20090419

Monday May 28, 1973

Bank Holiday Monday. The good old Duke of Windsor died one year ago today. Brings to mind my trek down to see his lying-in-state.

Lynn is working in my stead on Saturday when we go down to London. She intends taking over from me in September.

At 1 o'clock go to CW. Work until 6.25. Quite busy. Sue pays me £2. Come home and watch a film of the Coronation, 1953. Have a bath at 9. Bed at 10.30. How's that for an early night!

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Sunday May 27, 1973

A real scorcher. Mum, Lynn, Sue, John and myself sit from 11 till 2 on the lawn. Mum has too much sun and feels unwell. Make an attempt to read Adolf Hitler. Mum, reading the paper, tells me of a trip from Leeds to the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday. I immediately ring and book 2 seats for John and myself. At lunch I think about June and whether she would like to come with us? She rings at 4 and I tell her of the trip - she agrees immediately to come with us. Fantastic! June and myself actually going to see the Queen!

Have tea. Dave rings at 7. We decide to go out. He comes in the car at 8 - and go to see June at Horsforth. No one is in at her house. Go back to Dave's and then collect John. Go back again to June's. Her mother and father are in. Fabulous people. Mr Bottomley is an artist. He offers me a cigarette and I complement him on his artistic capabilities. Mrs B is a real homely sort. Leave 10 minutes later. The Emmotts is packed out. Beautiful evening. Ivy doesn't have her coat on - the weather must be good. Pick up Peter Hurst and go to the Fleece. Chris and MM are in. Linda, Glenn and Julian Bolton are in a corner. Dave and I sit with them. Reminisce with Julian about old times at Fieldhead. Evidently, I gave him four old pence to pinch the school subuteo soccer pitch - but he sold it to somebody else for a few pence more! I never got my brass back!

Dave brings us home at 11.30. Everyone is on way to bed.

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20090417

Saturday May 26, 1973

Revise Napoleon (the 1st) all day. Do an essay entitled: "Enough was never enough", is this a fair judgement of Napoleon I?" Read AJP Taylor's essay on the thing. I hate Taylor. It was he, last year on tv, who said that he wouldn't even have employed Queen Victoria as a cook! The dirty, republican swine!

Fairly warm day. Go to CW at 7 o'clock. Exceedingly busy. Sue gets a bit flustered but, after all, it's understandable. Home by 2 o'clock.

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Friday May 25, 1973

Do Economics homework until nearly 4.0 this morning then go to bed until 8. Go on the 8.30 bus to Benton. Christine very tired. June, bless her, stays in bed until 11, having no lessons until 11.45. We do Economics. Christine and I are too tired - can hardly read our finance books. Surely, the most boring book ever written. Mr Ayling was in good humour. We laugh about last night - mine and Christine's jig caused a sensation.

June arrives for lunch. We stay at school at lunchtime and sit out in the red-hot sun. June does English in the afternoon. Dave, Christine and Holmes played chess. I revised with Carol Bailey. At 4 we pinch Tiff's shoe - and chase about until 5.30. Christine and I have such a good laugh. Go home after seeing June off. Not going out again until after the 'A' levels - or at least we aren't going to make a serious move to go out.

Go to the CW. Sue and Toffer in very jovial mood. Come home at 1 o'clock in the morning.

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Thursday May 24, 1973

It's the Profumo Affair all over again! Yes, Mr Heath's government is falling down about his head. Yesterday, Lord Lambton, the former Earl of Durham, resigned from the Defence ministry after admitting to drugs charges and do's with prostitutes. If this isn't enough, the 55 year-old Leader of the House of Lords, and Lord Prvy Seal, Earl Jellicoe, a godson of George V, today also resigned after being cited in the prostitute thing with Lambton. The news on tv has been really juicy these past two days!
The main question is, have they been forced, through blackmail, into leaking government secrets? Especially Lambton at the Ministry of Defence. Very, very embarrassing for Heath.

A really beautiful day. June and I really looking forward to tonight. June goes home at 3 to wash her hair. Dave goes home for his gear because he has to stay the night at Willie's in order to let W do the driving - him not having past his test yet. Go down to the employment exchange and get my passport - nearly leaving my birth certificate on the counter.

Willie brings me to Guiseley and then drives on with Christine, Elke, Dave, and Dietrich to Addingham where they have tea with Cowie. Dave and Willie pick John and I up at 8.0 we go on and pick up June, Hursty and Dale. Go to the Midland Hotel, Ilkley, and then do all the pubs going up the hill towards the Cow and Calf. Arrive at the Cow and Calf at 10. Christine not well at all. Have whisky with ice. June looks irresistible. Go to the Intercon. John dances until 2 without once leaving the floor. A fantastic evening. Come home in two trips. Christine and I do a silly dance whilst waiting for Willie from the 1st journey. Such a hysterical hour it really was.

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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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Sunday May 6, 1984

 2nd Sunday after Easter Moorhouse Inn, Leeds 11 Dismal. The little warm spell has passed by.That's summer over and done with. Down to t...