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Saturday May 14, 1983

 Sunny morn. I phoned the rail enquiries and discovered that the train goes at 8:20. We were up at 6:30 but still eating our eggs at 8 and didn't get into town until 8:30. Instead we made the journey by bus stitting upstairs at the front, soaking in the scenery like OAPs on a mystery tour. Ally feels well but is permanently hungry. We stopped at Skipton where we posted a birthday card to Steve (Sanderson), and arrived at Settle at 11:30 just as they heavens opened. We went into the Royal Oak to shelter and sat for an hour until the tiny bus came to take us to Horton-in-Ribblesdale. We arrived at Waltergarth at 12:45 and found Papa painting a sign in one of his garages. For the first time in years the drink supply seems to have dried up. It was a alcohol-free weekend. We had afternoon tea - Ally wolfing down the sandwiches. Dad came in after his labours. They are not doing a roaring trade. They have two lads staying there at the moment, from Lancashire. They are not unduly worried about it. They have to build up the business from the tatty remnant left by the Crowthers. We dined together and watched TV. Dad was pacing around the room during 'Dynasty'. Ally was whacked and at 10:30 we went off to bed in the 'pink suite' leaving Mum and Dad sitting by the fire. They do seem very happy. Can you recall those fiery and uncomfortable days of five or six years ago when they behaved like unruly children? We slept very comfortably despite the nylon sheets. The silence of Horton takes some getting used to. Just us and a few sheep.

-=-

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Saturday May 19, 1984

A warm, gentle day. Ally and I took off to town with Samuel at 1pm. We didn't take the pram and I carried baby for two hours, by the end...