19May1997

Monday 19
(To strains of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.)

Mother your three page fax has just rolled off the machine. Thank you. You have had a busy week, have you not & a splendid one by the sound of it. I can’t speak for Iris’s phone bill but I’ve no doubt that Kenneth winces. And it’s not too late for either of you to go on to email. You’ve been preached at enough, I know, but you can send 50 emails for the price of a local phone call & I often do. I should be only too happy to spend a couple of July days inducting you into the mysteries if you should feel in the least tempted.

Re our new Labour government, so far it wins my full approval & that’s something not lightly given. I commend its parliamentary programme & its first moves on Northern Ireland; likewise its handing control over interest rates to the Bank of England & its whacking of our water companies (with their huge profits & leaks) sharply over the knuckles. No doubt the honeymoon will end, as all honeymoons must. But the new government has put its right foot very firmly forward. The Conservatives are still hopelessly divided as they bicker & backstab in the run up to their leadership contest. One candidate, my most odious villain, Michael Howard, the former Home Secretary, is being mauled by his former deputy, the formidable Ann Widdecombe, who says he’s a proper shit & not trustworthy. She’s quite right too. His hopes are all but dashed. It can only be a good thing for his party. Meanwhile, I note that Canada is preparing for its own election. Your views??

I hadn’t spoken to Kevin & Ann about accommodation, although I’d assumed that I’d be staying in the B&B. But to be with them will suit me very well indeed – and them too in all likelihood, as you say. I had a note from Penny yesterday asking if I’d read a passage from Paul at the wedding service. Said if she thought I was a suitable person to do so, it was fine by me.

It’s a muggy day here, with the odd light shower. I spent two hours getting through a mound of washing & ironing before doing my usual rounds. The phone went at one point. Turned out to be Beeb short-handed yet again & wondering if I might do another extra shift. I groaned so loudly that I barely had to reply. I did feel for the shift lady though. She has an impossible task trying to fill the gaps that arise all the time. Most of us have all the work we can cope with & are not looking for more. And it’s going to get steadily worse as the drift to new departments continues.

Anyhow, I don’t mean to end on a negative note. I have the most heavenly music rolling through my superb new speakers & a tranquil afternoon & evening to look forward to. Will leave it there and send you lots of love.