_. Up with the larks and out into Grassington purchasing sausages and rich tea biscuits. Glynnie and Ally performed in the kitchen like Fanny and Johnny Cradock. I made the lashings of hot tea.
Afterwards we walked into the hills and clowned around in the snow. Glynnie was knackered. We returned to the Black Horse. Sue was taken ill. She took on a ghastly colour and fled the pub abandoning her brandy and ham sandwiches. An elderly lady came into the bar and said to Glynnie: "Morning's gorgeous" but he thought she's said 'good morning, gorgeous', and he replied: "Morning, Sexy". How we howled. Glynnie is a natural comedian and really should be on the stage.
The atmosphere is the Grassington taverns was more tense than on previous occasions and we soon realised there wasn't much chance of us having a 'lock in' in any of them. I decided to convert the kitchen of the cottage into a discotheque, which commenced at 11 after having fish and chips in the village. Only Ally, Glynnie and I took part, the others were far from festive. We ended the night drinking lager from a large tea pot and dancing, scantily clad, in the garden.
-=-
20200430
Friday March 21, 1980
_. Ally was up and out at 9 to go to Yeadon and have her hair permed, and returned at 11 just as we were getting up. Transformed, with flowing yellow curls. Mum made breakfast and we then packed the spitfire and and headed for Grassington. I first had to call at the bank and withdraw £10 from my account to keep Ally in the manner to which she might have become accustomed to had she met the right young man. The day was bright and clear and we sped towards the Dales in the disintegrating car, piled high with luggage, bottles and more bottles. Something fell off the bottom of the car as we hurtled past Bolton Abbey, but we battled on regardless. The cottage was a delight to behold, but why do owners of weekend, country cottages insist on decorating them in the most hideous hues? The place was awash with mauve and lime green. They must have laughed themselves silly while hanging the striped orange wallpaper in the sitting room. The first priority was to build large blazing fires in the sitting room and kitchen. Hill Top Cottage was almost reduced to a mound of smouldering ash when the kitchen range caused a 'pea souper' of a smog. At three, the three of us [Glynnie] retreated to the pub where we sat watching a black and white telly. At 8 we met Lynn, Dave, Sue and Pete at the Devonshire. To a damp bed at about 1. A wet, foggy night.
-=-
-=-
Thursday March 20, 1980
_. Disappointing evening. Glynnie had arrived at 4 and was entertaining Mum and Dad when I came home from the office. At 7:30 we went to the Hare & Hounds for drinks before dinner at 8:30. Ally arrived at 7:30. Judith and Tim were nowhere to be seen and at the Hare we were immediately set upon by Robert Griffin, the assistant manager_____. We sat down to a dinner of hideous proportions. Abominable small steaks. They really ought to have provided magnifying glasses with our plates. We all laughed about it a good deal. We went into the pool room afterwards, and Mr Griffin bolted the doors and dimmed the lights as though we were heading for an after hours drink, but none came.
-=-
-=-
Wednesday March 19, 1980
_. Pete came this evening to sample the latest home made lager in celebration of his birthday tomorrow. We watched a marvellous, grizzly murder on BBC2 - 'Therese Raquin', by someone called Émile Zola, who I am sure will go far if he keeps up to this remarkable standard. The pils lager must have taken hold because afterwards Mum, Dad and I had a heated argument on the subject of death and funerals and the hypocrisy of it all. Émile Zola was also partially to blame. Mother has had terrible experiences at family funerals and this has coloured her whole attitude. _______. Mum just wants to be kicked around, after death, until we have lost her, with none of the flowers she loved so much in life. I cannot understand this. Such a sombre topic of discussion.
-=-
-=-
20200427
Tuesday March 18, 1980
_. Kathleen arrived at the YP this morning and calmly enquired as to whether I was sufficiently recovered, and made no snide remarks, voiced no suspicions as to the severity of my ailment, &c. I am well and truly 'off the hook'.
Blustery day today but no more snow. Ate sausages in the canteen with Sarah and Carol and escaped at 4:30 armed with a copy of the EP bearing an article on page 1 which owes its existence to me. Philip Naylor-Leyland, the Fitzwilliam heir, and eldest son of a baronet, today married Lady Isabella Lambton, daughter of the naughty Lord Lambton, who was central to the Norma Levy call-girl scandal in May, 1973. Geoff Hemingway has promised to pay me for this morsel of high society news.
Phoned Ally at the AHA. She was miserable and 'put out' by my enquiries, distracting her from the Catherine Cookson novel she's reading. I was thoroughly depressed by her sombre tones, and dismal outlook, and really wish I hadn't bothered. Such a melancholy baby. On the bright side I did receive a letter from her which was sweet. The pen does tend to make things sweeter, don't you think? On Saturday Chippy advised me to move to Bradford and live with her. He is always very blunt, but objective. ___________.
Pete came up tonight to complete the quintet. How quiet will it be in July when Sue is gone?
