Grass Verge
Nr Agglestone Cottage
B3351 Road
Nr. Studland
Dorset.
Tuesday
Dear Sylvia,
Time has come for a more definitive report.
Yesterday we awoke in a new camping site but we left hurriedly last night because of flies. However I am now finding that flies are a function of heat rather than place. We've got them here but not in such large quantities. As Jimmy Edwards so clearly remarked, at the end of your money you find you have a lot of week left. One fate now hangs on the goodwill of National Provincial Bank Swindon who will probably be OK'ing funds of £5 or so to be collected tomorrow Wednesday.
We are now down to the last 2/- and halfpenny. That will purchase a loaf of bread and one ice-cream. This represents controlled use of funds - precision control use of funds.
They seem to be having a good time. They are today spending their third day at Swanage station watching what appears to be Swanage's only two trains. They are already an accepted part of the station personnel and know all porters etc. by name - including Fred Engine Driver and Pug the Stoker. They seem to find the beach dull. It would be a very good idea to get a car and boat by next year.
I had my first comfortable nights sleep last night. We've got two Li-Lo's u/s (unserviceable).
The trip down was strenuous in the extreme and rather expensive. I now understand the mad notorious rush to the sea - it saves spending on the road and gives you more time on the sand.
The plastic beakers have been extremely useful. The round bottomed dishes have proved disastrously unstable.
We seem to have more clothes than they need but then we've been lucky with the weather.
The three were quite disgusted with Swanage at first. David described it as a fair with a bit of sea. It was cold there yesterday afternoon, after a warm morning as the east wind blew cold from the sea.
The boys language is unprintable but perhaps a rather crude mode of expression is to be expected amongst itinerant persons.
Gregory discovered that children go for free on the ferry and has spent a whole afternoon scuttling back and forth.
There is something to be said for camping near a lay-by. I have so far had three cups of tea, three apples a pond of butter (or more) and a tomato.
I have been doing all camp chores. As you know if you want something done well you have to do it yourself. A convenient building site, a new reservoir, is the source of water, Where there is building there is always a tap.
If we come here next year we are sure of water from the golf course. They thoroughly enjoyed moving camp last night as they towed the trailer by hand.
Studland is being jealously preserved by Town and County Planning and is so much wilder than I thought possible. The village is quite small having only two grocery shops and one electrical shop. Apparently Lord Bankes owns everything around here for miles and miles.
The Natives are without exception friendly and helpful. Farmers have been so good to us that an ancient prejudice has been at least mitigated.
I am expecting them back from the station at almost any minute - its now 2.15. for their lunch of bread and jam, apple and coffee. We fortunately have a milkman delivering to the remote cottage which like everything else around here is named after Agglestone. Milk here is 9 and a half pennies per pint!
Bicycles and trailer have behaved very well, though David's gears would suit a French Tour rider rather than a small boy - they are too tough for me - one turn of the peddle in top and you go about thirty yards! Tho crank bearings are in a bad way, but its a job requiring special tools to put right so unless we can get it done in Wareham it may have to wait till we get home.
If we get any money from the Bank tomorrow as I am......
page 9 & 10 missing....... I'm looking for them.
is beautifully buoyant. Studland is the perfect bathing place for children but the beach, they say, has too many stones amongst the sand. There is a very large sailing population and I get the impression that there are very few beside me who do not pay income tax.
We have found the worlds worst cycle shop called "Two Wheels" at Swanage where they want your money but not the work.
However on balance a good time is being had by all. I expect Vieve will comb her hair before she comes home.
Love to all - Colin.
