Tuesday August 21, 1979

_. Kathleen has engaged a Chilean exile to work nights as Ursula's replacement. He fled Chile in 1973 after the coup d'état which overthrew the Communist Mr Allende. He is a university graduate with a wife and two children.

Maria has had a letter from Dr Mellor re Catherine's heart. She may require surgery at some time in the future.______.

Cut the lawns. Re-potted a pot-bound palm.

Watched an awful film on the BBC. A good film if you are a member of the Arlene Dahl fan club. Played more 'Monopoly' with Susan. She beat us again. Ally may name 5, Club Street 'the Ponderosa'. Laugh a good deal.

-=-

Monday August 20, 1979

_.Arrived home at 5. Maria and JPH drop in to give mother a bulletin on Catherine. _____. Maria is going with Carole [Phillips] and Mick Lynch to Christine Dibb's. it was her 21st yesterday, and I suppose she is throwing some sort of function.

Lynn, Ally and Susie roll in from the sauna, all bedraggled, and sat eating salad and gossiping with Mum. She thinks Dad is going to be damaged by the police force and  end his days as a bitter, twisted old man.

We discovered an old 'Monopoly' board in a cupboard and sat round the table. Susan soon owned everything and was cruel enough to kidnap Ally's little dog, going so far to actually have it destroyed. I briefly owned Mayfair.

-=-

Sunday August 19, 1979

_. 10th Sunday after Trinity

Breakfast with Lynn and Dave, and then with Mum. They didn't get in until 4am either. Sunday newspaper review: will Simon Phipps, Princess Margaret's former boyfriend, be the next Archbishop of Canterbury, or will it definitely be [Stuart] Blanch? Just thought I'd pose the question, It is Sunday.

The overcast day did not prevent Mum dragging an old deckchair into the garden and collapsing therein.

At 7 Ally, Sue, Pete and I went to the Prachee Indian.

-=-