wiggly about my worries and she was very sympathetic.
On to Redgrave for our meeting with the Francis family arriving slightly late after a rush only to find that the others were even later. As well as her partner Mark, Sarah had also brought her brother Steve, an accountant, as well as her mum and dad who all wanted to be shown round the building and ask their questions about the business proposition.
As an accountant Steve asked the most difficult questions and I had to respond to the issues of management charges and lease rates.
We departed late after a long discussion and had the very definite impression that Sarah wanted to take the job though she has her contract to consider, and take away and sign. It was very late before we got back to Horning but we still sat up till 12.30am talking about the hectic day.
Remaining upset with Diana springing her demands upon me I was still glad to have been able to see Deborah and Della today and so rested contently with Wiggly who was sound asleep.