Monday November 25, 1985

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

Chillandham Cross.

The mornings at Chillandham Cross never vary. We go downstairs to a groaning breakfast table, piled high, and always eat in the kitchen. Bessie has always half-cooked the bacon, &c, to prevent us from breakfasting simply on toast. Afterwards we went into town and poked around in the shops. Bessie came too. She is looking for curtain material featuring birds and flowers for the new lounge, which looks impressive. Chandelier lighting. Our Christmas present to them is going to be a Sam Chadwick print entitled 'Cloud Down Over Ingleborough' which will go well in the new west wing. Tonight the usual Edwardian-style dinner. But ridiculous because only Bessie and I were eating. A tin of soup would have done. This time Ally finds the smell of anything and everything offensive. This baby is going to be a little belter.

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