The old rumbling steam train, rumbled into the old tumbled down station, and George and Anne flung open the door and leapt out ecstatically closely followed by Timmy, and jumped around, three feet in the air when they saw Dick and Julian waiting for them. They ran towards each other their arms outstretched.

"Julian, Dick!" called Anne racing up to the two boys. "I have waited all term for this glorious moment!"

"George, Anne," the boys yelled back. "Isn’t it simply spiffing to be together again! And just think we have two glorious, wonderful weeks of our Easter hols stretching blissfully free before us."

"I know," replied George given Julian a hug. "Isn’t it absolutely corking."

"Oh Timmy, do get down old chap, you are making me awfully wet!" said Dick pushing Timmy down.

"We’ve brought the horses to meet you," said Julian giving Timmy a pat. "Get your rucksacks on your backs and away we go."

They all ran over to where the horses were tied, and clambered onto them.

"Of course we are all wonderful riders," said Anne. "I mean we get taught it at our marvellously expensive posh schools."

As they started to gallop away Julian heard some music playing in the distance.

"Is that Western music I hear?"

"Indeed it is," replied George. "We have a new cowboy shop in town," she said, indicating the shop on the left.

They all grinned at each other and galloped away into the distance, with the sound of the Western playing repeatedly as Timmy raced along beside them.

Aunt Fanny was waiting at the front door for their arrival, hopping from foot to foot with excitement. She heard the clop of the approaching horses and rushed out to meet them. She was extremely fond of the five and loved having them to stay. She hugged all the children as they dismounted.

"It’s so marvellous to see you all again children," she said. "I hope you have all had grand terms at school."

"Oh yes, first rate," said Dick. "Julian got made form captain of his year."

"Oh Julian that’s super," exclaimed Aunt Fanny.

"Well," said Julian modestly. "I was expecting it really, I mean no one else gets the grades I do."

"Oh Ju, I am so proud of you," said Anne giving her brother a hug. "I do so hope I can grow up to be more like you."

"Well you aren’t doing too badly old thing," said Julian. "Mother told me in her last letter that you have been made Lacrosse, Netball, Tennis, Rounders, Swimming and Cross Country captain."

"Well it’s not as good as you," said Anne looking pleased. "But it’s a start."

"Come on children," called Aunt Fanny from inside. "You must all be famished from your half hour train journey, I have prepared a grand tea for you."

"Oh super!" They all cried together.

"I do so love your mother’s cooking George," said Dick.

They went inside Kirren Cottage and found the dinning table buckling under the weight of mountainous piles of food.

"Oh this looks absolutely top notch," said Julian. "Aunt Fanny you have surpassed yourself."

"Well, it did take me a week to prepare all this, but nothing’s too good for you lot. I’ll leave you to tuck in, call me in a few hours if you want dessert." They all sat down and started to eat.

"Oh I say, pass me those sausage rolls Anne," said Dick, and he took five.

"Gosh, these are super boiled eggs," said Anne. "I couldn’t have made them better myself. Have some everyone." She even passed one under the table to Timmy who ate it in one bite and woofed his approval.

"What’s down your end George?" asked Julian squinting down to the far end of the table where George sat.

"Well there is ham and salad, cheese and tomato, tuna, and turkey sandwiches, a potato salad, a pea and bean salad, white and brown rolls and a whole jug full of iced ginger beer."

"I will have some of all the sandwiches, the delicious looking potato salad and ginger beer of course." Everything was passed up to Julian and they all began to eat heartily.

"Oh I say," exclaimed Julian. "This potato salad is absolutely scrumptious."

"Well it should be," said George looking proud. "The mayonnaise is home made and the potatoes are grown in our own garden. Do you know we won the potato of the year award for the 11th year running again this year!"

"Well that’s hardly surprising," said Dick. "These potatoes are jolly good."

They all continued to gorge themselves on all the food that Aunt Fanny had prepared for them, listening to Julian’s tale about how the headmaster had told him that he thought Julian was the best student they had ever had. In an hour and a half all the food was gone and they let Timmy lick round all the plates.

"There, now there is no need to wash them," said George, placing the plates in a pile on the side.

Aunt Fanny came back into the room, looked around happily at the now bloated children.

"Did you all enjoy your meal?"

"Oh yes thank you Aunt Fanny," said Anne. "It was absolutely first rate."

"Good, now why don’t you all go down to the beach and have a little bathe," said Aunt Fanny. "Oh, and you can take some more ginger beer and plums and pears from the garden with you."