A Charles Bronson film at 10:30. Bed at 12:35.
-=-
Blustery day today but no more snow. Ate sausages in the canteen with Sarah and Carol and escaped at 4:30 armed with a copy of the EP bearing an article on page 1 which owes its existence to me. Philip Naylor-Leyland, the Fitzwilliam heir, and eldest son of a baronet, today married Lady Isabella Lambton, daughter of the naughty Lord Lambton, who was central to the Norma Levy call-girl scandal in May, 1973. Geoff Hemingway has promised to pay me for this morsel of high society news.
Phoned Ally at the AHA. She was miserable and 'put out' by my enquiries, distracting her from the Catherine Cookson novel she's reading. I was thoroughly depressed by her sombre tones, and dismal outlook, and really wish I hadn't bothered. Such a melancholy baby. On the bright side I did receive a letter from her which was sweet. The pen does tend to make things sweeter, don't you think? On Saturday Chippy advised me to move to Bradford and live with her. He is always very blunt, but objective. ___________.
Pete came up tonight to complete the quintet. How quiet will it be in July when Sue is gone?
A Charles Bronson film at 10:30. Bed at 12:35.
-=-
Monday March 17, 1980
_. St Patrick's Day
Out of bed at 7:10am and to my horror the lane is shrouded in a blanket of snow. Ally woke up with a glowing nose, heavy eyes and a cold. I gave her a cup of tea and a couple of asprin, and she disappeared into the blizzard driving a car with next to no petrol in the tank. I went out with a spade and cleared the drive before moving on to Jim's to perform my good deed of the day for my chauffeur.
At the YP I expected a raging, screaming mob, but was thrown into confusion by the silence and complete lack of interest in my so-called sudden illness on Friday. I phoned Ally at 12:30 and she says Derek Jenkins has been similarly quiet on the subject of her absence.
The Daily Mail this morning reported that the Queen is to pay a state visit to Liechtenstein in May primarily to organise a marriage between the Prince of Wales and Princess Nora of that pin-prick of a principality. This is outrageous. Princess Nora is 30 years old, far too old for our Wales, because his bride must necessarily have many years of child bearing years ahead of her, and of course Nora is a Roman Catholic. The Prince of W has said that if he marries a RC he is technically 'dead' and no way will he rock the apple-cart. Just imagine 'Queen Nora'. Mum would be ecstatic, I do suppose. They, Mum and Dad, returned from snow-bound Grassington at 9:30 looking bedraggled, but healthy.
-=-
Out of bed at 7:10am and to my horror the lane is shrouded in a blanket of snow. Ally woke up with a glowing nose, heavy eyes and a cold. I gave her a cup of tea and a couple of asprin, and she disappeared into the blizzard driving a car with next to no petrol in the tank. I went out with a spade and cleared the drive before moving on to Jim's to perform my good deed of the day for my chauffeur.
At the YP I expected a raging, screaming mob, but was thrown into confusion by the silence and complete lack of interest in my so-called sudden illness on Friday. I phoned Ally at 12:30 and she says Derek Jenkins has been similarly quiet on the subject of her absence.
The Daily Mail this morning reported that the Queen is to pay a state visit to Liechtenstein in May primarily to organise a marriage between the Prince of Wales and Princess Nora of that pin-prick of a principality. This is outrageous. Princess Nora is 30 years old, far too old for our Wales, because his bride must necessarily have many years of child bearing years ahead of her, and of course Nora is a Roman Catholic. The Prince of W has said that if he marries a RC he is technically 'dead' and no way will he rock the apple-cart. Just imagine 'Queen Nora'. Mum would be ecstatic, I do suppose. They, Mum and Dad, returned from snow-bound Grassington at 9:30 looking bedraggled, but healthy.
-=-
Sunday March 16, 1980
_. 4th Sunday in Lent - Mothering Sunday - Summer Time Begins
Up at 9:30 to make a leisurely breakfast only to discover that it is 10:30, and poor Ally is already late for her shift at the Belfry. She discarded the breakfast and left the house in a frenzy.
Sue and Pete spent the day 'courting' in the sitting room, and so I took the typewriter into the dining room and bashed out a feeble letter to Allykins, which took a chunk out of the afternoon.
My grandfather was given life 90 years ago today. Born at the height of the British Empire, he died long after it's demise and yet the span of Britain's change in fortunes affected his life in no way whatsoever. Born near to poverty, he laboured for over 50 years to make ends meet and died in 1961, leaving no money, property - but seven children and numerous grandchildren. He smoked a pipe, wore a flat cap, and always took to his bed at 9:30pm, you know. John Wilson 1890-1961 is probably condemned to obscurity, as if he never existed. Perhaps writing about him here helps to prevent this somewhat.
'Cromwell' on the telly - Richard Harris. Out with Ally to the White Cross.
-=-
Up at 9:30 to make a leisurely breakfast only to discover that it is 10:30, and poor Ally is already late for her shift at the Belfry. She discarded the breakfast and left the house in a frenzy.
