August 9th:visitors

Gerald and Teresa arrived yesterday. Gerald and I had an amusing trip down memory lane about our family’s holiday to Ostende when I was five. Dad had wanted to visit Dunkirk because of his 2nd world war memories. Whilst we were there Mum sent Gerald and me into a shop because Gerald had seen two large red balloons in the window and really wanted one. She assured him that if he just pointed to the balloons and handed over some money the shopkeeper would understand. Unfortunately this was not the case and we emerged looking bemused, disappointed and clutching two small plums.
Later in the day my Dad had ordered a large beer. He thought he would get a pint and was amazed to be confronted with a two litre flagon. Not being a particularly tall fellow, he had to stand on the bench to reach it. He was determined to drink it though and staggered all over the pavement for a good two hours afterwards. I don’t remember much about the trip, being very small at the time, but I recall we flew on an airbus with propellers from Southend airport. As we circled for landing I apparently called out loudly: “Oh look Mummy, there’s a Belgian cow”, much to the amusement of all the passengers.
I look out an Odham’s Encyclopedia that Gerald bought me for my ninth birthday. It is full of quaint pictures of 50s little girls with pigtails and boys with short trousers who resemble ‘Just William’ look alikes. The Science section makes us laugh..how technology has changed in nearly sixty years.
We had a picnic lunch on the beach in St Helens and watched the wasps and the world go by.
In the evening we strolled along the beach in Shanklin after a nice meal together in a Thai restaurant.

It is good to feel normal again, despite the swollen abdomen. Now I am wearing an elastic maternity button round the waist band of my trousers. I haven't done that since I was five months pregnant with Rachel!