Thursday June 3, 1982

 Back to Winchester after breakfast on the hunt for a suitable birthday present for Bessie. We sat in the Baker's Arms [packed with stuffed trout and salmon in glass cases] writing a postcard to Auntie Hilda. An old man sitting nearby was coughing and spluttering into his ale. Then to a cafe, or cocktail bar, where the waitress almost dropped her tray on seeing Ally. "Didn't you go to the Plough with John Pinder?" she enquired. Ally had no idea who the girl was. The waitress said it was Ally's brown eyes she recognised first. We sat talking about Pinder afterwards. No doubt he's fat and balding somewhere in Dorset.

To the Bridge at Shawford and to an old book shop afterwards. At 3 we went to Alresford to buy Bessie a thimble and stand on which to display it. Tonight to the New Inn [where we bought Andrew a drink for fixing the car lights], and finally to the Horse and Groom where we cuddled.

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Wednesday June 2, 1982

 Ally and I to Alresford looking at the shops. We bought a china bed pan and chamber pot for £1 each. We went to the Globe, and because of the early hour [11:30am] we sat outside surrounded by ducks, who disturbed Ally. She hates things that move. Then, to the Horse and Groom at the top of the High Street.

Back to the garden at Chillandham Cross. Frank and Bessie went out to dinner at Fordingbridge. Ally and I went out for a pizza at a deserted and characterless place in Winchester. We were the solitary diners, and sat upstairs. Later we walked in the cathedral grounds. It's eerie that nothing has changed for 900 years.

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Tuesday June 1, 1982

 Ally and I shopping to Winchester. Does Bessie want a garden umbrella for her birthday or would that be a white elephant? We decided not to bother. Drove to the Bush at Ovington for lunch [yes, we are addicted to the place]. We had a ploughman's lunch in a corner. Watching the Hampshire debutantes with their glasses of bitter lemon.

England has no equal on a summers day when the temperature is 80 degrees F. This afternoon we sat beneath a tree drinking a large jug of Campari cocktail and writing ridiculous postcards to home.

This evening we had soup made from the Sunday roast lamb and Bessie and I shared a large trout. Delicious. 

Monday May 31, 1982

Dave, Lynn, & Frances

 Bank Holiday in the UK

A summers day in the garden. Frank cuddled Frances and walked her around the garden whispering to her. He has taken to her in a big way. Lynn is quiet and unhappy about traveling home in the heat of the day but is resigned to it. They left at 3:30. Frances, in the back of the car, waving like a miniature Queen Mother. Graham and Gill arrived just after we returned to the deckchairs. Graham in his white shirt and black trousers like an Italian waiter. He made us play a game. We were all given a sheet of paper and told that in five minutes we had to write as many words as we could beginning with 'S'. So, without further ado off we went. Sieve, slipper, stupid, sick, silly, sloppy, sluce, spice, stink, salvage, sand, sandwich, salvo, &c. I managed 54 words, only to be beaten by Frank who notched up 60. In the past Gill has scored 88. They went off to a party at the Lynn residence and Ally and I passed a romantic evening at the Bush at Ovington in the dark and cool of the bar. We did try to sit outside by the midges got us. It's the good blood you know.

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Sunday May 30, 1982

 Whit Sunday

The Mayfly.

Very hot again. The dawn chorus accompanied by the cuckoo. Frances ate an apple on the lawn and afterwards we found she'd sprung a top tooth. She is very much a replica of David. At 1 o'clock we went to a pub, the Mayfly, at Leckford [?] near Stockbridge. Packed with swarms of people. Only one man behind the bar, and too many thirsty Whit Sunday revellers. Once at the bar we ordered three drinks each to prevent further queuing.

We discussed Dad's retirement and suggest a family gathering at Giovanni's with a blue iced cake inscribed with 'Let's Be 'Avin' You' or some other appropriate police inscription. Lynn was amused at this.

Lynn continues to 'borrow' Ally's summer dresses and can be found rummaging through her drawers.

This evening we went to the New Inn to meet Graham and Gill, and Michael Lynn. Ally in blue stripes looking like someone in Vogue.

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