20180420

Friday May 25, 1979

_. An unbelievably traumatic day. Firstly, Lynn's pregnancy was confirmed by her doctor, but within minutes of learning this wonderful news I received a call from Christine ------- yes, from Christine Braithwaite -- who told me she is going to marry Frank, her latest boyfriend, and that the quiet register office wedding will occur within the next three or four months. Naturally, I was dumbfounded, horror struck and aghast. The rug was pulled from beneath my feet. Christine has featured near the top of my short-list for some considerable time and the news that she is to become espoused to this lanky character from Hawksworth is shattering to say the least. For the remainder of the afternoon I was in no fit state to do much other feel very sorry for myself, much to the amusement of Sarah & Eileen. Christine must have switched jobs because she gave me a new phone number, but in the chaos and shock, I seem to have mislaid it.

Out tonight with Sue & Peter to the Shoulder. Met Chippy and Debbie. Chris Ratcliffe, Peter M and Martyn were there gloating over CB's forthcoming wedding announcement. I suppose I shouldn't have told them. Oh, what a mess.

-=-

Thursday May 24, 1979

Ascension Day.

Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Mrs John Brown, was brought into the world 160 years ago today.

Met Jacq at Len's Bar at 1pm for our ritual weekly meeting. She gave me 75p to pass on to Motherdear as an instalment for something she's buying from her catalogue. Jacq wasn't very cheerful ____________.

I remained at home this evening. Lana Turner was on the telly.

-=-

Wednesday May 23, 1979

__. A batch of photographs that I took last November arrived from Gratispool's today.We have all aged quite considerably since they were taken. I, for one, resemble a giant gollywog. Peter N has grown a beard since they were taken, and with a face like his I think facial hair covering it up only improves matters.

John phoned. Our Scotland trip is off because Maria wants to come here to see some of her mother's American friends who are visiting Ridgeway. ___________.

To bed with Richard III at 10:25. He's met his match at Bosworth Field.

-=-

Tuesday May 22, 1979

__. The Queen Victoria - John Brown debate continues here. Sadly, dearest Mama believes everything she reads in the newspapers and so is now convinced that the old Queen made a honest man of her amiable ghillie. Buckingham Palace says the very idea is out of the question, and 'no documentary evidence exists'. I cannot see Queen Victoria contemplating such a thing. She had an aversion to widows re-marrying, and discouraged it amongst her ladies in waiting.

Watched a TV programme about twins and then had a stomach full of the Canadian general election which takes place today. Trudeau may get kicked out of office and thereby see his ubiquitous wife, Margaret, disappear from the gossip columns. That woman is close to the top of my list of nauseating ladies. Others include Pat Arrowsmith, Faith Brown, Vanessa Redgrave, Shirley Williams MP, and the mother of the Ayatollah Khomeini, whoever she is.

John should have phoned, but didn't and so we are none the wiser about the coming weekend activities.

To bed with King Richard III at 11:52pm.

-=-

20180418

Monday May 21, 1979

_. Read in the Daily Telegraph that a certain Michael MacDonald is alleging, in a new book, that Queen Victoria married her Highland servant, John Brown, and bore him a son who lived to the age of 90, and was a frequent visitor to Balmoral. All very doubtful. Where is the proof? The Queen and Brown were undoubtedly close which gave rise to speculation, but this is where it stops.

Back to reading Richard III. John phoned, but only briefly, and so too did Dave G.

Bed at 11:30.

-=-

Sunday May 20, 1979

Rogation Sunday.

_. {deletion} The birds were creating one hell of a racket in the soggy Hampshire trees this morning. We ate toast and helped Mrs Dixon prepare the lunch before heading down to the Plough Inn for the last couple of hours. Mrs D gave us £10 to get a round of drinks at the pub. Isn't she amazing?

Ally (bless her) is becoming incredibly attractive to me, and by that I do not imply that she is attracted to me. Quite the contrary. I am sure she regards me with some affection, but I think she finds me hideously stupid and something of a joke. I am sure she isn't turned on in any way, shape or form. It is something I will have to work on.

Graham thinks I'm a reprobate, which is rich coming from him, because he's the most debauched chap alive.

At 3pm we had a massive lunch in a room I've never laid eyes on before, then bade our farewells and left in search of a garage in order to repair Peter's ailing car. Something called a regulator had disintegrated. We sat for ages whilst a mechanic did £21 worth of work, and this held us up until almost 7pm. Lynn and Dave were of course with us in Peter's car for the journey home because Ally is now the proud owner of his Triumph Spitfire. Dave will miss his play thing.

Pleasant journey home. In for 11:30-12. Hilda and Tony were having supper with Mum and Dad, telling tales of their recent holiday in Holland.

-=-

20180417

Saturday May 19, 1979

_. Graham woke us first at about 9am. He was one his way to a piss-up at Heathrow Airport. Pete & I stayed in bed until about 11. We lads are in Graham's room which resembles a hospital ward with beds lined across the room. David isn't feeling at all well and he stayed in his bed until about 1 o'clock.

We went down to the Plough Inn at Itchen Abbas, and onto another pub at Ovington (the Bush?) David joined us at the second pub, in the garden, where we had ploughman's lunches and drank iced Pernod. We joked about Lynn's pregnancy and the baby has already been christened 'Hylda Baker'.

At 2:30 we went into Winchester to buy a bottle of Pernod for tonight's party. Alison and I walked huddled together like doves much to the amusement of Lynn who views our new found friendship with scepticism.

Back to Alison's where we sprawled on the lawn. Out at 7:30 to the party which was held at the home of her boss, Graham Smith, and partner Charlotte, in Winchester. On arrival we found Charlotte reclining on a sofa, cat on knee, allowing the feline to drink the contents of her wine glass. A foul display.

Most of the guests seemed to be considerably older than us. Even geriatric in some cases. Ate and drank to bursting point. Lynn was the life and soul of the evening. We left at about 4am for Alison's. She was furious about the evening._______. At Chillandham Cross we couldn't get in the house. We fell about in the garden quite hopelessly. Inside, we listened to records, drank tomato soup, and a bottle of gin in the space of 45 minutes.

-=-

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...