Tales from Elsewhere

By Borry Porter

This is a second foray into the author's life experiences as she re-introduces readers to her extended family and friends who were first encountered in her previous book Tales from the Seaside. This selection of tales are taken from other family holidays which span the author's lifetime. Readers accompany the family as they gallop across Europe, go north of the border and attempt to exchange their water-skis for snow skis, deal with mother and daughter drunken escapades, excitable vibrating beds, being marooned in a dinghy after losing the oars and the author's first (and only) bull-fighting experience. More fun and frolics experienced by all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493194759

Borry Porter

Born in East London in the middle of the twentieth century, Borry met her husband when someone else brought him as a guest to her eighteenth birthday party and thirty-seven years later she still considers him to be the best birthday present she has ever received. Borry initially obtained a degree with the aim of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately realizing too late that this was the wrong career choice became instead an Offender Manager for London Probation until she medically retired in May 2014. She is a very loving mum and nanna spending as much time as she can with her wonderful family.

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Copyright © 2014 by Borry Porter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS: All photographs taken and rights owned by the Porter family

Banner photograph:    Culloden Moor, Inverness, Scotland

Main photograph:      Christ the Redeemer, Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil taken from the viewing platform.

Author photograph:     Borry Boo Porter

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

Rev. date: 05/20/2014

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Contents

Hayling Island, Hampshire

Destination Italy: for the first time

Awa’ to the Highlands (and further), Och Aye

Jaywick: into the wilds of Essex

La Familia dice hola a Espana. Ole!

To the Glorious Devon Coast

Viaggia in seguito alla bella Italia, di nuovo

Great Yarmouth and the Norfolk Broads

A Glorious Week in Clacton-on-Sea

Beautiful Brazil: Rio, here we come!

Off we go In a Tin Box on Wheels

Jamie, where art thou?

Other Holidays that we Have Loved Before

Endnote References

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the love of my life Ginger and to the Tiddlers. Thank you all for your unfailing support, nagging and unconditional love. This book was written with love and wonderful memories of my mum and daddy, parents-in-law and extended family and friends all of whom were a huge part of our lives. Through their unconditional love they taught us what a family should be. Although we miss them every day they will live in our hearts forever. This book is dedicated to them all and the fun that we had as we made these memories.

With sincere thanks to my publisher Xlibris for all of their help, support and guidance.

Hayling Island, Hampshire

T he family were busy getting ready for their annual holiday. This year they had booked with a holiday camp in Hayling Island and Gracie and her older sister Maudie were discussing swimsuits. They were both dressmakers by trade and were talking about the swimsuits that each of them had made for Gracie’s daughter Borry. Borry was now eight years old and there had recently been some unrest when discussing their holiday clothes. Borry said that she was fed up with wearing the silly, flowery, ruffled costumes that were made for her and said that they made her look like a baby. She said that she wanted a proper swimsuit like her friends had. Maudie tried to encourage Gracie to stand her ground and refuse to purchase a shop bought swimsuit, but Gracie knew her daughter, and knew when she was genuinely upset. Maudie and her husband had not been blessed with children of their own, although they loved all of their nieces and nephews and Borry often stayed with them for several days at a time Gracie felt that Maudie was unaware how stubborn children could be when trying to get their own way, especially when something was so important to them. Gracie decided that she and her sister would have to agree to disagree but rather than let the discussion turn into an argument she skillfully changed the subject to food.

Over the years spent in holiday camps there had been some disastrously hideous meal times, and most of the recipients had wondered how the chefs had ever managed to hold down their job. Borry had been brought up by her parents to always be honest and therefore gave her opinion very freely, often making her sound insolent and causing embarrassment to her parents. She had never held back when faced with a meal that she didn’t like the look of. Gracie felt that this was because she was used to good eating. Gracie was a good cook and both of Borry’s grandmothers could produce a feast at the drop of a hat! Gracie’s mum Annie was a good but plain cook and Gracie felt that this was because of having to feed a large family, mainly large males with huge appetites, during the war while trying to come to terms with rationing. Gracie’s mother-in-law Ann could produce a huge abundance of food which closely resembled a banquet, seemingly without any effort or help. Gracie and Maudie decided that if the food at the holiday camp was really inedible then they would have to resort to take-aways. They were booked into individual chalets and it would be unlikely that they would have access to cooking facilities and because money was tight, would not be able to afford to eat in restaurants every night. They agreed that they would just have to hope for the best. The sisters continued to chat about holidays past as they prepared dinner and when it was ready to be served Maudie put cutlery on the table while Gracie went up to the huge studio/workshop at the end of the garden to let her husband Harry and Maudie’s husband George know that they should come down to the house then called up the stairs to Borry and told her to come down.

