Great to have visited the Ronald Reagan Library in California and walked through Air Force One, the plane that took the former US president around the world in his mission to end the Cold War.

The classic and expensive ITV drama Brideshead Revisited, made by Granada, aired in the UK today in 1981.

Great to visit the USS Midway Museum in San Diego. When it came into service in 1945, the aircraft carrier was the largest ship in the world. Now long decommissioned it is open to the public giving an insight into post war US power and US Navy life.

Margaret Thatcher, was born 100 years ago today. The anniversary is being marked here at the Ronald Reagan Library in California, where I visited the other day. The friendship between President Reagan and Margaret Thatcher put the UK-US relationship on a very special footing.

One of many popular Western themed shows from the 1960s.

I have always loved model railways. What a delight to see the detail of the San Diego Model Railway Museum which shows the awesome achievement of building a railway across impossible terrain.

So amazing to go around the USS Midway Museum. Launched in 1945 the world's biggest aircraft carrier is now decommissioned. Now open to the public with wonderful US Navy veterans telling their own stories to visitors.

Rainbow first aired on Thames Television on this date in 1972.

Today in 1972 ITV launched its daytime schedule after the Heath government scrapped the ridiculous limits on TV broadcasting hours. ITV grasped the opportunity with exciting new shows like Emmerdale and Crown Court. This is how ATV in the Midlands promoted the new schedule.

19 October 1914. Under the Defence of The Realm Act (DORA) pubs were required to close at 10 PM. The government was increasingly concerned about the increase of alcohol consumption in areas of the country vital to the war effort.

19 October 1987. Wall Street stock market fell by 22.6 per cent, which was a greater fall on 1 day than during the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929. It became known as “Black Monday”.

Hard to believe that was 20 years ago.

The unfairness of this beggars belief. The subsidy to the 6m will not come from general taxation, which is broadly progressive, but from the energy bills of other households, many of whom are not that much better off than those getting the subsidy. Interesting he doesn’t tell us

A good example of how words can come back to haunt you!

Frank Muir thought everyone was a Fruit n Nut case in 1975

2 November 1936 The BBC Television Service from Alexandra Palace launches. tvark.org/bbc-tv-service… 2 November 1982 Channel 4 goes on the air. tvark.org/branding/chann… 2 November 1990 BSB and Sky Television merge to form British Sky Broadcasting. tvark.org/branding/sky/b…

I have been rather taken by these delightful little robot cleaners scouring the corridors of the Hilton Hotel I am in. They quietly keep the place spotless. They must have a good trade union as they only seem to work mornings and afternoons!

Back home in Blighty now after a lovely trip to Budapest. This was the amazing evening view from our hotel room. The Danube with the Hungarian Parliament beautifully lit.