20090505

Monday October 15, 1973

Crawl out of my lovely warm bed at 8.10am. Lynn is yelling at me to get up. I stagger downstairs and eat my breakfast wondering where Mother can be. At 8.30 I discover, to my surprise, that she's in bed with some sort of illness - upset tummy. Leave for school on the 9 o'clock 55. The weather is lousy once again and by the time I arrive at school I am rather wet. I sit all day with Christine and Glynnis Margerison - a plain but hilarious girl. In Economics Ayling carries on about people who think that 'the Economist magazine is politically biased.' Poor Pauline Barlow realised he was getting at her. Such a laugh. But the bugger cannot con me. We all know that 'The Economist' is a fascist rag. During the lesson I speak to Miss Helen Taylor (the girl who is crazy about me and I apologise for the change in ink colour). She says that the Wyndham-Logg memoirs are 'very amusing'. I don't know why, but the word amusing immediately prints onto my mind the image of Queen Victoria. 'Amusing' is such a very middle-class word. I would have preferred Miss Taylor to have said 'very funny', or something equally amusing. Later. See tv until 11.30. Bed at a quarter to 12. Arrgghh! Blimey O'Reilly! Chris rang twice. At the second call be brought tidings of a spine-chilling nature.__________________. --==--

Sunday October 14, 1973

Wake up having had another dream about June. She had written to me asking me to forgive her. Me forgive her! My God it should be vice versa. I must have been a swine, a real swine!

A typical lazy Sunday. Andy doesn't ring about the swimming baths. John and I sit in the lounge listening to Jimmy Savile on the radio. Mother is preparing lunch and the girls do homework.

Later: after an excellent chicken lunch we watch Sidney Poitier in the film 'Lillies of the Field' - very amusing in places.

Chris rings at 7 o'clock. John decides to have a night out with Chris and Andy - females prohibited.

I stay at home and see a programme on tv about why we laugh, but the end result is more of a programme concerned with what we laugh at, completely different to what the title suggests.

Mum and Dad and the girls go to Pudsey at about 7.30 and do not return until about 1.30. I sit watching the tv until it closes down and then compile a letter to June asking her to see me again, and will post it tomorrow.

Do not get to sleep until about 2.30. I feel listless and completely useless really.

Oh dear. When John and Chris arrived at the Emmotts they encountered Marita, poor soul, and Laura. Chris hadn't told Marita he was going out. Chaos and pandemonium followed. The girls walked out. Is this the end of Chris and Marita? I do hope not. M is such a nice old girl.

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20090504

Saturday October 13, 1973


Get up after 10 o'clock. Mother is complaining about the dilapidated condition of the bathroom - so without further pressure being placed upon us - John and I go up and begin decorating. We rub all the gloss paing from the walls, but when Dad comes home we all decide that perhaps the bathroom needs tiling and not painting. Mother also wants a shower fitted.

Mick Knowles and Lynne were married this morning. Christine was a bridesmaid.

Later. Chris rings. I tell him to go to Christine W's house at Yeadon for 8.30. John and I are with her at 8.15. Andy, Chris and Marita____arrive at 8.30. At 8.45 Marita, Chris, John and Christine W, leave for an unknown destination. _____.Andy and I go to the Emmotts where we meet Philip Cartwright, Ray, Steve Cottle, etc. We pile into cars and go to Bramhope, then to the pub where Brian and Valerie had their wedding reception in July. Sit joking and drinking until 11.10. Steve gives me a lift as far as Guiseley Swimming Baths. I walk home. Unknown to me Marita passes me in the other direction on Park Rd. On arrival home John says the 'foursome' had a good time at the Fox and Hounds in Menston.__________.

Later. See a good Cary Grant film. Bed at 1.40. What a fantastic evening we've had for a change. Andy and I may be going swimming at Guiseley baths tomorrow.

--==--

Letter from Christine Braithwaite {Postmark Oct 13, 1973}

Glenview
76, New Road Side
Horsforth
Leeds

Dear Mig,
Thanks for your letter. I only got it this morning - and the letter. Sorry about paper, but I didn't bring any proper notepaper with me. MM's sat writing to David and I'm supposed to be writing an essay, but I can't be bothered so I'll have to make yet another excuse. Well, I found your letter very exhilarating! In fact, it lifted me out of my hum-drum, kitchen-sink drama situation which I appear to be in. (Sorry, I'm in one of those moods ~ Oh!). Your diagrams were exceptionally explanatory, and your rules for terminating consumption of oil were ... dare I say it ...yes, I dare ....  were.....O.K!

There is one point I wish to elaborate on....
I WANT AN UMBRELLA FOR CHRISTMAS! I an cold, wet and hungry because I have been disarmed  of my brolly. Just cut along the dotted line and send a £1 note (no coins please) to the following address: "Glenview, 76, New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds. <------- ..............="" cur="" here="" nbsp="">

However good your bargain for £89 may sound, I want a brolly!

Michael L. Rhodes I wish to present you with a writ demanding you to appear in court, on the morning of December 17. I am acting on behalf of a certain Miss C. Braithwaite, who is prosecuting you for liable (sic), insisting that, in one of your communcates (sic) to her you said, quote "have you given up the drink?" How could you say such a thing? How could you be so callous? How could you?