As they ate dinner the men explained that they had spent their afternoon finding and patching the pair of large rubber inner-tubes which they used annually to float in the pool and sea. They said that they also cleaned and repaired the large family suitcase and Harry said that he had decorated it with some paint that they had found while searching for the inner-tubes. Gracie smiled to herself. Harry was a sign-writer and an artist and could never leave a plain surface un-molested if he could find a way of decorating it, it just wasn’t in his nature. Gracie and Maudie had agreed that Harry was a colourful soul. Maudie, deciding to stick to her guns told Borry that she had bought some material to make her swimsuits for the holiday causing a near tantrum at the table. Both women were very surprised when both Harry and George came to Borry’s defence because they both usually stayed out of any discussions which involved fashion. Borry did not sulk and was not rude to Maudie but made it very clear that she wanted a shop bought swim suit this year, like all of her friends had. Harry immediately pointed out that she would start swimming lessons in school the following term and would be with her classmates. He said that he felt it would not be fair to expect her to wear home made swimsuits because it would set her up for ridicule by her friends. Seeing his wife’s face George was quick to point out that as lovely as the swimsuits that Maudie made were, they look different to shop bought suits. After brief thought, Maudie had to agree with the sentiments voiced by her husband and brother in law. Borry breathed a sigh of relief. Since her previous discussion with her mother she had felt that she would have a fight on her hands and was pleasantly surprised when her father and uncle came to her aid. She had been watching the conversation in silence, looking from one speaker to the next like a spectator at a tennis match until she caught the eye of her mother, also watching the conversation in silence, and Gracie smiled reassuringly at her daughter and nodded imperceptibly. At that point Borry knew that all would be well, and ultimately she would get her own way.

Borry was excited, the family holiday had finally arrived. Harry’s car was parked outside the reception office of the holiday camp and she and her mother were sitting waiting for Harry to come back with their chalet keys. Her aunt Maudie and her nanny Annie were sitting in George’s car which was parked next to them because George had gone into Reception with Harry. By the time Borry saw Harry and George walking toward the cars, she had started unconsciously bouncing up and down and Gracie had to ask her to stop because the whole car was moving with her and Gracie was starting to feel queasy. They drove slowly around the site until they came to their adjoining chalets. The chalets were rows of adjoining wooden constructed huts which Gracie said looked like little rows of doll houses and which Harry always felt, but never said, reminded him of garden sheds. His studio/shed at the end of his garden was twice the size of his chalet, and although the chalet was basic he had to admit that it was prettier than the studio, even with his artistic prowess. Borry was out of the car before Harry had even managed to park it outside the chalet and stood outside the door hopping from one foot to the other urging the others to hurry. They laughed at her excitement which was infectious and were all smiling as they entered their chalets. Gracie sat on the double bed and looked around the small room as Borry dashed from one side of the room to the other, investigating every drawer and cupboard to see whether she could find something exciting and Harry went to the boot of the car to retrieve the multi coloured, newly painted family suitcase and carefully packed hold-alls. The chalet contained minimalist furniture which included a double bed, a single bed, one wardrobe, a chest of drawers, two bedside cabinets and inside the door, under the window was a small table and three dining room chairs. Gracie thought this was odd because there were no facilities for preparing food and meals were included in the chalet price. She felt that the table would be helpful if the food was unpalatable and holiday makers resorted to take aways.

Gracie stood and left the chalet, leaving Borry to continue her investigations. She went next door to find her mother in a chalet which was very similar to her own, but which only had one double bed. George entered bringing with him Annie’s suitcase which Gracie helped her mother to unpack. Annie had been registered blind for some years and although she had some sight, it was very poor. However, she had lived alone since Gracie and Maudie’s father had died when Borry was three years old and managed without help in her day to day life. She became very disorientated when she was in an unfamiliar location and this made her nervous. The family were aware of this and worked around her so that she would be as stress free as possible and was therefore able to enjoy the family holidays that she always spent with her children and their families. Everyone loved Annie, she was a very kind and loving soul and her children felt that it was never a chore to have her with them on holiday. Annie and Richard had seven children of which Gracie was the second youngest and they were all very close and although having busy lives were all in regular contact. The twins were the eldest. Richard, who was named after his father and Joseph. They were followed by Annie’s first daughter, Ivy who had very tragically died when she was a child. After Ivy came Maudie, then William, then Gracie and finally seven years after Gracie had been born, when Annie thought that her family was complete, they were blessed with the baby, Derek. Richard Junior, Joseph, Gracie and Derek now had children of their own and this new generation of cousins were as close as their parents remained and were always happy to see each other despite a wide ranging age difference. From the eldest, Joe’s daughter Anne to the youngest, Derek’s youngest child Karen there was an age difference of over twenty five years.