Sue and Pete spent the day 'courting' in the sitting room, and so I took the typewriter into the dining room and bashed out a feeble letter to Allykins, which took a chunk out of the afternoon.
My grandfather was given life 90 years ago today. Born at the height of the British Empire, he died long after it's demise and yet the span of Britain's change in fortunes affected his life in no way whatsoever. Born near to poverty, he laboured for over 50 years to make ends meet and died in 1961, leaving no money, property - but seven children and numerous grandchildren. He smoked a pipe, wore a flat cap, and always took to his bed at 9:30pm, you know. John Wilson 1890-1961 is probably condemned to obscurity, as if he never existed. Perhaps writing about him here helps to prevent this somewhat.
'Cromwell' on the telly - Richard Harris. Out with Ally to the White Cross.
-=-
Saturday March 15, 1980
_. Don't worry. I didn't tell the staff at Bradford AHA that Ally has VD. Just to put your mind at rest.
Peter phoned me early on and said that he, Chippy and Dave W were going to Menston to inspect some morning suits for the July wedding, and did I want to join them? I readily agreed, but suggested that perhaps we should meet in the White Cross to discuss the cut and style of the proposed suits. I fried eggs and bacon before Pete and Chippy appeared at 12 o'clock. Ally phoned and I told her to come over and meet us at the White Cross, with Sue, at 1:30. The usual afternoon piss-up followed with only a fleeting visit to the tailor, who told us to return in May. Chippy Came back to lunch at ours [flat Yorkshire puddings] because Susan used the wrong flour. Afterwards we sat watching a film starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. It was so old, Clark Gable was in short pants.
This evening to the Shoulder of Mutton where we sat next to the juke box shovelling in money. The youngsters had never heard of Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstein, two nineteenth century vocalists. A good laugh was had by all. At 10 we moved on to the White Cross, full of yobs of varying degrees of nastiness. This Punk Rock craze seems so old fashioned already, but they cannot seem to see this. Gus told me a very funny joke about Jackie Onassis, but the details are vague. Afterwards, just Ally, Sue, Pete and I back to Pine Tops for a wild supper of baked beans [with garlic] and friend luncheon meat. To bed reeking like French peasants.
-=-
Peter phoned me early on and said that he, Chippy and Dave W were going to Menston to inspect some morning suits for the July wedding, and did I want to join them? I readily agreed, but suggested that perhaps we should meet in the White Cross to discuss the cut and style of the proposed suits. I fried eggs and bacon before Pete and Chippy appeared at 12 o'clock. Ally phoned and I told her to come over and meet us at the White Cross, with Sue, at 1:30. The usual afternoon piss-up followed with only a fleeting visit to the tailor, who told us to return in May. Chippy Came back to lunch at ours [flat Yorkshire puddings] because Susan used the wrong flour. Afterwards we sat watching a film starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. It was so old, Clark Gable was in short pants.
This evening to the Shoulder of Mutton where we sat next to the juke box shovelling in money. The youngsters had never heard of Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstein, two nineteenth century vocalists. A good laugh was had by all. At 10 we moved on to the White Cross, full of yobs of varying degrees of nastiness. This Punk Rock craze seems so old fashioned already, but they cannot seem to see this. Gus told me a very funny joke about Jackie Onassis, but the details are vague. Afterwards, just Ally, Sue, Pete and I back to Pine Tops for a wild supper of baked beans [with garlic] and friend luncheon meat. To bed reeking like French peasants.
-=-
20200426
Friday March 14, 1980
_.We were out of bed at 8 o'clock to launch our devious plot to cheat our employers out of our daily labours. I phoned Ally's office and she phoned mine. Both workhouses were very suspicious. I decided my ailment was Legionaries disease, and that Ally had an unfortunate STD.
Took cups of tea up to Mum and Dad, lounging in bed. My mother disapproves of my 'Dai Llewellyn-like' lifestyle, but couldn't help laughing at my cheek.
At 10:30, with the car roof peeled back, we took off in the direction of Ilkley, on to Kettlewell and to Starbotton. I felt under the weather, but Ally was bright and cheerful in a borrowed hat from mother. We sat by a log fire in the pub and Starbotton [the Fox & Hounds]. The place was far too quiet and we spoke in whispers. Lynn Lally [a girl who works with Sue] gave birth to a Mongol child about a month ago, and the poor thing died the other day. _____. At 2 we drove back to Skipton, market day, and sat in a pub where the proprietor strongly resembled a hedgehog and the atmosphere was eerie. It was as if everybody was watching us. Our guilty consciences perhaps? We soon escaped the beady-eyed hedgehog and came home.
Ally left at 4:30 to work at the Belfry. Mum and Dad went off to a cottage in Grassington with the car laden with booze.
-=-
Took cups of tea up to Mum and Dad, lounging in bed. My mother disapproves of my 'Dai Llewellyn-like' lifestyle, but couldn't help laughing at my cheek.
