We sat talking for a long time whilst I had a little snack and tea, at the same time unpacking my suitcase which I had bought whilst abroad. I also had two Japanese swords, a bayonet and binoculars, all Japanese surrendered equipment. We eventually decided it was bedtime but I am afraid we were both too excited to sleep much after all those years and it was a great joy and relief to know that I didn’t have to go back. I was now a civilian once again. On the Saturday morning I put on my civilian clothes which were still at Prospect and, after midday meal, I went down to Crooke Hall Cottage to meet father and mother who were both in the garden. They were both pleased to see me safely back as it was from Crooke Hall Cottages that I had left nearly six years earlier. Mother was still on her feet but very unwell. During the next few days, Alice and I had decided to have a second honeymoon. Alice had written to a place in Illfracombe in Devon, so after a few days and all my gear had been sorted out and laundry done, we packed up and took the train to Devon. I, along with Alice, would still travel force’s fare as soldiers’ wives could do if they showed their pay book. The journey took us many hours as we had four changes to reach our destination and then had to have a taxi as it was a long way to the boarding house where we had booked to stay. However, it was a very enjoyable time together getting to know one another again after so long and also being a civilian for the first time since our marriage in 1942. Whilst at Illfracombe, we witnessed the victory parade through the town on June 8th. Parades had been held all over the country.
When we returned to Whittle my mother had been confined to her bed as she was gradually getting worse, so the next few weeks were taken up by visiting her during the evenings. The doctor visited every evening to give her injections to ease the pain but it was only a matter of time. My demob leave was running out, also my weekly pay, which was for around three months. I was also having to consider resuming work at Leyland Motors. I was due to go back one Monday in August but mother passed away on the 1st so I had to ring in and tell them that I would be another week. After the funeral father said he would have to have someone to look after him and my sister had a young baby, so it was left to us to make up our minds what to do. In the event we decided we would go and live at his house to take care of him as he was still working. Things went alright for a while and Alice and I had a holiday at Scarborough in the summer of 1947, travelling by coach from Chorley.