When Gracie and Annie had completed the unpacking they went next door to see how Maudie was getting on in her chalet. As they approached the door of the chalet they could hear Maudie’s voice. She was complaining about the size of the wardrobe, lack of drawers in the chest of drawers and ultimately the size of the chalet. She was telling George that she felt as if she was in a garden shed, if only she knew that Harry had also likened the chalet to a shed, although Gracie did not know that. Gracie and Annie looked at each other and Annie shrugged. They tapped on the open front door and entered Maudie’s chalet smiling with an unspoken agreement that they would not let on that they had heard her comments. Gracie agreed that the chalets were small and basic, but they were pretty, scrupulously clean and adequate for their requirements, after all they would only be sleeping in them. To their amazement, as they entered the chalet Maudie said isn’t it pretty? What a lovely little chalet. Annie coughed to hide a chuckle and Gracie patted her gently on the back as she responded to Maudie, agreeing with her. George sighed heavily, shrugged his shoulders and left the chalet to go in search of Harry, Borry and sensible conversation, leaving the ladies to chat animatedly about what they were going to do first.

The family were sitting at the long dining table and were discussing the meal that they had just been served with each other and other families that were sitting either side of them. Gracie, Harry and Annie were one side of the table facing Maudie, Borry and George. They had already enjoyed the oxtail soup and crusty bread which had been their starter. They were then served a roast chicken dinner. The chicken, stuffing and potatoes were on the plate and bowls of vegetables and jugs of gravy were placed in the middle of the table for families to help themselves. They had just been given a slice of what seemed like home made apple pie with creamy custard. Everyone was very impressed and surprised with the standard of the food and hoped that it would continue throughout the holiday. Gracie told Harry that she was most impressed that Borry was given a full plate of food and not half a plate which was the usual children’s portion. Borry had a good appetite and lots of energy and enjoyed her food so this was definitely a bonus because it would cut down on the random bags of chips and snacks between meals. Once dinner was finished the family made their way toward the ballroom and managed to find seats with a good view of the stage and dance floor, but far enough away from the stage so that they wouldn’t be deafened by the band and would be able to hear each other speak. Borry felt very grown up to be allowed to accompany her family into the ballroom, even for a limited time. She knew that she would have to leave at nine thirty when all children under the age of thirteen were required to leave so that adults could have some alone time. Borry was wearing her favourite dress which Maudie had made for her with a pair of new shoes and had danced twice, once with her father and once with uncle George and had managed not to step on either of their toes. She felt that she was getting very good at the foxtrot and of course she had been able to waltz for ages but she still tripped over her own feet when she tried to dance the quickstep, especially when Harry acted silly and tried to do the twiddly bits as she thought of them, but it was always good fun. The adults never left her out just because she was a child and she appreciated their kindness when she looked around her and saw other children sitting looking bored. She had been practicing in her bedroom leading up to the holiday and felt that she was getting used to this dancing lark. However, all too soon it was time for her to leave and although she hated to leave the excitement of the ballroom, she was tired after the travelling and dancing. Borry kissed her family goodnight and Gracie took her back to the chalet, then to the ablution hut while she had a wash and cleaned her teeth then made sure that she was comfortable and tucked in bed before leaving a lamp on and rejoining her family in the ballroom. She had no worries about leaving Borry on her own because the holiday camp had security staff who regularly patrolled the rows of chalets, listening for crying or wakeful children. If they found any then an alert would be sent to the ballroom and a message would be broadcast to the holidaymakers and the chalet number written on a board next to the stage so that parents could return to their chalet and deal with any issues. However, a combination of the excitement, travelling and dancing coaxed Borry almost immediately into the land of dreams and she did not wake until Harry sat on her bed the following morning, woke her with a kiss and asked her what she fancied for breakfast. And so, the first full day of their holiday began.

