We awoke at half past six to the sound of the alarm. It had been raining and was windy and cold. “Courageous” successfully defended the America’s Cup overnight by taking an unassailable — no pun intended! — lead in the series of seven races. In this final race she finished comfortably ahead of “Australia” by two minutes and twenty-five seconds.
In tennis, Australia defeated Argentina by three rubbers to two. Played in Buenos Aires, Australia’s representatives in the reverse singles were Phil Dent and John Alexander. Dent defeated Ricardo Cano in straight sets: 6-4 6-4 6-3. Guillermo Vilas accounted for Alexander in the ‘dead’ rubber: 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-2. Australia’s victory means that it will meet Italy in the final of, this, the Davis Cup.
It teemed prior to eleven o’clock, but then began to fine somewhat and this provided me with the opportunity to go for a walk. “A Man Called Dagger”, a film from 1967, screened from noon. It parodies spies and includes Sue Ann Langdon and Terry Moore in its cast.
In “Department S”, at three o’clock, a jet airliner, that is six days overdue, arrives in London. I thought I would walk to the railway station and escort Tiki home, however, in chilly, rainy conditions I had to wait around for an hour from half past four. Although she had received a lift to as far as Rockdale, she had had to wait at both Hurstville and Sutherland stations. With light rain falling, we purchased a dozen eggs of a medium size for a dollar and four cents.
Susan Strasberg guest stars on “The Rockford Files” at half past seven. Tiki slept on the floor from half past eight as I watched a repetition of “The Benny Hill Show”. She has looked in my cheque book and made note of the fact that I have spent four hundred dollars on a present for her birthday, which falls due next month.
She took three guesses as to what I might have bought for her; one of which was correct. The other two were also items of jewellery. Fully expectant of the fact that she would be peeping, I had deliberately refrained from writing Diamond Traders’ name on the butt of the cheque.