Sunday August 1, 1976

7th after Trinity. Arise at quite a decent hour and make my way to the bathroom. The stench of vomit outside Karl's bedroom is revolting, but after further investigations I see he is the only casualty.

Peter says CB and Roger appear to have had a good time in the lounge and Chris tells that they (CB & Roger) look to have been 'up to things'______________________.

Denise and I take a vaccuum cleaner each and start on the downstairs rooms. Even Roger had a duster in his hand. Lynne was most uncommunicative and surly much to the amusement of CB who kept grinning at me across the lounge. By 11.30 we've done all we can and Chris takes Romeo & Juliet home (that's Christine & Roger by the way).

Denise, Peter, Lynne and I sit in the dining room chatting until Mr & Mrs Mather get in at 12. I can see Mr M casting his gaze around the premises looking for cases of vandalism. I shudder when I see him mounting the stairs because I know just what a dreadful smell will assail his nostrils when he reaches the top.

At12.30 - Lynne who is all packed ready for her holiday - brings me home.We kiss and part until Saturday night. Have lunch with Mum, Dad, Sue & Peter and then spend a couple of hours with the Blackwells. We talk about Vic Feather, the Duchess of Windsor, the Queen and Queen Mother and other sundries. Edith had some unsavory comments to make about the old duchess and she says that the Queen Mother 'fancies herself'.

Back home I watch TV all night with Mum & Dad. A good programme about the history of the BBC with bits of programmes all bunged together. After Dad goes to work Mum and I watched a sad, morbid film with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. Don't get me wrong, Elizabeth and Montgomery didn't watch the film with us - they were in it.

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Saturday July 31, 1976

Climb out of bed at 1pm and after eggs and bacon for breakfast Lynn and I go into Otley on a shopping expedition. I take Peter's present with me so that I can go straight on to Bramhope afterwards. Have a laugh with Lynn who is debating what to buy Peter for his 21st. I leave her still thinking about this having bought a few bottles to take with me. Arrived at Bramhope at 4.30.

Lynne is there with her friend Jean unpacking crates of Schofield's sandwiches and other delicacies. Chris and Andy are just leaving ____________. He's like a big girl at times. Or even a little girl. Peter is thrilled with his 'Silver Convention' LP and we played it about 75 million times while going through the holiday photos together. The girls take about three hours to ready themselves and to kill time Peter I go for a quick drink to the Fox & Hounds (Bramhope). Chris and Denise come back at 8 or so. Jean is in hysterics. She plays a ridiculous game touching my bum, knees and elbows. Just a general grope really. Go to the Dyneley Arms where everybody meets. Sing 'Happy Birthday' and 'Twenty One Today' for the host and at about 9.30 or 10 we go back to the house and party. Don't really see Lynne all night, and when I do (see her) she's off hand. I drift round having social intercourse with everyone and distinctly recall devouring a vase of carnations (with Dave L) from the dining room table much to the horror of Mrs Maria Rhodes.

All the usuals attended - far too numerous even to mention. Carole didn't come and people kept telling me she's gone to London for the weekend. I don't believe it. She'll be out with Chris, Pete and Denise tomorrow night. CB was pissed up. We kissed and it was stimulating and pleasurable and entirely relieving. Does this mean I should do away with Roger and take CB for myself? Or does it mean all girls excite me other than ______? Watch this space.

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Friday July 30, 1976

Peter Mather's 21st. Wake up at 11.15. Lynne is on the phone from Burley-in-Wharfedale. She wants to know if I fancy meeting her for lunch at the Red Lion. I say no because I want to to Leeds, but then change my mind after five minutes and ring her back. Mum comes home at 12.30 and she takes me down to the White Cross where I get a bus to Burley. I sit in the Red Lion and have a pint on my own until Lynne comes out of work. It is a nice, warm, sunny day and we sit outside watching the world go by. I have a gin and tonic for a change. Set off to Leeds at about 2.30.

Get my hair cut in that place in the Empire Arcade and then go buy Peter the 'Fly, Robin Fly' LP which he used to rave about in Ibiza. I also got Maria a perfume spray for her birthday - it's called 'Stevie B' or something.

Tiger Baby by Silver Convention

I feel like Tommy Steele with my haircut. Not too sure about the style, but I suppose it will 'grow on me' to coin a phrase. Into the YP just in time at 5pm and work until 11 o'clock.

Lynne comes to collect me and we debate which residence to go to. Eventually decide on Pine Tops and we sally forth in a homeward direction. We listen to a few LP tracks and sup coffee but somehow I feel bloody tired ands listless. What happened to that youthful exuberance! Knackered at 21. Oh, it's more than I can bear. Give me that gun. BANG BANG. Ugh, I think I'm dead. (It took two shots. Did the first one miss?)


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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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Wednesday July 28, 1976

Work all day and spend a very uneventful evening in the confines of my own home. What more can I say? Very little really other than I hope all this is making pleasant reading for you and it isn't keeping you from doing anything more important and vital.

I don't know about Lynne.__________________.

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Tuesday July 27, 1976

Go away...... alright if you insist ......

Monday July 26, 1976

A warm, overcast day. Maria's 18th birthday. She always looks and behaves much older though and this is probably a good thing - her being in her present condition. Nothing looks more pathetic than a child expectant mother. Janice Beaumont always looked ridiculously infantile and I winced each and every time I saw her.

Work was busy. Eileen is away on holiday for a couple of weeks.

The Royal Family returned from Canada today. It was the first time that all the family had been abroad together - that is the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and four offspring. Prince Andrew has caused something of a sensation. Women everywhere are saying he's the most handsome bit of royalty they have ever seen. Even the unbending Sue Bradley on the EP thinks he's ravishing. She's old enough to be his mother.

Meanwhile: that night:- After tea with Mum, Dad, Lynn, Sue and Julie Nason, Peter's sister, I rang Maria to congratulate her on her birthday. She says John bought her a handbag, a purse, wallet, necklace and apron! For a guy who detests shopping he seems to have done rermarkably well. Lynn and Mum also have a word with her.

The bloody Olympic Games dominates the TV all night and at 10.30 after everyone had retired to bed (Dad started work at 10pm) I watched a western film until midnight.

By the way. I spoke to Delia Collis this afternoon.

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