They had been at the camp for several days and had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The high standard of the food had continued and the weather had been hot and sunny and they had spent at least part of each day around the swimming pool. Harry and George were strong swimmers although the pool was so busy because of the good weather that they never had the chance to swim. They used the pool to play with Borry, float in the oversized inner-tubes and generally cool down. Maudie could swim but didn’t like to get her hair wet and didn’t like the smell of chlorine on her skin, so spent brief interludes in the pool with Borry mainly standing in the shallow end, throwing and catching an inflatable ball. Neither Annie nor Gracie liked being in the water. Annie blamed her poor eyesight for her nervousness and reticence to get in the water and no one argued with her. Gracie had been accidentally jumped on in a busy swimming pool when she was younger. The incident had pushed her bodily under the water and had held her there for some seconds and generally disoriented and frightened her. This incident left Gracie with a lifelong fear of water for both herself and Borry. Although still young, Borry understood the reason for her mother’s fear but was often annoyed by her over zealous attention which would only become worse once Harry bought his first boat. Although the women in the family spent more time sunbathing by the edge of the pool than in the water, they all enjoyed their time relaxing. However they had started to get restless and had decided that they would spend some of the following day sight-seeing in the local area and they hoped for good weather.

As the family made their way to breakfast the following morning they all remarked at the fine weather again. It was not yet too hot but felt like it may get hotter as the day wore on. The previous evening Harry and George had looked through leaflets which had been provided by the kind lady in reception and had made a short list of interesting looking places. They discussed the shortlist as they ate breakfast and with the recommendation of one of the families at their table decided to visit Corfe Castle¹. Breakfast was completed and the ladies were warned to pay a visit to the toilet before they set out because both Harry and George refused to have to break their journey to find a public convenience. Borry was a very poor traveler and always suffered from travel sickness so all of the family were in the habit of ensuring that she took her travel sickness tablets before they went anywhere, prior go getting into the car. Once she had taken her tablets the whole family attempted to fit in one car. Harry got into the driving seat with Gracie in the front passenger seat. Maudie, George and Annie climbed into the back seat and all went well until they attempted to fit Borry in as well. Although she was a child, she was tall for her age and no matter how hard they tried the only way that she would fit was to lay down across the three laps in the back of the car. None of the women felt that it would be a good idea for her to lay down because of her problem with sickness. It was only after several attempts of putting Borry indifferent positions that the family gave up and got back out of Harry’s car. Everyone agreed that they would need to take both of the cars and George told Harry that he would follow. They all climbed into their respective cars and they waited for Harry to drive away.

Corfe Castle was much further from the holiday camp than they thought it would be, it was over seventy miles and the journey with the holiday traffic took over two hours. The stop start travelling together with the heat made Borry feel very sick, despite her having taken the travel sickness tablets. By the time that they arrived Borry had been sick by the side of the road twice and Annie said that she also felt like a limp lettuce. Maudie and Gracie agreed with her and as they got out of the car the men said that they were very uncomfortable because they had sweated profusely while driving and their cotton shirts were wet and sticking to their bodies. Gracie and Maudie went to find somewhere to buy a cup of tea as Harry, George and Annie went to find somewhere to sit in the shade. The sisters came back very quickly and said that they had found a hotel offering lunch and snacks and what is more they had a garden with little tables and chairs and they said that it was very pretty, so they each took one of Annie’s arms and led the way back to the hotel. As they drank their tea they chatted and decided where to go first. Although still unwell, Borry was improving and no longer felt sick. She sipped at her cold drink as she sat in the shade of a large tree with the light summer breeze blowing wisps of her hair around her face. Once they had all finished their tea they left the hotel garden and slowly made their way along the street. The girls looked in the shops as they went and the men wandered along behind, chatting. After a while Harry called to the girls and pointed upward across the fields. As they had been walking and chatting they had left the town behind them and as they looked to where Harry was pointing, they saw the remains of the medieval fortification on top of the hill. There were only a few complete walls of the fortification left and the site mainly consisted of piles of stones. The family turned into the field and began the journey up the hill. Borry now feeling much better ran ahead until she reached the site whereby she flopped onto the grass while she tried to catch her breath. By the time the family reached her she had sat up and was watching them as their journey progressed slowly. The family split up as they wandered around the site. Maudie held Annie’s arm as they walked slowly around the site and Annie stopped to feel the stones, her hands would tell her what her eyes couldn’t see. Gracie and Harry walked around the site arm in arm and George followed Borry as she trotted around the stones. He couldn’t help wondering where she got her energy on such a hot day, especially considering she had been so poorly in the car, but he tried his best to keep up with his lively young niece, smiling and quickly getting out of breath as they trotted around the stones.

