July 1st, 1927 ~

I'm about to take a leap of faith and leave the pub and the dinner crowd to our new night-time manager, Daisy. After three days of work she has settled in quite well and seems very capable of handling the job. So, when she comes in to work at four I will be collecting a picnic basket from Archie and borrowing fishing poles and bait from Sam and heading home to fetch the family.

I feel reasonably comfortable about it. The river runs just at the back of the garden, so I'll be close enough to come if a problem arises. But I'm sure it won't, not with Sam and Archie there too.

This whole thing came about when Anna bragged to our son about the time I bested Thomas at a fishing. I'd been thinking about teaching young Will how to fish anyway, what with the stream so closeby, so when Daisy joined us, and I had extra time to be away from the hotel, today seemed like the perfect day for it.

Will's excited. He's poked his head in the back door of the office three times already, shouting 'Is it time yet, Daddy?'

"Not yet son, but it won't be long now.'

~ John Bates

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'Come along, this way. Sam told me the perfect spot for catching the big ones.' John walked ahead, picnic basket in one hand and the fishing poles in the other. Anna was carrying his cane as she followed behind with little William. The four year old was dragging an empty fish bucket along the ground.

'John…be careful! I can carry the basket.'

'I am good, love. It's heavy…we're almost there.'

They walked a little further and John stopped under a big tree on the bank. The view was wonderful and the river was just a few meters away. Anna could sit in the shade while he taught William his fishing skills.

He sighed contently as he rested his hands on his hips, taking in the sight before him. 'Perfect spot.'

'This is nice,' Anna said. 'What do you think, William?'

'Yeah, let's go, Daddy!' He headed off towards the water.

John grabbed him by his braces. 'Whoa! Whoa there, boy! We need to get ready.'

'Let's go fishing, daddy! Let's go!' William begged jumping up and down enthusiastically. 'I want to catch a fish this big!' He spread his arms wide to illustrate.

'Let's get your mother settled first, then we'll get our poles ready.'

Anna spread the blanket out and John helped her lower herself to the ground. He pulled the camera and some apple juice out of the basket for her 'Are you going to be comfortable there?'

Anna could see William impatiently waiting behind him. 'Yes, I'm fine but I think your fishing mate is getting antsy.'

John glanced over his shoulder to see William reaching for a fishing pole. 'Alright son. Let's get started…'John picked up the poles and the bait box. 'The secret to fishing is to be patient and silent.' He smiled and Anna chuckled. It would be hard for William to be either of those

'Before you start, come here ,Will. Let's take off your shoes,' Anna called the boy, rolling up his trousers above his knees. 'You should do the same, John.'

Soon the two were standing barefoot on the river bank, a small fishing pole in William's hands and a bigger one in John's.

Anna smiled contentedly as she leaned back against a shade tree, enjoying a cool breeze against her skin. She even thought that if they stayed long enough she could take a small nap, but for now she was happy to sit and admire her boys bonding. Her camera beside her for when the big fish made its appearance.

'Alright son, let me help you…' John placed his hands over his son's and showed him how to cast his line into the water. 'And now…you let it rest. You can't move, alright? Sit down on the grass here.'

The boy ever so obediently, did as he was told, smiling to himself.

'Now we wait,' his father told him, sitting down too and looking over at his son. 'If you feel the rod pulling you tell me.'

Almost one hour went by, and John changed the bait twice to have it always fresh, but it seemed that the fish were having a day off as well. He looked back at Anna and she was already sleeping, soft snores coming from her slightly opened mouth. John smiled, before looking over at his son, his face giving away how bored he was.

'It's taking too long,' the boy complained.

'That's how it works, son. It's when you least expect it that-'

Before he could finish the sentence, William's pole began to bend, and the boy stood up immediately to control it.

'That's good, lad!' John cheered. 'Hold it, Will… steady!' He tried to let the boy do it by himself, after all he had to learn, but he was ready to help him as soon as his son asked him to.

'I can manage,' William said, his face red as he pulled with all his strength.

'Give it a pull and let up and then pull it stronger again. You have to fight the fish, son. You have to let him think he's winning. Come on!'

Sweat was gathering on the little boy's brow and his father was right behind him, pulling the end of the pole without the boy's knowledge. A little help wouldn't hurt, after all William was doing it for the most part.

With all the commotion, Anna woke, sitting up on the blanket and watching the battle between boy and fish.

'What's happening?' she asked.

'Will got something!'

As soon as John answered the boy pulled one last time and a big silver fish came out of the water, over William's head, to land at John's feet.

'Daddy! I've caught a fish! I've caught a fish!' Will yelled, jumping up and down.

'Oh my, look how big it is, son?!' John crouched down freeing it from the hook before placing it in the fish bucket filled with water. 'I reckon you are eating fish for dinner tonight, lad!' he laughed as William approached him, admiring his catch in the bucket.

'How wonderful!' Anna smiled, and John took the bucket to her so she could see it herself. 'It's huge!'

'Can I name it?' the boy asked.

'Well…' John scratched his head. 'It's to be eaten, son. Do you want to eat something you named?'

William thought for a moment and shook his head. 'No…but I would really like to have a fish!'

'Maybe one day you can name one yourself. But not the ones we catch in the river.' John patted his head and returned to his fishing spot. 'We have to catch more, Will. There's three of us…well, five actually. Your mum has been eating for those two babies.'

'John Bates, I have not!' Anna shook her head lovingly. 'Wait, William, let mummy take a photograph of you with your pole.'

William nodded smiling, posing for the camera.

'You look like a proper fisherman.' Anna remarked as she hit the button and the boy joined his father once again.

They ended up catching three more fish, and that night they feasted.

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Oh my, all I can think now is how full I am. I've eaten far too much for my own good!

Today John took William and me for a picnic by the river and he taught our boy how to fish. It was such a wonderful day! I will never forget it, and I hope there's many more of these to come.

To tell the truth, I didn't see much because I took a long nap, but I was awake when William caught his first fish ever! The look on his little face made my heart melt. John is so proud he can't stop talking about it. I think all village knows about this now.

We ate ham and cheese sandwiches under a tree and drank apple juice. I don't know why but everything is so much more delicious when you eat outside. I've always loved picnics and John too, and we used to take every opportunity we had to go out with a blanket and something to eat and sit in the grass, and now with William it's even more fun. I can't even imagine how wonderful it will be when the twins are born. It will be so much fun, watching the children running around and playing together. Those days can't come soon enough.

After that, we went home. I mean William and I went home. John returned to the hotel. Just to check on things and Daisy. She loves working there and everyone loves her too. Of course they do, Daisy is the sweetest girl. I missed talking to her. She's a good listener and she grew up to be a great friend and confident.

To make this day even more perfect, John came home before dinner! I cleaned and fried the fish they caught for all of us, along with some potatoes and bread and butter. It was so delicious! Also, this means that tonight I will be able to fall asleep in my husband's arms. Daisy was indeed the best thing that could have happened to us!

I can hear John and William talking in the nursery. Will just had his bath before bed. I'm sure John is getting ready for his bedtime stories. We both missed those so much! I don't want to miss that so I'll end for tonight.

What a marvellous day!

~ Anna Bates