Sunday February 13, 1977

Sexagesima. Good Old Sexagesima again. By Jingo it comes round quickly. Got up at midday and devoured a large bowl of porridge and a couple of slices of toast. Later, Sue, Pete and I went down to the Commercial. A couple of pints of stella artois later and we're much nicer people. Susan drank gin & orange.

Back at Pine Tops Lynn has made cakes and buns and lunch of pork chops with 'all the trimmings'.

Down to the office on the 5.10 33 bus and have something of a boring night. John Cameron gave me a form to fill in and I joined the YP-EP Mission Club of which no real details are known as yet. Will report on it later. Send letters to Tony & Martyn with a list of rules for new members of the Silver Jubilee Lechery Society each with a photo of H.M. The Queen.

Harold Wilson and Lady Falkender.

News items: This Sir Harold Wilson/Lady Falkender thing is brewing away nicely. We all now know why Uncle Harold packed in the premiership when he did, and the Sunday papers have stories of the Queen's reaction to Marcia Williams's peerage (Mrs W is now of course the notorious 'Lady Forkbender').

Henry Heaton comes in saying PA are announcing that Antony Crosland, the Foreign Secretary, has been taken seriously ill whilst out walking near his home. They seem to think that Merlyn Rees, the current Home Secretary, will take over. Why not offer the post to Lady Falkender?

Home in a dense fog at 1.30, really thick and nasty. Appropriately I have a can of pea soup. Bed at 2.30. Read until 3.

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Sunday February 22, 1976

Sex(agesima). Sit on the settee with Carole until after 4 o'clock this morning. The sun was creeping over Otley Chevin by the time I hit the sack, and I didn't feel at all tired. Carole is a darling. She maybe backward and dull-witted, but gorgeous all the same. Our only problem is one of communication really. Sometimes we get on like a barn on fire, but on other occasions I feel as though I'm banging my head against a barn wall because she just doesn't understand a word I say. I had the same feelings of frustration last year in Majorca when a German girl couldn't understand that I wanted to dance with her. However, I hasten to add, I am not serious in any way and I could never make her my wife or 'constant companion'. I'll be battling on in a single capacity when Carole is the proud grandmother of scores of children.

Up at lunchtime and the two of us go for a bracing walk down through Esholt Woods and round to Silverdale to see John & Maria's house again. (PS - I went to look at the house yesterday afternoon with Lynn & Dave, and we had a coffee with Bessie Little and Stuart.) Carole was startled by the smallness of the place and likened it to Paul's rabbit hutch. Modern houses do look small when compared with Pine Tops Palace.

Back to our place at 3 o'clock and Mum, Lynn and Sue depart for the Macdonald residence where they remain until evening.

Just Carole and I left and we watch a bit of TV. Arthur Negus in 'Going For A Song' -and then played records until 7 o'clock.

Had tea with Dad - just the three of us. He is baffled by her ignorance. I've come to the conclusion that nobody can hold a conversation with her.

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Sunday February 2, 1975

Sexagesima. A beautiful morning. Up by 11 o'clock. John astounds me when he says he's not going out tonight. I realise he told Chris last night of this plan, but I put it down to the effects of alcohol and delirium since he paid his £8 deposit.

Dreamed last night that the Duke of Edinburgh was dead and I was the only person in the office to deal with it.

Lynn is, at this very moment, preparing to go to Bolton Abbey with Dave, and I can't help thinking slightly proud of myself. Why is that, you are all asking? Well, you see I commend myself on the fact that my scheming back in September brought these two young lovers together in the first place. Not that I've had anything to do with it since, but I feel full of pride and joy at the sight of them bounding merrily through life's playground. Love is certainly a marvellous thing.

The brilliance of the afternoon sun fades at about 5, and a fog descends upon us. I was almost convinced that Spring was here, but things look quite different now.

See 'The Gospel According to Matthew' an Italian film which drags on for ages. I much preferred 'The Greatest Sory Ever Told' with Max von Sydow. John Wayne didn't even put me off.

Christine rang to see if I was going out. I say no and she says Chris is also staying in. Really unusual for a Sunday night. We discuss the idea of going to Worcester on Feb 22 - a great idea.

Sue is in the Dales with Peter, and Lynn is at Bolton Abbey with Dave. Dad is at work. So John, Mum and I sit before the television. I delve into the bookcase and select another Agatha Christie - 'The Secret of Chimneys'. It's up to her usual brilliant standard. Read and see TV until after 12.

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Sunday February 17, 1974

Sexagesima. Wake up at 11.30. See a good play -"The Importance of Being Earnest" on the BBC which was, strangely enough, just as good as the 1940s film version. Never did I imagine that Lady Bracknell could be portrayed by anyone other than Edith Evans - but she was.

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Sunday February 25, 1973

Sexagesima. Got up at 11. Dad gave me the news that the police were planning to raid the Yarnbury and possibly the Emmott Arms tonight - a purge against under-age drinkers. You can imagine the seriousness of the plight I found myself in. What would become of the usual mob if the cops caught them all boozing under age?

Did some homework and had a bath taking me up to teatime. I decided to ring Dave and warn him of the ensuing danger. However, Mum was baking in the kitchen, which made my conversation with Dave very difficult. Mum would have killed me if she had realised that I was divulging police information - Dad would also be in serious trouble if the bosses found out about such a leak. I did manage to tell Dave and he then rang Chris to warn him. I now felt at ease with my conscience. What is the point in allowing people to fall into a trap and commit crime? I was only preventing crime by leaking the information. This "Cloak and Dagger" routine went on until 9 when I arrived at the Emmotts to rescue, June, Linda and Cowie. Previously to this I had been down to see Dave who was doing homework in his bedroom.

On arriving at the Emmotts I rescued them all and we immediately set off on a wild-goosechase around Rawdon. It was extremely cold for walking, but at least it was dry. We went to Rawdon park to play on the swings. Sadly, the Council have removed the swings, so we piled onto a roundabout. After a walk across the park - in the shadow of the big Victorian council offices -June was quite frightened at the spookiness of the place and the darkness. We went into the Off Licence - Linda & I bought 2 packets of marshmallows - she toasted them with her cigarette lighter. June and I also bought Cadbury's Creme Eggs. At 10.15 we all sat in the bus shelter at Rawdon traffic lights. Linda's passion - Andy Graham - passed by arm in arm with Lynda Smith. Chris was with a plain looking girl. He seems lost without Louise - they really should make some attempt to get back together. Dave says they want to do but both are waiting for the other to make the first move. Tomorrow June and I have been going out for 4 weeks. I sneaked my first kiss some time ago, at the school Christmas party on Dec 14, 1972.

They got the 11 o'clock bus. Cowie and I waited for the last number 33. I got home at 11.30. Dad told me they had not raided the Yarnbury or the Emmotts after all, but had done Ringway instead at Horsforth - where Denise and Chid hang-out.
Came to bed at 12.30.

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