Once each of them had seen all they wanted to see and had read the informational boards which told them more about the site, they each made their way back to where they entered the site and sat on the grass awaiting the arrival of the others. The first back were Maudie and Annie who were chatting amiably as they sat together on the grass. It wasn’t long before George and Borry returned and George was glad to join them on the grass, he really was out of breath. He loved Borry but she wore him out. They watched as Harry and Gracie continued to walk slowly around the site stopping at the piles of stones and rocks to read the small signs. Borry was obviously still feeling energetic as she stood and pulled at George’s hands asking him to give her a twizzle. It was one of her favourite things and involved George holding her by one arm and one leg and twisting around and around with her flying through the air like an aeroplane. George had made a rod for his own back with this activity because he had started twizzling Borry when she was a toddler, and despite initially being told off by his wife and mother in law in case it frightened her, Borry loved it and would ask him to twizzle her at every opportunity. However, now she was growing it was getting more and more difficult to lift her off of the floor but George never had the heart to refuse in case he upset his beloved Borry. By the time Harry and Gracie were walking toward the others they laughed to see George twizzling Borry for the third time. Gracie told Harry that she would speak to Borry about this activity because she was clearly too big for it now and she was fearful that George would strain his back or stomach trying to lift her. From the look on his face they could clearly see that she was wearing George out. Grace and Harry joined the others on the grass as they discussed what to do next, then George had a brilliant idea. One of the signs that they had seen on their way around the site informed visitors that they were not to climb onto the stones. George suggested that it would be funny to take a photograph of Borry, standing on the stones while holding the sign. They all agreed that this would be a lark, but Annie remained dubious. She argued that the signs were there for a reason, and what if Borry fell off of the stone and hurt herself? However, they managed to persuade her that all would be well and they would stay with her and make sure that she would not come to any harm. Famous last words. George and Harry with George’s camera took Borry back onto the site and went in search of the sign which told them not to climb.

Borry was standing on the rock and leaning on the sign which clearly said that visitors were not allowed to climb on the rocks and George took a photograph of her. He told her to stay where she was so he could take one more when all of a sudden, out of nowhere there was a small plump man in a uniform standing behind them with security written across the front of his cap. Despite standing right behind them he was shouting loudly attracting the attention of other visitors and Annie, Gracie and Maudie. He pushed his way between Harry and George and stood nose to nose with a clearly terrified Borry while continuing to shout. She could feel his breath on her face and because he was clearly angry he was also spitting on her. The guard demanded to know whether Borry could read, told her that signs were there for a purpose but it was when he told her that she shouldn’t be standing on the rock because she could damage it and started poking at her with his finger that Harry attempted to intervene. He tapped the guard on the shoulder and started to apologise. He wanted to explain that clearly he and George were at fault, not Borry who was only a child but the guard brushed Harry’s hand away as if he was swatting a fly and continued to rant at Borry who had started to cry. The hairs stood up on the back of George’s neck as he felt that something was about to happen and looked over his shoulder and saw that Maudie was storming toward them with a grim look on her face while Gracie was attempting to hold Annie on the grass where they had been sitting. Harry attempted to turn the guard toward him and away from his terrified and distraught daughter, but the guard who was now firing on all cylinders refused to be turned, that is until Maudie arrived on the scene. Taking her queue from the guard she grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around to face her, then walked toward him nose to nose forcing him to retreat with a shocked look on his face. Taking advantage of the fact that he could now get to Borry, George lifted her off of the rock that she was standing on and cuddled her to him as she put her arms around his shoulders and buried her face into his neck. He carried her back to Gracie and Annie telling her that everything would be alright, encouraging her not to be frightened then returned to Harry who was desperately attempting to stop Maudie from assaulting the shocked guard. Harry was attempting to hold Maudie’s arms as she poked the guard in the chest with one beautifully manicured finger and shoved him backwards with the flat of her other hand. However she swatted his hands away like the guard had done to him a short while ago as she continued to shout at the guard, berating him for terrifying a defenseless child. George reached them just as the guard’s foot caught one of the smaller stones. He attempted to right himself, but couldn’t and as everything went into slow motion, he overbalanced spectacularly landing on his back on the grass with his legs in the air, his peaked cap falling off of his head and rolling in a small circle before coming to rest next to his shoulder. However the fact that he had fallen did nothing to slow Maudie’s tirade and Harry was amazed when she knelt on the floor next to him and continued to poke him with her finger as she shouted at him. George decided that enough was enough and indicating to Harry to grab the other arm, between them they lifted Maudie bodily from the floor and half carried and half pushed her back toward Gracie, Annie and Borry while she continued to look over her shoulder and berate the guard. By the time they reached the girls other visitors who had become spectators to the unexpected excitement applauded thunderously while Maudie had stopped shouting and was now breathing heavily and pacing like a caged tiger. When they reached Gracie, Maudie snatched Borry out of her arms and cuddled her so tightly that although Borry attempted to cuddle Maudie back she couldn’t breathe and had to ask to be let go. Maudie looked her in the eyes and was relieved to see that she had stopped crying asking Borry whether she was alright and Borry nodded in response. They all looked toward the guard who had picked himself up and was brushing the grass off of his uniform. He put his cap back on his head and attempted to wander away nonchalantly, attempting to look as if nothing had happened.