At 10:30, with the car roof peeled back, we took off in the direction of Ilkley, on to Kettlewell and to Starbotton. I felt under the weather, but Ally was bright and cheerful in a borrowed hat from mother. We sat by a log fire in the pub and Starbotton [the Fox & Hounds]. The place was far too quiet and we spoke in whispers. Lynn Lally [a girl who works with Sue] gave birth to a Mongol child about a month ago, and the poor thing died the other day. _____. At 2 we drove back to Skipton, market day, and sat in a pub where the proprietor strongly resembled a hedgehog and the atmosphere was eerie. It was as if everybody was watching us. Our guilty consciences perhaps? We soon escaped the beady-eyed hedgehog and came home.
Ally left at 4:30 to work at the Belfry. Mum and Dad went off to a cottage in Grassington with the car laden with booze.
-=-
20200424
Thursday March 13, 1980
_. Feeling remarkably efficient I went out at lunchtime and bought Mama a Mother's Day gift from one of our better china shops.
Ally came over tonight and we went down to the White Cross until 10:30. Back at Pine Tops Mum and Dad were entertaining Hilda and Tony, Margaret, Jim, Lynn and David. Lynn is such a talker at the table. Jim and Tony Gadsby like a comedy duo. The prominent Pudsey Liberal and I squabbled about employer-worker relations, much to the amusement of my aunt who called her husband an 'arse-licker'.
To bed at 3am. Ally and I decided to take tomorrow off. We intend venturing to the moors for an afternoon of romance. The days of the Triumph Spitfire might be drawing to a close.
-=-
Ally came over tonight and we went down to the White Cross until 10:30. Back at Pine Tops Mum and Dad were entertaining Hilda and Tony, Margaret, Jim, Lynn and David. Lynn is such a talker at the table. Jim and Tony Gadsby like a comedy duo. The prominent Pudsey Liberal and I squabbled about employer-worker relations, much to the amusement of my aunt who called her husband an 'arse-licker'.
To bed at 3am. Ally and I decided to take tomorrow off. We intend venturing to the moors for an afternoon of romance. The days of the Triumph Spitfire might be drawing to a close.
-=-
20200421
Wednesday March 12, 1980
_. A wet morning. To Leeds with Jim. He asked me to research information of the early life of William Hudson, Lord Mayor of Leeds 1977-8, whom he tells me in strictest confidence, has been nominated for an honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June. He also says that the betting shop tycoon Jim Windsor, is also in the running for a gong from the fount of all honour. I have always assumed that one had to suck up to the prime minister when one fancied ones chances for an MBE, or life peerage, but evidently it's been James Rawnsley, Esq, all along.
I would never accept an MBE, or OBE for that matter. Such trinkets I associate with long serving executives at the local water authority, or school caretakers. And as for life peerages I'd no sooner join the likes of Lord George-Brown and Joe Kagan, than fly. Gone are the days when honours really were honours. It's the poor Queen I feel sorry for. How ghastly must it be for her, with those endless queues of social workers, and canteen supervisors, lining up for recognition?
I posted a letter to John and Maria telling them of my Easter plans. It was pouring with rain and so John MacMurray kindly offered to post it for me as he left the office.
Typed a letter to Ally tonight. She wanted information on the subject of George III's children.
At 9 I watched a new drama on BBC2 starring Kate Nelligan. Lots of bare buttock fondling.
Mum and Dad borrowed Pete's car and went to Morrison's.
-=-
I would never accept an MBE, or OBE for that matter. Such trinkets I associate with long serving executives at the local water authority, or school caretakers. And as for life peerages I'd no sooner join the likes of Lord George-Brown and Joe Kagan, than fly. Gone are the days when honours really were honours. It's the poor Queen I feel sorry for. How ghastly must it be for her, with those endless queues of social workers, and canteen supervisors, lining up for recognition?
I posted a letter to John and Maria telling them of my Easter plans. It was pouring with rain and so John MacMurray kindly offered to post it for me as he left the office.
Typed a letter to Ally tonight. She wanted information on the subject of George III's children.
At 9 I watched a new drama on BBC2 starring Kate Nelligan. Lots of bare buttock fondling.
Mum and Dad borrowed Pete's car and went to Morrison's.
-=-
Tuesday March 11, 1980
_. Jennie brought a magic set with her on the journey to Leeds this morning, and so we, her captured audience in the car, endured a Paul Daniels-like display. You know the sort I mean. Card tricks, and under which cup will you find the ball. Jim was so proud of her. The glow of pride on his face was so reminiscent of the shining adoration Winifred Wagner had for Adolf Hitler. Blinded by devotion. I do sincerely hope that when my time comes I will not be blinded by the faults and blemishes of my offspring.
