Wednesday May 23, 1973

Get up at nearly 8 o'clock. Have a grapefruit. Mouth still very painful. Go to the dentist at 9 and sit reading Lord Liverpool in the waiting room until 9.30 when the receptionist comes in and says my appointment is at 4.30. Rush out back to school. The test begins at 9.45. A scorcher! Just my type. "How far was the Tory government 1822-30 Liberal?" Mrs Lane liked it, but she went into a cold sweat when I happened to mention that the 'A' levels are only three weeks away.

Do Economics. Ayling goes into raptures about the attitude of mind which we (the lower 6th) are taking re the 'O' levels. Ayling is however a terrible snob and he gets up my nose.

Revise in the afternoon lessons. Go to the bus stop with June. Uncle Harry arrives at 4.30. Believe it or not, he is not drunk today. He stays with us for tea (crab salad). Later, Mum, Dad and Uncle Harry go see Mum's cousin Dorothy in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where she's landlady of the White Horse pub. They come home at 1.0 - drinking after hours! Come to bed at 2 after quarrelling with Uncle H about Granddad. Mum gets really furious. But we are all friends by the time he sets off for home.

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Tuesday May 22, 1973

Revise all day. The 'Liberal Tory' administration, 1822-1827. Hardly a thing to go into raptures over. Anyway, I have to save everything I know about Lord Liverpool until tomorrow morning.

Go down to work at 7.30. Sue still knitting for baby. No one comes in until about 11.15 - a party of six! Sue was really furious. Toffer brought me home at 1. Had a cup of Horlicks and came to bed.

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Thursday May 17, 1973

What a day! Got up late and get to school at 9.30. Do Lord Liverpool and Liberal Toryism until 11.45. June and I sit together until nearly 12.30.

Christine tells Dave and me that the Germans and the usual mob are going on a pub crawl round Horsforth tonight. How can I refuse such an invitation! However, June says she doesn't want to go. I feel terrible. But the dear Darling insists that I go alone. Alone, and without June with me for the first time in about 3 and a half months! A final fling before the 'A' levels as it were (or at least one of the last!)

John and I go to Dave's at 7.30. Cowie and his German penfriend Ulrich arrive later. Dave takes us up to the Fleece at Horsforth. Christine, Philip, Phil, Willie, Dietrich, Dale, Wolfgang, Helga, and Dave, Cowie, Ulrich and myself spent 2 and a half hours going round the pubs in Horsforth Town Street. I was 'pissed up to the armpits'. Too hysterical for words. Christine's Philip is great fun.

We decide to move on the the Intercon at Ilkley. Dave has to make two trips. A great night. Sober up at about 12.30. Every time the music breaks we shout "Rod Stewart" - the disc jockey laughs. He plays 'Cindy Incidentally' and 'Maggie' about 10 times. Dale is sloshed. Christine and Philip are a great couple. Finish at 2 o'clock.

Dave takes everyone home in the 1st trip except John, Phil and myself. We walk for four miles until almost 3am. Dave didn't half look hilarious driving off over Ilkley Moor with seven in the back seat. Have you ever heard a car full of Germans singing 'God Save the Queen', 'Four and Twenty Virgins' and 'On Ilkla Moor Bah't at'? Home after 3. Mum not pleased.

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Wednesday May 16, 1973

In the post we receive a wedding invitation for cousin Brian's wedding to Valerie Hutchinson on July 7, 1973. Weddings are always fantastic affairs. When cousin Derek married Jennifer last September, Dad and Auntie Eleanor caused a hysterical sensation by dancing Spanish dances in Auntie E's lounge after the reception. Uncle Jack nearly died laughing. I will of course have to get the day off work - Sue won't really like it.

Spend the day with Lord Liverpool again quite interesting really. Have the usual liaison with dearest June at the bus stop from 4.30 to 4.50. Kiss goodbye. Come home and watch 'Coronation Street' and do Queen Victoria and Lord Liverpool revision. Come to bed at 10.35.

Oh God! Hear on the news that the Queen has asked to go to Northern Ireland more regularly, along with other members of the family. Mr Willie Hamilton, MP (Lab, Fife) will be pleased. I forsee a massive depletion in the descendants of George V. God Save the Queen!

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Tuesday May 15, 1973

A wonderful day. Sue Crosby has fallen in love with one of her ankles! Yes, she spent about two hours today festooning it with wild flowers and dandellions - surely one of the greatest love stories since Victoria and Albert, David and Wallis, Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth and Philip, etc.

Weather is tremendous. We sat outside - that is June, Dave, M. Stott, Christine and the usual rowdy crowd. June wore her red jumper - smashin! Read 'Lord Liverpool and Liberal Toryism 1822-30' in the history lesson with Mrs Lane. Spend from 12.30 till 1.30 going to Rigg's with June. Christine was livid at the long wait: "You're not fetching my bloody yoghurt again," she yells. I say: "That's no skin off my nose."

June leaves me to revise for most of the day.

Have rabbit pie for dinner. Very nice. Go to the CW at 7.30. Sue R is quite sure she is pregnant - but it's happened before, and the pill (since she came off it in August) plays silly tricks with the ovaries until they don't know whether they're coming or going. Anyway she is sending a sample of something away on Friday and we'll know the result soon after.

Came home at 12.30 and was locked out! Took me until 12.55 to get in. Harry Monkman next door woke up at the racket, but John, Lynn or Susan did not hear me! Mum and Dad came from Pudsey at about 1am. Came to bed at 1.35.

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