Daniel and Debbie riding 'The Snails' in Joyland
Daniel and Debbie riding 'The Snails' in Joyland

Fine and sunny day on Great Yarmouth rides before home to tend the ducks etc as Violent clashes in Belfast lead to a man dying from a rubber bullet and Noraid leader, Galvin, escaping anyway

All awake at about 7.00am as Diana serves the morning drinks and feeds the baby. On the breakfast television Daniel and I see Sebastian Coe win the 1500 metres and also the finals of the heavyweight boxing classification. Downstairs for breakfast with Diana upset that we delayed until the end of the baby’s quiet period. However, we all have a fine meal; fried English breakfasts for Diana and I and toast for the children all washed down with fruit juice. Then Diana feeds Daniella and I take the two children along to the hotels inside swimming pool and read The Sunday Mirror as they enjoy themselves.

Back together then and we pack up and leave the hotel, packing our excess things into the Jaguar’s boot. Then off by car to the other end of the front to park by the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park. Out and all aboard a horse drawn carriage which carried us the length of the front in high style. We settle on a bench for drinks before returning to our 10p/ride amusement park and riding the snails, the cars, the space ship, the mini carousels and others before back to the front and a long walk to the Model Village. Daniel and Debbie are both fascinated by the very clever models, creative displays, and beautifully maintained miniature lawns and gardens. A welcome rest and lunch at the accompanying cafeteria of burgers, chips and cakes. Then a short walk to the Pleasure Beach Amusement Park and a good time riding a range of fast rides. Daniel was in his element but we held him back from the worst two rides – a roller coaster and a full oscillating loop. By the end of the afternoon Daniel had completely recovered from his loss of appetite and chill; though still with cold we all get back into the Jaguar with sadness at the end of our Norfolk stay. A weary trip home on a sunny and hot afternoon, thankful again for our air conditioning. We stop for tea at a Transport Café on the A45 near Bury St Edmunds which upsets Diana who wanted a meal at the nearby Little Chef. Home by 6.30pm and we unload and let Diana settle down a crying Daniella whilst Daniel and I check the answerphone at Gordon Road and watch Olympic individual show jumping after putting all 13 ducks away. News tonight of violent clashes in Belfast as police tried to arrest Galvin of Noraid for illegal IRA fund raising. A man is shot and killed by a rubber bullet as Galvin escapes. Five new specially protected NCB buses were destroyed in an arson attack at Pleasley Village. In the Olympics, Michael Whitaker loses the gold in a last round incident, but the British Team ends up with their most medals for many years. In Switzerland, Elizabeth Taylor’s visit to Burton’s graveside was thwarted by journalists.