YP uneventful. Lynne Bateson was very kind and tactful on the subject of Ally vomiting on her continental quilt last weekend. Lynne denies suffering any inconvenience because of it. I cannot help thinking that she is just being very kind. Anyway, I have invited her to Club St on April 5, and so she can seek vengeance there if she wishes.
A letter from Maria includes a couple of pages of scribble from JPH. The little lad is obsessed with lists, and I think he may have been severely influenced by the numerous shopping lists he's observed his mother writing. Dad collided with Molly somewhere in Guiseley today and she reminded him that Maria and the children and coming back to Yorkshire for Easter, without John. This means John will miss my 'silver jubilee' birthday party.
Good television this evening. A documentary on Graham Sutherland, the artist, whose painting of Winston so 'delighted' Winnie and Clem back in the 50s - not. The chap is obsessed by thorns and holes in drystonewalls. At 11:30 - an interview with Kingman Brewster, the US Ambassador to the Court of St James's. A excellent speaker. I decided that he should get on the next plane to Washington and put himself forward as a candidate in the coming presidential election. Surely, a better alternative to Ronald Reagan?
To bed at 12 o'clock.
-=-
YP uneventful. Lynne Bateson was very kind and tactful on the subject of Ally vomiting on her continental quilt last weekend. Lynne denies suffering any inconvenience because of it. I cannot help thinking that she is just being very kind. Anyway, I have invited her to Club St on April 5, and so she can seek vengeance there if she wishes.
A letter from Maria includes a couple of pages of scribble from JPH. The little lad is obsessed with lists, and I think he may have been severely influenced by the numerous shopping lists he's observed his mother writing. Dad collided with Molly somewhere in Guiseley today and she reminded him that Maria and the children and coming back to Yorkshire for Easter, without John. This means John will miss my 'silver jubilee' birthday party.
Good television this evening. A documentary on Graham Sutherland, the artist, whose painting of Winston so 'delighted' Winnie and Clem back in the 50s - not. The chap is obsessed by thorns and holes in drystonewalls. At 11:30 - an interview with Kingman Brewster, the US Ambassador to the Court of St James's. A excellent speaker. I decided that he should get on the next plane to Washington and put himself forward as a candidate in the coming presidential election. Surely, a better alternative to Ronald Reagan?
To bed at 12 o'clock.
-=-
Monday March 10, 1980
_. Up at 7. The central heating bangs and clatters these days and so I was brought to consciousness by a serenade of brass. Ally makes a perfect sleeping beauty. Coffee. To Leeds with Jim R and Jennie. Jim pays a small fortune to have his daughter privately educated, She is educated. One cannot deny that.
Uneventful day at the YP. President Tito 'Clings On'. The daughter born last week to the Duchess of Gloucester is to be called Lady Rose Victoria Birgitta Louise Windsor. The infant is twelfth in line of succession to the throne. The only other Rose in the Royal Family is of course Princess Margaret Rose, who was named after her aunt, Lady Rose Bowes Lyon, wife of Earl Granville.
Lounged in a hot bath to avoid a boring Panorama programme about civil defence.
-=-
Uneventful day at the YP. President Tito 'Clings On'. The daughter born last week to the Duchess of Gloucester is to be called Lady Rose Victoria Birgitta Louise Windsor. The infant is twelfth in line of succession to the throne. The only other Rose in the Royal Family is of course Princess Margaret Rose, who was named after her aunt, Lady Rose Bowes Lyon, wife of Earl Granville.
Lounged in a hot bath to avoid a boring Panorama programme about civil defence.
-=-
20200419
Sunday March 9, 1980
_.3rd Sunday in Lent
Up at 9. The cupboard was bare and so Ally and I had pea and ham soup, followed by toast, for breakfast. Ally went off to the Belfry at 10:30 and I came home on a bus and to a second more traditional breakfast with Mama and Papa. I went out to do some work in the back garden. Mr Howard, the chap over the fence at the bottom of the garden, was busily erecting something resembling a nuclear fall-out shelter. He's obviously disturbed by the recent goings on in Afghanistan.
Ally came over at about 7:30 and we went to the Fox, then the Crown at Yeadon where we encountered Philip Knowles. Then to to the White Cross. In came Martyn, Pete M and Chris R. Had such a laugh with Dave Wainwright and Gus.
-=-
Up at 9. The cupboard was bare and so Ally and I had pea and ham soup, followed by toast, for breakfast. Ally went off to the Belfry at 10:30 and I came home on a bus and to a second more traditional breakfast with Mama and Papa. I went out to do some work in the back garden. Mr Howard, the chap over the fence at the bottom of the garden, was busily erecting something resembling a nuclear fall-out shelter. He's obviously disturbed by the recent goings on in Afghanistan.
Ally came over at about 7:30 and we went to the Fox, then the Crown at Yeadon where we encountered Philip Knowles. Then to to the White Cross. In came Martyn, Pete M and Chris R. Had such a laugh with Dave Wainwright and Gus.
