11July1995

London: 11th July 1995
(Actually just after midnight on what still feels like the 10th)
My dear folks,

July eleven, the day that Jones was born just a few years ago. Happy birthday little Jones! Once a girl hits 50, one remembers the day but starts to overlook the year. I hope it's a happy day. I hope they're all happy days. I look forward to sharing some of them with you shortly. Three days to go. Roll on Portugal.

My news! Well, this day it was announced that Terry Benson had won the £20 million lottery jackpot. I kid you not. S'true as God; cross my heart & swear to die. I could not believe it myself when BBC colleagues drew it to my attention & asked me how I planned to spend the money. But it was true. Indeed he had. And his wife, B(renda) Benson, was as delighted at the news as he was. It was the strangest feeling to watch him celebrating on television this evening & to see the name TERRY BENSON captioned across the bottom of the screen. Good luck to him. He's an electrician of 61 from Hull who's worked from age 14 & who's thrilled at the prospect of a few easy years & an inheritance to bequeath his children. The only drawback, as the video editors pointed out to me, was that the chances of two Terry Bensons winning the jackpot were absolutely minimal & I might as well give up trying.

It's hot! I looked at the thermometer when I got home around 8 p.m. & it read 80*F : 27*C. That's hot, especially on an evening without the hint of a breeze. I've got the fan nodding away beside me to make the study bearable. The air-conditioning system at the Beeb damn-near collapsed under the strain of trying to keep the place cool. Hassled engineers said they were doing their damnedest but it simply wasn't designed to cope with the conditions. The ride home was a steam bath affair through air stinking of fumes all the way. Yucky poo! Give me the wide open plains!

I had a salmon pie supper & then spent a while chatting on the patio to two distant relations of Jones who are visiting Britain & will be staying with us a while in Portugal. We sat & watched the swallows & enjoyed a lingering sunset. The lateness of the summer light just boggled them. I had booked a car for them to pick up at Lisbon airport. They fly down on Friday, the same morning I depart for Faro, & will tour for just over a week thru Portugal & Spain before arriving at the Quinta.

Cathy, I hope the party was a great success. Thank you for your faxes: Jones it's great to hear that finishing touches are being put to MCP; K & A, I was sorry to hear of the sale of the land, however sensible the reasons. I guess it was just part of special memories; tremendous to hear that at last the dealership seems to be within grasp. Keep us posted. Hope you enjoyed the hosses. While I can appreciate the historical importance of the beasts, I prefer mine under the bonnet. Today, as I cycled to work, the horse guards came cantering in a glittering line down the road, pulling their gleaming guns behind them. I see them often, a dashing & noble sight. Bike, on the other hand, lives in the hall; doesn't wee & pooh, or fall sick & eat a daily fortune.