10April1997

10 April 1977
My dear folks,

The most exciting thing I’ve done today is to have my hair cut. And that suited me just fine. It was the last hair-cut I’m likely to get from Sue, the wee Scottish lassie who’s been trimming my locks at His & Hers across the road for the past few years. Indeed, I’ve seen so many lassies come & go from His & Hers as makes me feel quite elderly. Sue was one of the nicest. She & her Greg are going back to Dundee from whence they came. She says she never liked it before she left it. There’s a moral there of course, but not one that you’ll need me to draw for you.

Before I retired last night, I made a long list of things to be done. It vanished first thing this a.m. but I reckon I got about half way, which isn’t bad. The day began with a cycle tour of the banks, health shop & fruit shop. Then I motored 15 mins down the road to Viglen to inspect more closely two of their computers which I’m interested in. Although I must have spent an hour examining the two models & talking to a saleswoman, I came away as irresolute as I’d arrived. One costs more than I’m willing to pay, the other lacks certain features that I want. I’m not in a hurry & am content to bide my time until I can get exactly what I want at the right price.

It’s been the most glorious sunny day, more deserving of June than of April. Indeed, I feel guilty sitting in the study instead of out on the patio although it’s all of 8 p.m. I took a good hour to water the flowers & cut back some dead winter foliage. One creeper (Jones would know what it’s called) has leapt from its half barrel & is scrambling most satisfactorily up the wall. Another, sadly, has perished, after being nipped by frost. I shall replace it tomorrow.

I took the opportunity as well to water the window boxes left behind by the departing tenants on the ground floor. The painter is nearly finished redecorating the flat. I got told off by Zanussi who sent a repairman around yest. to fix the flat’s ailing washing machine only to find me out. I’d clean forgotten & was most repentant. The repairman is due to call again next week. I was able to hand the keys over to the new tenants this evening. They are young couple whose excitement at the prospect of moving into their own flat brings back distant memories.

Freglet is coming tomorrow to talk computers. He is interested in getting one. He was interested in getting mine but we’ve both thought better of it. It’s worth more to me than I can honestly sell it for.

We continue to suffer all the indignities of a mean-minded election campaign. I guess all election campaigns are mean. Like divorces, they’re full of high emotion & finger pointing & hard to focus on the issues at hand. The degree of “you did”, “no I didn’t” is getting beyond a joke. When one considers that these are our leaders squabbling like brood of bad tempered siblings, it’s quite depressing. I’m heartened only by the reflection that it’s the least worst form of government. Indeed, after reporting on what passes for government in many other parts of the world, I shall not complain at all.

The news of the day: the National Trust has banned stag hunting on its extensive properties after a “scientific study” established beyond doubt that stags really hate being hunted. According to the study, they suffer severe distress when they’re chased by slavering hounds anxious to tear their throats out. This finding has been angrily denounced by the “animal loving” stag hunters who face the loss of their favourite sport. They are going to conduct their own counter study to prove that stags get at least as much of a kick out of it as the hunters do. Am working Sat, Sun days and then Mon, Tues nights.

Blessings
T