-=-
Saturday March 8, 1980
_. David B is 24 today. I pottered around in the garden for a couple of hours until Ally came at about 12. I was delighted to receive a cheque for £19.45 from the YP for my occasional tips and contributions. How wonderful. I think I have Bob Cockroft to thank for this.
Ally and I went to Burley at lunchtime where Dave gave up his birthday to work on her ailing car. I gave Lynn the £10 I owe her. I also gave her a Wedgwood plate found in a recent sale. They have bought a car from Dave's workmate Gerry. Others arrived. Richard and Mandy Baker and Chris B and Julie Harris.
Later Lynn and Dave went to the Hare & Hounds for dinner. Mum, Dad, Sue and Pete dined at Giovanni's. Ally and I went to the White Cross where we found Jim and Margaret, pissed, after a wedding. Martyn and Pete M came. I was told I look 'smooth' whatever that might mean.
Then, to Lidget Green.
-=-
Ally and I went to Burley at lunchtime where Dave gave up his birthday to work on her ailing car. I gave Lynn the £10 I owe her. I also gave her a Wedgwood plate found in a recent sale. They have bought a car from Dave's workmate Gerry. Others arrived. Richard and Mandy Baker and Chris B and Julie Harris.
Later Lynn and Dave went to the Hare & Hounds for dinner. Mum, Dad, Sue and Pete dined at Giovanni's. Ally and I went to the White Cross where we found Jim and Margaret, pissed, after a wedding. Martyn and Pete M came. I was told I look 'smooth' whatever that might mean.
Then, to Lidget Green.
-=-
Friday March 7, 1980
_. When my eyes opened I had that feeling that it was late. The noise outside was something of a give away. Ally was unconcerned. I shot downstairs clad only in my undies and shrieked with horror at the clock. It was 9:15. David was similarly distressed. He was supposed to be at a meeting in Manchester at 10. What should he tell his boss at Thompson & Spencer's? I came up with a plan. The house was raided by a gang of robbers last night. We were all bound hand and foot and unable to free ourselves. Dramatic, yes, but would it work? Dave wasn't convinced.
Ally and I fled from the house and I got a bus to Leeds. The bus took the scenic route and we saw the swans on the Wharfe at Pool. I was only half dressed and drained of colour. Walked into the office at 10:30. Like a zombie. I did manage to do some work.
At 1pm I went over to Len's Bar to meet Delia who I haven't seen since Christmas. We sat on a Chesterfield sofa, but I thought I might be sick all over her. Delia was on top form, dressed in her very best 'WI look' and with a new sweeping hair do which does her no justice. She snorted with laughter at a man in the bar with an artificial leg, which was very cruel of her don't you think? Sarah was in a vile mood and disappeared to Marks and Spencer's. Delia kissed me when she left, but said that perhaps we ought not to have met. I must have looked dreadful. Back at the YP I found a spot behind a filing cabinet [the African countries M-Z] knowing I'd be left to sleep for an hour.
Home at 5. Bed at 11 like a cabbage.
-=-
Ally and I fled from the house and I got a bus to Leeds. The bus took the scenic route and we saw the swans on the Wharfe at Pool. I was only half dressed and drained of colour. Walked into the office at 10:30. Like a zombie. I did manage to do some work.
At 1pm I went over to Len's Bar to meet Delia who I haven't seen since Christmas. We sat on a Chesterfield sofa, but I thought I might be sick all over her. Delia was on top form, dressed in her very best 'WI look' and with a new sweeping hair do which does her no justice. She snorted with laughter at a man in the bar with an artificial leg, which was very cruel of her don't you think? Sarah was in a vile mood and disappeared to Marks and Spencer's. Delia kissed me when she left, but said that perhaps we ought not to have met. I must have looked dreadful. Back at the YP I found a spot behind a filing cabinet [the African countries M-Z] knowing I'd be left to sleep for an hour.
Home at 5. Bed at 11 like a cabbage.
-=-
Thursday March 6, 1980
_. Sweet Lynn is 22 today. I phoned her at her office and I felt the glow coming down the wires.
We do little else in the office but laugh about President Tito. We've studied the headlines carried in the YP since January relating to the sturdy, little Yugoslav leader. On January 4 he was in hospital having the blood vessels in his leg examined, on Jan 8 he saw his top aides and on Jan 14 he was 'better' after surgery for a blood clot, on Jan 15 'Fears growing after surgery', Jan 16 'Tito alarm puts nation on guard', Jan 18 he was 'Fighting for his life', Jan 19 'Tito fighting gangrene', Jan 21 'Tito loses leg', but looking up on Jan 22 'Tito better', Jan 23 'Tito for comeback', by Jan 25 it was 'Tito back to work', so much so that by Jan 28 we saw 'Tito checking defence moves'. Sadly, on Feb 11 'Tito develops kidney and digestion problems', then on February 12 'Tito's heart weakens', Feb 14 'Tito fading', 'Tito sinking', 'Tito in coma', but February 19 'Tito fighting on', Feb 21 'Battling Tito feels better', Feb 23 'Tito kept alive by kidney machine', Feb 27 'Tito weakening', Feb 28 'Tito still grave', Feb 29 'Tito sinking fast', March 1 'Tito failing', March 3 'Tito still weakening', March 4 'Tito still grave', March 5 'Tito still responding', March 6 'Tito stays stable'. Bloody Hell, at this rate I fully expect the old boy to represent Yugoslavia in the boxing at the Moscow Olympics.
