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Trip today to Yarmouth via Horsey to see how Seaholme and Seadene have been developed and some shopping and fun at the seaside where the children enjoy Joyland and back to the hotel which was hosting an 18-year-old’s birthday disco as the Manchester plane disaster is diagnosed as a Prat and Whitney engine fire made worst by the heavy density of package holiday seating which prevented more escaping
Kept awake until 11.00pm and beyond by the dinner dance music last night, but used the time well to do some more reading of my Countryman book. I finished the chapter on Transport and enjoyed it immensely. Fortunately, the morning call and drinks came late and I slept until the latest I could. All ready and then down to breakfast as normal and we all ate reasonably well. Out then by car and took the coastal route to Great Yarmouth, stopping at Horsey on the way to take a few steps down memory lane. We saw Seaholme and Seadene, which had been renovated and extended almost beyond recognition in recent times. Extensions back and front, they are now a long way from the rustic country cottages that we stayed in as kids. Then on to Horsey Staithe, where we bought a few gifts and refreshments and I took some nostalgic video shots to show my parents.
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Off to Wroxham with packed lunches today and the successful hire of a day-boat with which we visited Bridge Broad, Wroxham Broad, Salhouse Broad and Ranworth and then back via Horning and Wroxham admiring the riverside houses before back to Mundesley for some swimming and our evening meal as a packed holiday flight taking off from Manchester catches on fire and 54 die whilst industrial disputes plague Thatcher’s divided Britain
A good night’s sleep and Diana’s worst fears were not confirmed – Della awoke fit and well. Down to an uneventful breakfast on a fine and sunny day – the rain had passed by quite harmlessly in the night. We collected our packed lunches and set off early to Wroxham and the boat yard of Geo Smith. On arrival all of their day boats were reserved, but a neighbouring yard were able to oblige and we had soon set forth on a nice craft. The recent designs are about 14/6ft in length, fairly wide in the beam and powered by a strong diesel engine. The cabin had an open roof and sliding canopy of canvas and another on hoops can cover the rear cockpit. The whole can be opened up for a cool trip on a sunny day (like today) or covered in with the heater going when it is cold. We set off upstream, stopped for coffee at a riverside café and then went under Wroxham Bridge to tour and photograph Bridge Broad.
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Sunnier day today for our visit to Cromer carnival where we unexpectedly find Sam Weller and his new wife Francis and arrange to meet them later when we enjoy the Red Devils and Red Arrows displays before back to the hotel and some swimming and fun with the children before watching the news on the hotel TV. Green Peace have re-floated their Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand and are accusing the French of sinking it and the railway chaos is growing.
We awake to a fine and sunny day, without a cloud in the sky, which makes a pleasant change for once. Still awoke at 6.30 and had a 45 min wait for our morning drinks and I resolve to change our call to half an hour earlier from tonight. We negotiate breakfast, even though a full restaurant meant that we had to wait an exasperatingly long time for the baby’s meal. Della was very good today and started it by quietly cuddling me in bed and bringing her cardboard picture books for reading. A little time in the nursery and then all off by car for a day trip to Cromer for the carnival. We park near to the church and spend the morning shopping mostly. I find time to visit the Cromer museum, which features a fishing cottage rather like that of Wick. Then we go down to the beach under the pier and the children enjoy a bit of sand digging and paddling in the waves. Diana continues to suffer with her throat, but one side is better and she manages to sit and watch the children play. I get us some crisps and cans of drink as a lunch time snack and then we set off along the coast to the carnival site. A fine display programme featured the Red Devils parachute team, but we were in time to see the Red Arrows formation flying team. The children also enjoy the bouncy things and particularly the ball pond, where I manage to get some good shots of them. The biggest surprise was to meet Sam (Roger) Weller and his new wife, Francis, with their two children, whilst walking around Cromer.
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Another day of family holiday in a hotel with Diana seeing the doctor with tonsillitis, Daniel and I playing table tennis and Debbie finding some friends to play with but, most surprising, little Daniella is eating full meals after an outing where we get stuck in the rain and before a chance for a quitter dinner. All this as the railway dispute deepens, the Middle East is in more chaos, and a Sikh leader who signs a reconciliation with Ghandi is shot dead in a temple. Crazy world
Awake a little early and Diana tells me of her very poor night; kept awake by her terrible sore throat and difficulty in swallowing. I phone reception at 8.00am and they arranged for a doctor’s appointment in mid-morning. Washed and down for breakfast and Daniella ate well and has now settled to the new routine. Only Debbie is eating scraps and seems difficult to please, but I arrange for her to have some plain bread, which she enjoys with butter and marmalade. After breakfast, Diana takes the girls to the nursery and Daniel and I take the first formal pictures with the video camera. We play them back for Di to see as well and are all well pleased with the results. Daniel and I play table tennis as Di goes to the doctor and the nursery nanny takes an entourage of little children swimming. She is the younger of the two and sports a nice figure if she were not too plump.