Had a good day at Ripon market; just got back. Lovely Chinese meal and some good plants for the few holes left in the borders. Made our way back through Boroughbridge, along country lanes to Little Ouseburn, over the Swale? toll bridge to Linton and made the usual stop to watch the Tocano training aircraft taking off and landing.

We only just managed to get in with the car. The area where people park to watch was full of men with expensive cameras, apart from one space. Asking why so many, they said there was going to be display by a Spitfire and a Hurricane, escorted by two trainers, in a few minutes time at 3 o'clock. What luck ! They came over at low levels, several times from different directions and the cameras clicked as the owners swiveled with the passage of the planes, to the beautiful tune of Rolls-Royce Murlin engines.

A civil policeman and an RAF white cap were there to see people in and out, and a couple of bods in combat suites talked to spectators over the fence. I asked them if they had a spare set for Sylvia, as I had always wanted to make a present of one to her. "They had a job getting them for themselves." they said. "Would she get one if she signed on?" I asked. "Can she do 100 yards in 12 seconds?" they asked. "I don't think so" i said. "i'm the one who runs and she hasn't caught me yet, thank goodness" I replied. Sylvia takes it in good spirit and, usually, i finish up with egg on my face. It's one way of getting to speak to people and it's surprising how quickly conversations with strangers take you onto common, interesting ground.