At lunchtime I went to buy Lynn and David's birthday presents. I purchased a Camel cigarette mirror for £6.50 and an old 'Victor Gas' geyser instructions sign that I know they will appreciate. They'll look very well on the bathroom wall.
Home at 5. Splashed around in a steaming bath. Ally arrived in her rusting sports car. To dinner at Lawn Rd with Mum, Dad, Sue, Pete, Jim, Margaret, and Julie N. Dave looked pale and was wearing his specs. I took up my usual position in the kitchen clutching a glass of Scotch. Lynn has an eccentric and peculiar taste in music and we had to endure Dame Gracie Fields warbling party songs. They all left in the early hours but Ally and I stayed until morning. We did giggle. The beds at Lawn Rd are always freezing.
-=-
 |
| Tito: sinking fast |
At lunchtime I went to buy Lynn and David's birthday presents. I purchased a Camel cigarette mirror for £6.50 and an old 'Victor Gas' geyser instructions sign that I know they will appreciate. They'll look very well on the bathroom wall.
Home at 5. Splashed around in a steaming bath. Ally arrived in her rusting sports car. To dinner at Lawn Rd with Mum, Dad, Sue, Pete, Jim, Margaret, and Julie N. Dave looked pale and was wearing his specs. I took up my usual position in the kitchen clutching a glass of Scotch. Lynn has an eccentric and peculiar taste in music and we had to endure Dame Gracie Fields warbling party songs. They all left in the early hours but Ally and I stayed until morning. We did giggle. The beds at Lawn Rd are always freezing.
-=-
Wednesday March 5, 1980
_. Phoned Ally this morning. She complains of a blister on her lip and thinks she now resembles something a combination of Oliver Cromwell and the Phantom of the Opera. I was in no position to tell her otherwise.
The mood at the YP not much better either. Sarah was down in the dumps following her monthly 'full moon' argument with Mr Burke, and doubly morose because of the silence and halting of communications from the mega-star rugby player John Holmes.
We are lunching with Auntie Delia at Len's on Friday. I look upon Delia Collis as something of a legend. I'm sure she would love me to play Roddy Llewellyn to her Princess Margaret.
At lunchtime I bought Lynn a birthday card. A 12p stamp saw it on its way to Burley-in-W. The poor thing is 22. Lynn, I think, was born at 2:30am, and according to Mama it snowed heavily on that wintry night in 1958. One of my first memories is of that morning, with John, peeping into the cradle next to Mum's bed, at the baby clad in pink.
Watched Michael Parkinson. He interviewed Wayne Sleep.
-=-
The mood at the YP not much better either. Sarah was down in the dumps following her monthly 'full moon' argument with Mr Burke, and doubly morose because of the silence and halting of communications from the mega-star rugby player John Holmes.
We are lunching with Auntie Delia at Len's on Friday. I look upon Delia Collis as something of a legend. I'm sure she would love me to play Roddy Llewellyn to her Princess Margaret.
At lunchtime I bought Lynn a birthday card. A 12p stamp saw it on its way to Burley-in-W. The poor thing is 22. Lynn, I think, was born at 2:30am, and according to Mama it snowed heavily on that wintry night in 1958. One of my first memories is of that morning, with John, peeping into the cradle next to Mum's bed, at the baby clad in pink.
Watched Michael Parkinson. He interviewed Wayne Sleep.
-=-
Tuesday March 4, 1980
 |
| Mugabe: slithered into power. |
Did a little more painting. Sue and Pete have seen a solicitor about 23, West End Terrace. It is almost signed and sealed.
-=-
Monday March 3, 1980
_. I moved back into my newly decorated bedroom. I must say the whole thing looks wonderful. Like bathing inside a chocolate Easter egg, with a sheen resembling the glow of Muhammad Ali's backside. Yes, a peculiar description but I can think of nothing better. Blimey, I'm no W.H. Auden, speaking of which, didn't he have a craggy face like Gordale Scar? Or was that E.M. Forster? I'm not too clever when it comes to poets. Rupert Brooke, I know a bit about him, but if you ask me poets are just novelists who decide to take the easy way out. This modern stuff is the biggest con inflicted on the literary world. The literature, art, architecture - you name it - of today is all diabolical. In one hundred years time what, other than this journal, will be looked upon as a worthwhile contribution to the artistic life of the late 20th century? What will the Japanese be flocking to our shores to photograph in say 2080? Obviously, the grandson of the current Prince of Wales will be drawing the crowds on Horse Guards Parade, in the way that Elizabeth II does today, but what else? I am not academic at the Henley Centre for Forecasting, but I'd say the prospects are gloomy. Am I going to end my life in a trench, like so many millions did in 1914-18?