Once everyone had calmed down and got their breath back the family made their way back to the hotel for a calming afternoon tea. None of them had eaten since breakfast with the exception of a few biscuits with the tea earlier and the unexpected excitement had made them hungry. When they got to the hotel they again sat in the garden under the big oak tree as they all looked at the menu. George and Harry left the choice of food to the ladies, then the waitress brought them a huge pot of tea as she went to place their food order. After they had finished a more sumptuous tea than they had intended which included sandwiches, toasted crumpets, teacakes, scones and fairy cakes they made their way back to the cars. Gracie had given Borry her travel sickness tablets and George told Harry that he would follow him back to the camp. They hadn’t been travelling long when Gracie looked over her shoulder at Borry who had laid full length on the back seat of the car and was snoring quietly, twitching like a puppy dog. The journey back to the holiday camp took a lot longer than the morning’s journey had because they caught the start of the evening rush hour. They arrived back at the camp with just enough time to have a wash and change before dinner and the start of the evening entertainment.

The events which transpired the day that they went to Corfe Castle put the family off from any further sight-seeing while they were in Hampshire and they stayed on the campsite for the rest of the holiday. Nevertheless they all had a good time. They camp was very entertaining, the food remained excellent and the evening entertainment was very good. The weather also stayed hot for the rest of the week and the family spent a lot of time around the swimming pool, bathing, splashing, playing and sun bathing. When time came for them to go home they were all sad to leave. The family never returned to Corfe Castle but the incidents which occurred on that day did not diminish the fun that they had during the rest of that day and the holiday in general. Borry still has the photograph that George took of her standing on the rock holding the no climbing sign and almost fifty years later she can now look at it without experiencing the terror that the enraged guard made her feel. In hindsight she can actually see humour in the situation. Across the years Borry often saw feisty Maudie when in a temper, but never again saw her act with such extreme retribution as the day that the belligerent security guard picked on her Borry.

Destination Italy: for the first time

H arry and Gracie were discussing where to go for their summer holiday. For the last few years Harry had tried to convince Gracie that they should take advantage of the newer foreign package type holidays but Gracie absolutely refused to fly and it transpired that not only was she terrified of water but also aeroplanes which Harry felt somewhat limited their options for holiday locations. Harry had been thinking about a way to tackle this issue and had decided that if they drove to Dover and then got on a ferry across the English Channel then he would be prepared to drive through Europe to either Spain or Italy, that is if he could encourage Gracie to board a ferry. He knew that it would be a long drive, he had looked at a map and assumed that he would have to drive overnight and that the journey would probably take a couple of days. He pitched this idea to Gracie and he was surprised that after some serious consideration she seemed quite receptive. He thought that she may have issues with crossing the English Channel because of her fear of water but the thought of the boat didn’t seem to worry her at all, and he was surprised. He continued to tell her about the rest of his plan. To keep costs down, rather than stay in hotels he had arranged that he could buy a large tent from a friend at work and they would be able to stay in the tent if they had to stop overnight during the journey and then on their arrival. Harry wasn’t sure that Gracie would like staying in a tent. They had never been camping and Harry felt that Gracie may prefer something more up-market. However, he ploughed on and told her about the arrangement he had made with his friend. Initially Gracie went very quiet and Harry’s heart sank. Suddenly, to his surprise she nodded and told him that she would be happy to stay in a tent, providing she didn’t have to sleep on the floor. He laughed and told her that they would