This  patch  stops erratic blinking but may  prevent  the program from
working under Wayland.

--- abiword-git-180716.old/src/af/gr/gtk/gr_UnixCairoGraphics.cpp
+++ abiword-git-180716/src/af/gr/gtk/gr_UnixCairoGraphics.cpp
@@ -493,17 +493,6 @@
 
 void GR_UnixCairoGraphics::flush(void)
 {
-
-	if (m_Widget) {
-		gtk_widget_queue_draw(m_Widget);
-	}
-	
-/*
-	if(m_cr)
-	{
-		cairo_surface_flush(cairo_get_target(m_cr));
-	}
-*/
 }
 
 bool GR_UnixCairoGraphics::queryProperties(GR_Graphics::Properties gp) const