Hello Davanzos

Tuesday 16th March, 1982                       windy

Sean a lot better - John not so hot.  It was a dreadful windy and wet night - but after my sleepless night I slept well. 

The Calais camping area is on the harbour

Still blowing - we showered and off into Calais to cash some money and fill the larder - large supermarket.  John goes to England in the a.m. - if he feels better.

Wednesday 17th March , 1982                 fine but windy

John and Sandra are off on the 9:15 a.m. boat to England.  Do Sandra good to do her own thing.  St Patrick's day - hope no Irish trouble in London.

Calais to London

Raining and windy so we stayed indoors writing letters and reading - Sean still isn't well so it  won't hurt.  Did a little washing between showers.  Slept soundly.

Marie, Lee and the kids will be excited, leaving Sydney today for London.

Thursday 18th March, 1982                     windy and cold

Did some washing and showered.  Rae and I walked to town and posted mail We rang Tony and Billy.  All okay.  Home for lunch  - telegram from Sandra - central hotel London.

Sun came out so all went for walk back up town and rang Sandra  -packet of fresh hot chips -home to tea and bed.

Friday 19th March, 1982              find with cold winds.

All fiddled with jobs around the van - did big washing and then up town to lunch at Le Milano -specialists in Italian pizza - picked a good restaurant as was full of locals and they cook the pizzas up front.  We all had Colyse - beautiful meat, cheese and champignons, a mixed salad, half bottle of Muscat - delicious - a hot chilli oil burnt our taste buds to almost ecstatic action - a bottle of Vittel was consumed also.

A slow walk back and relax.  We raised some eyebrows when we took our coats off in Le Milano everyone was dressed well and we revealed out tracksuits - squeaky clean though.

Saturday 20th March, 1982                      wet and windy

Today is the day the Davansos begin their European holiday.  They arrived into London at  7 a.m., then drive straight down, what a long day it has been for waiters - up early wanting to shower - too cold so a voluntary blanket bath?  Then the long wait - too excited to eat watching the boats arrive - 4 p.m. this is the one - but no that was not our ship - tears - frustration and doubts - then whilst I am busy filling water bottles the next boat arrives and its them - great excitement, Sean went to meet them at the bridge.  They had a good trip - arrived at Heathrow half an hour early so they were waiting for John and Sandra.  Mail from Karen - all is well at home.  Marie, Lee, Brett and twins were tired but excited - they have a lovely van, both gas and electric.  Not a nice day to welcome them to France but a good intro to Europe's spring.

They are here!!!

Had late tea and bed - Sandra and John had good time in London, bought nice underwear, make up - very chic and chips for kids.

Marie brought us 2 large jars of Vegemite - wonderful!  Brett and Sean were shy at first but have settled.

Sunday 21st March, 1982             fine but overcast

Hello Calais - a fine day at last.  Breakfast and off to Mass.  Marie settled in - we walked to town didn't know where the church was, so Sandra asked a gentleman in a car and he had us follow him.

The poorest church I've seen in Europe.  The 10 of us really filled it well - made up a third of the audience.  After mass we walked to town had coffee in cafe whilst the kids went mad over space machines.  Slow walk home with stops for photography, lunch and relax.  John asleep at wheel.  Went for a long walk along the promenade out on the pier after tea.  Mild night - bed.  The kids have all run wild together - Sean is a lot better.

Big wash before we hit the continent