-=-
-=-
Sunday March 2, 1980
_. 2nd Sunday in Lent
Ally left at 9 in a sickly stupor to Bradford and I continued painting.
Ally came here at 7:30 breaking the law driving the disintegrating spitfire. We went off to Skipton and beyond, but on reaching Kettlewell the petrol gauge stood at nil. I was far from pleased, with the prospect of night drawing in and the knowledge that the locals in this remote backwater are not known for their friendly hospitality. Ally sat giggling, shrugging her shoulders in that annoying way, and we went in search of a petrol station. At 7 we were sitting in front of the Devonshire Arms at Cracoe waiting for the doors to open. We were first in and soon joined by Sue and Pete. We ordered basket meals, scampi, haddock, fried chicken, &c. Then on to a pub in Skipton.
The Observer was lying open on the dining table. Nib: The Duchess of Gloucester gave birth to a daughter yesterday.
-=-
Ally left at 9 in a sickly stupor to Bradford and I continued painting.
Ally came here at 7:30 breaking the law driving the disintegrating spitfire. We went off to Skipton and beyond, but on reaching Kettlewell the petrol gauge stood at nil. I was far from pleased, with the prospect of night drawing in and the knowledge that the locals in this remote backwater are not known for their friendly hospitality. Ally sat giggling, shrugging her shoulders in that annoying way, and we went in search of a petrol station. At 7 we were sitting in front of the Devonshire Arms at Cracoe waiting for the doors to open. We were first in and soon joined by Sue and Pete. We ordered basket meals, scampi, haddock, fried chicken, &c. Then on to a pub in Skipton.
The Observer was lying open on the dining table. Nib: The Duchess of Gloucester gave birth to a daughter yesterday.
-=-
Saturday March 1, 1980
_. St David's Day
Up at 10:30. Painting my bedroom. Wasn't planning on going to Tony Green's leaving party but then Sarah phoned 'Oh what fun it will be' she squealed. So half an hour later I was hot footing it down the lane, the prospect of a delightful binge ahead. To the Eagle on North Street for 1:20, joined Sarah, Carol J, Lynne Bateson, and a multitude of revellers. The Timothy Taylor's bitter soon took effect and I was soon slobbering over the comely Carol J, taking drags of her cigarettes. Carol, in recent weeks, has diminished at a phenomenal rate. The weight has fallen off. Was it the beer, or has she taken on a Raquel Welch-like aura? Sarah and [John] MacMurray left us to go 'the match', whatever that meant, and I was left to the delights of Carol J.
At 3 Carol drove Lynne B and I to Lynne's house in Horsforth where we slumped in armchairs downing whisky and dry Martini with 'earfulls' of Diana Ross. Home with Carol at nearly 5. Pissed. Sat eating a blurred lettuce. Ally came over at 7:30 and we drove over in the spitfire to meet Lynne B, and in contravention of several road traffic acts. To the Queen's on Town Street in Horsforth, then back to Lynne B's. At about 11 Ally passed out on Lynne's bed. If I'd been sober I might have felt a twinge of embarrassment, but I wasn't.
-=-
Up at 10:30. Painting my bedroom. Wasn't planning on going to Tony Green's leaving party but then Sarah phoned 'Oh what fun it will be' she squealed. So half an hour later I was hot footing it down the lane, the prospect of a delightful binge ahead. To the Eagle on North Street for 1:20, joined Sarah, Carol J, Lynne Bateson, and a multitude of revellers. The Timothy Taylor's bitter soon took effect and I was soon slobbering over the comely Carol J, taking drags of her cigarettes. Carol, in recent weeks, has diminished at a phenomenal rate. The weight has fallen off. Was it the beer, or has she taken on a Raquel Welch-like aura? Sarah and [John] MacMurray left us to go 'the match', whatever that meant, and I was left to the delights of Carol J.
At 3 Carol drove Lynne B and I to Lynne's house in Horsforth where we slumped in armchairs downing whisky and dry Martini with 'earfulls' of Diana Ross. Home with Carol at nearly 5. Pissed. Sat eating a blurred lettuce. Ally came over at 7:30 and we drove over in the spitfire to meet Lynne B, and in contravention of several road traffic acts. To the Queen's on Town Street in Horsforth, then back to Lynne B's. At about 11 Ally passed out on Lynne's bed. If I'd been sober I might have felt a twinge of embarrassment, but I wasn't.
-=-
Friday February 29, 1980
_. Pleasurable entertainment at lunchtime. To Len's Bar with Sarah.
Mum's car conked out on her today at the top of Thorpe Lane. She had been to Burley-in-W to see Lynn for the afternoon.
With Sue and Pete to Morrison's this evening. