8May1996

My dear folks,

Bernie & her friend, Flea, are safely arrived & very pleased to be here. Their flight touched down from Cape Town at 05.30 - a useful 20 minutes early - yesterday. They were through into the arrivals hall shortly after 06.00 & we comfortably beat the dreaded peak hour traffic jams. I had time to sit them down for a cuppa & a chat before I hauled out the bike & took myself to work. As a write, a well-practised snore emanates from the bedroom upstairs. Bernie had spoken of ear-plugs earlier - whether for herself or Flea I’m not sure - but Mavis & I may well have to fit them too.

Work was quite interesting. The team editor was in Delhi covering the Indian elections & the number 2 phoned to say he was dealing with an attempted break-in & would be late. That left me to take what’s known as the hot seat - running the bulletins. Indeed it can be very hot indeed but we were well covered on a series of big stories & I found it only pleasantly warm. I was working with an enthusiastic team to whom I delegated all the work while making myself comfortable. The number 2 arrived mid afternoon, having replaced his battered front door which the intending burglars had stove in.

My guests had bought a Marks & Sparks chicken which we had for supper together with some salads & boiled potatoes over a bottle of French wine - very good too. They’d promptly taken themselves off to explore London. As they’re planning an extensive visit to Europe, I’d warned them to be careful of carrying valuables in handbags & donated 2 old wallets which strap to the body. However, they had to deal with nothing more exciting than a bus going in the wrong direction & returned pleased with themselves & their sight-seeing adventures.

Mavis did his usual close inspection & put in a bid to join them upstairs for the night - which they declined. To my astonishment, he went absolutely bonkers over the remains of the chicken which was lying tantalisingly on the worktop. He has never before shown the least interest in any food other than his own. But he paced up and down the kitchen strip, pleading for the scraps. Every now and then, he’d stand up against the cupboards & try to see over the top. I warned him that his life was at stake if he helped himself. Eventually, Bernie herself begged me to relieve his sufferings - & he gobbled down the bits with relish before settling himself under his (green) lamp for the night.

Now Wednesday had dawned as beautiful as Tuesday. It was the loveliest day yesterday although it started cold at barely 3*C. Jones I’m wishing such weather on you although there is still a line of storms that cover the whole of Spain & much of France. I’m going to grab a slice of toast & take myself off to work again. I’ve got Thursday & Friday off.

Blessings ever.
T