Philip and I (sorry, your Majesty) go out only on Fridays and Saturdays now, to try and save some money. We haven't been to the Queen's for ages. We might go down this Saturday though! On Saturday we're going into Leeds, and we might get the ring, I see one I like. We'll probably be getting engaged on December 29 (Saturday), which is the weekend between Christmas  and New Year! But we're not sure yet. When are you getting yourself hitched up then? June was up at school the other day, but she didn't stay long. Your poem referring to Irene (MacMahon\) and Andy Maud (that's the poor fools name!) was stupendous! A copy is contained herewith and within.

Some sad news Mig, please ....... whatever you are doing - stop it, your dirty beggar!....  No please sit down..... I have something to tell you .....are you ready? The Cow and Calf has closed! Arghh! It's now Samantha's and anyone who gets drunk is thrown out! I think the whole thing is positively disgusting - they should have asked us first. No, in fact, it was a bit of a dump, we only went so that we could get drunk - still memories will be nice - and of the Cow and Calf.

Well, must go now - got a lesson - write soon, and don't forget that £1 for my brolly!

Love

Christine (Your Honourable Madame Chairman)

-=-











Friday October 12, 1973

At school I speak with Jackie Petit, who tells me she is giving a camp-fire rave-up in a field near the home of Michael Stott this evening. MM is close at hand, and he also sees the fun which is to be had at such a gathering - and especially with Miss Petit. I inform the delectable Jackie that I may pay her a visit after closing hours. She smiles amiably.

Later. After the usual round of telephone calls I arrive at the Fleece half an hour later than everyone else. From 8.30 until 11 I am sandwiched between Miss Christine White and Miss Laura Butchard. Laura is clad only scantily, in one of her very low-cut gowns, but reeking of those intolerable moth-balls. How weird all these evenings are without Dave, poor soul, whi is flogging his guts out in Worcester - and four four years!

Tragedy! At 11 o'clock MM just stands up and announces that he's going home. I ask: 'what about Jackie's party?' He quips: 'Oh, it will all be over by now.' I disagree and tell him so. He gives John and I a lift home.

See a good film starring Stewart Grainger as a brutal wife murderer. Lynn also sees it with me. I am in bed by nearly 2am. Sleep soundly.

--==--

Thursday October 11, 1973

Nine months ago today started the romance to end all romances. Yes, June and I went to the golf club dance at Rawdon, from whence we never looked back until that tragic day in August when she gave me up. I will never understand why she left me.We were always infinately happy together. People admit that we were made for each other. Old Ivy at the Emmotts thought we were a fantastic couple. Christine B could tell by the expression on my face that I loved June...

--==--

Wednesday October 10, 1973

Get up at 8am. The rain is pouring down outside and I decide to spend the day at home anyway. I have no lessons today. Lynn and Sue go off to school at 8.30 and Dad takes Mum down to work and comes back shortly after 9 and we sit drinking tea until 10.0 o'clock. I then take out my file and look at the Economics I have to do - not too much.

The post comes and I see I have a letter from the Yorkshire Post. They have placed me on a short-list and want me to return for a further interview next Tuesday at 10. Mum is very excited and feels sure I'll get the job - I do hope so.

Dad and I are alone all morning and he is fed up with the weather because he will have to stand out in it all afternoon when Princess Margaret comes to Yeadon. He'll get absolutely soaked.

Later Mum comes home. At 1pm I sat in the lounge playing Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto and sewing some new buttons on my old coat. Dad goes to Yeadon at 1.30 and I get the 2.30 bus there. I stand in a bus shelter until 3.40! Arrive at the airport at about 3.50. Dad shows me the public gallery overlooking the aircraft of the Queen's Flight which will take the princess back to London. Shortly after 4 the motorcade arrives. Police outriders on motorcycles are at the head and tail of this 'procession'. The Rolls Royce goes very near the plane and the princess alights from it onto the wet tarmac. She is very petit, and not at all fat which seems to be on tv. She is in green and grey. Within seconds, and after a curtsey from the wife of the Lord Lieutenant, Princess Margaret is on the plane, her lady-in-waiting having fallen on the steps due to the slippery, wet conditions. Five minutes later she is gone. Go home in pouring rain.

Saw Philip in Yeadon and he tells me about last Saturday's stag party. Spend the evening watching tv.

--==--

Tuesday October 9, 1973

Another rainy day. I think it's shocking the way that Princess Anne and Mark Phillips have had to give up Oak Grove, near Aldershot, simply because everyone in Britain, except me that is, is opposed to them paying only £8 a week rent. So what? Why can't the couple live more like the ordinary Briton? We only pay £8 rent in our council houses. Why can't they? The British do have a wicked and cruel streak in their character which I cannot tolerate. Cheer up Anne and Mark! Keep your royal chins held high....

--==--

Sunday April 1, 1984

 4th Sunday in Lent Mothering Sunday New Moon Sunny, bright, &c. Smothering Sunday. All Fool's Day. Busy. Rob came and so too did th...