Had a great time in Scarborough from Monday to Thursday. This is Dot, Julia and Dave outside the cafe where we had just enjoyed a toasted teacake and hot drink, as well as much repartee featuring their friend Pam, who works there. The hot drink was especially welcome, because this was on the Tuesday, which was bitterly cold, with a strong wind. We spent the day around Scarborough. Dot and Julia went shopping in the afternoon, and Dave and I went for a walk in the Chinese gardens, where I managed to fall over, though without any ill effects. In the evening we ate at Tuscany 2, just down the road from the Evetts’ flat, and the food was excellent.

By the next day it was much milder, and we went further afield, calling at the Raven Hall Hotel in Ravenscar, which is on a cliff looking over to Robin Hood’s Bay. Walked round the gardens and then went in for a cup of tea. The whole place was wonderful. On to RHB itself, which was delightful. We parked at the top and walked down the steep road and along the narrow lanes, where we called in for lunch at a cafe where the tables were as tightly packed as the houses in the lanes. Then on to the sea, which was accessed by a steep slipway. There were dire warnings to keep away from it, so of course Dave wandered down to the water’s edge. No surprise there. The weather was benevolent and the crowds absent.

After this we drove on to Whitby and took a look at the Abbey beneath marvellous multicoloured skies, then into the town where I took it easy while the other three went off in unsuccessful search of kipper pate. Dot and I were impressed by Whitby: a very attractive town.

We had travelled to Scarborough on Monday by train from Norwich, which took four and a half hours, with changes at Peterborough and York. Dave met us at the station and took us to their flat, which is beautifully designed with a fantastic view of the headland and castle across South Bay. As the train approached the end of its journey we could see a lot of snow still on the moors, with part-rainbows against jet-black clouds: spectacular. In fact the scenery throughout our stay was inspiring, and I wrote four poems while we were there.

Somehow while we were there I managed to acquire a new pair of slippers, a jumper and a pair of trousers (the last because I had messed my others up when I fell over). Dave and Julia bought a painting at RHB. On the Thursday we had superb fish and chips before saying farewell at the station. The journey back, partly in the dark, was less interesting than the journey up, but equally efficient. Best of all, I felt much better, and my flu symptoms have almost entirely gone.

Taking the train did have its down side. When I left to go to the doctor’s this morning I found that the Mazda 3’s battery was flat, because the boot was not properly closed and the light had been on. It was blocking the MX5 in the garage, so I had to hurtle over to the station and get a taxi (£7 plus tip), and the bus back (free). The flat bettery was quickly fixed later by Mazda European Assistance, and I took the car for a drive to charge the battery up. Arrived back as Dot was leaving for her meeting at Diocesan House. Later took it to get the weekend shop at the supermarket. All seems well. This evening Dot has been to see the Vagina Monologues at the Playhouse with Annette V and one or two others.