Friday November 2, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

I got up with Samuel at 7 and took him down and gave him a Weetabix and toast which he ate with gusto. He did pick out the chunks of orange peel from the marmalade. Frank is a funny old boy. He was going about his chores very quietly. I see where Ally derives much of her character. I played with Samuel for a couple of hours and he attempted to vandalise the settee, pulling at the velvet buttons. At 9:30 I took Ally her morning tea and persuaded her to get up from beneath her sweaty, cornnflower blue quilt. She is done in. ______. 

To Winchester shopping. Tonight we went out in the dark and rain looking terribly scruffy to Alresford and the Horse & Groom. I had a trout and Ally a game pie, and we sat in a dark corner making observations about the clientel. Then to the Bush at Ovington, and the Plough at Itchen Abbas where we were the sole occupants of the lounge bar, laughing at the landlord.

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Thursday November 1, 1984

 Chillandham Cross

Itchen Abbas, Winchester

A beautiful day for the time of year, don't you think? No, seriously. It;s shirt sleeve weather in Winchester. We went out this morn with our son and heir to inspect the old cathedral town (sic). Book shops are my favourite. We combed the town without success for a volume entitled 'Alphabears'. We spent £12.50 on a plate for Bessie, and I laid hands on a 1985 journal (£3.50), &c. Samuel, clad in a white woollen suit, slept for 2 hours. What an angel the boy is. How lucky we are. We returned for lunch and ate in the kitchen on the new pine. Samuel spluttered his mince everywhere. Bessie had put salt in the concoction. We had salad.

This afternoon to Alresford where we pushed Samuel by the river to let the ducks look at him. He was, yet again, at his slumbers. Alresford crawls with aristocrats. At least we had a blast of fresh country air. How pleasant it is not to have to stick to a timetable. 

Tonight: F & B dined out. We put the bear to bed and ate chops and watched TV which was abysmal. Samuel decided to wake up and we spent an hour getting him back to sleep. We had a restless night. I got up with Samuel at dawn.

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