OFF TO THE ALPS!

S A T U R D A Y,  2 5  M A R C H

We're taking MASSES this year: 5 cases, 2 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of skis, one hairdryer and the overnight bag!

Weather glorious all day. Mr Reid was terribly nice - he drove us all the way to London. When we got to the King's Road it was terribly interesting to watch everyone in their super clothes - some skirts are so short you couldn't really call them skirts! It looked so gay in the sunshine. At Victoria we registered the skis, and got the 3pm train to Dover. We had a compartment to ourselves and I read John Lennon. Wonderful countryside most of the way.

At Dover we got the 'Queen Astrid' to Ostend - a three-hour crossing. I was worried I'd get sick but I didn't, it was very calm. Had a horrible hot dog on the boat, but a lovely waffle. Everyone was whistling 'I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman' (Whistling Jack Smith) - we heard it wherever we went!

Ostend Customs is very smart - marble inside with potted plants. We were all looking forward to a dinner on the train, but when we got there we found there wasn't a restaurant car (even though they told Ma there was). So we charged along to the deserted station restaurant and finally persuaded the little man there to serve us with four ham and eggs and some coffee. Ma was in a frightful flap the whole time. (Funnily enough, I felt perfectly calm.) We gobbled everything down, then lost Chump with three minutes to go... she was in the compartment all the time!

Our interconnecting compartments have porcelain potties under the basins, old-fashioned brown blankets and very nice sheets. I had the top bunk. The train left at 4 minutes past 9. 

Began to write my Diary but gave up after the first five words. Too wobbly.

British Railways: Victoria to Dover, first class 12/-