Friday August 20, 1976

Mum and Dad go up to see Uncle Harry for the weekend. Lynn and David are entertaining Alison and her man friend, and Lynne and I arrange to meet Sarah and Peter [Baker]. Lynne comes over at 7.30 - 8 o'clock and we drive to Follifoot where we sit outside the Lascelles Arms sipping lager & watching the sunset. How romantic!
But then Lynne just about smashed my teeth out after almost knocking my glass down my throat[accidentally] and then spilt cider over my trousers. Sarah and Peter arrive and we move inside for a further couple of rounds. Lynne doesn't seem to take exception to Peter's eccentricities,and they hit it off quite nicely. We go on to the Damn Yankee in Harrogate where I have one of those enormous pizzas again. A great meal. Back to our place for coffee. Drink lime juice. We called at Ty-Gwyn to inspect the old place on the way home. Sit in the dining room and have hysterics at Peter's recital of bits from last night's Evening Post. A misprint proclaimed 'Lord Haw Haw Haw Haw re-buried'. William Joyce wouldn't be amused I'm sure. Two Haws too many. We roared with laughter. We also had fun with the alabaster elephant in the dining room. But the less said about that the better. They all departed at 1am. I passed a pleasant night sleeping on the settee.

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Wednesday August 11, 1976

I don't believe I've really mentioned Carole's [recent] letter. It came on Saturday and is very sad. I replied this morning. I'm telling you this because it is now 6.30pm and I regret having given in. I haven't made contact properly since May and now I wish I could have kept it as it was.

Denise rings at 6.30 to say that Carole's been inventing stories about her. The story C told me on Friday [on the phone] about Denise going to London with _______is a load of shit, and D rang C today to demand an apology. Why is Carole circulating this propaganda? Denise puts it all down to jealousy. Probably so. Mum told me months ago that Carole has 'jealous eyes'.

Peter and Chris come at 7.15 and we go to Thornton-le-Dale. [By the way, I rang Lynne at T-le-Dale this afternoon. It was the first time she has answered the phone in her new house.]

Stop at the Four Alls for a quick drink on the way and arrive at about 8.45. The new house is much smaller thay Ty-Gwyn and Mrs Mather looks whacked. Lynne, Chris and I escape to the pub a soon as it's decently possible to do so, leaving Pete sawing chunks of wood off the bottom of several doors. After a couple of drinks we devour fish and chips. Back to the house for coffee and leave for home at about 11. Bed at 1.30am with Hitler and Eva [Braun]. A bit heavy going at bedtime, don't you think? Hitler tossed and turned all night. Pleasant dreams to you all, anyway.

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Thursday July 29, 1976

Another session with good old Hough, my dentist. The waiting is the worst part about visits to the tooth repair man, because sitting in the chair with your head back is quite a mild experience to say the least. I have always posed the question 'Why do dentists always have bad breath?' But with the wisdom of my 21 years I have drawn the conclusion that everybody must have bad breath, but it's not that everyone gets as close to your face as the good old denist is it? Am I correct? Why am I asking you questions? I'm never going to get an audible answer out of you.

Out with Lynne to the Red Lion and then the Black Bull in Otley. She really is a career girl and thinks a lot about her job. I admire her for it but don't share in the delight of the thought of sitting about behind a desk from 9 until 5.

Back to the Mather residence (Ty Gwyn) where we look at photographs. Peter comes in alone and I have the suspicion that Carole and Denise are outside in the car with Chris and would have come in if it hadn't been for my presence. Peter enquires: "Aren't you coming with us, Michael?" and when I shrug and say "coming where?" he says "to the Canary Islands with me and Chris, of course". Yeah right. I'm going to say yes just like that when I've never been consulted about the destination, time, month, cost, &c. The two of them have had this coming holiday planned all year. Devious buggers.

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