Wednesday July 30, 1986

Dad with Samuel & Clementine.

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green

Up early. Ally had been up in the night and had fed Clementine without waking me. I just snore through the zoo-like hullabaloo. So different than when Samuel was tiny, and Ally says it's much easier this time. My services are no longer required. Heavy rain. We phoned Dad after breakfast and left for Horton at 10:30. Me at the wheel. A long journey. I arrived with a thick head and took some of Mum's paracetamols. Poor Waltergarth. The place depresses me. Mum's empty perfume bottles in the bathroom and her old faded flowered dressing gown hanging behind the door. Her hair curlers in the cupboard under the sink with fine strands of her golden hair still entwined. Ghosts everywhere. 

Clementine's first visit to Waltergarth. We hardly know we have her. She just eats and sleeps and then lays midst the white broderie anglaise cooing and gurgling. I tasted Mum's orange wine (April, 1984 vintage) which is excellent. We always said we'd sample it when Clementine arrived. Dad had four lads staying there for B & B from 6pm. They were wet and bedraggled and had been out in the hills for five days and they fell in front of the fire and clamoured for the Daily Telegraph with heart warming enthusiasm. The youth of today are obviously not all loutish. The children were all tucked up and asleep for 8pm. Ally and I went to Settle for a couple of hours. The Talbot Arms and then the Little House restaurant for yet another exquisite dinne
r for £23. Returned at 11 sated. Clemmie still out cold.

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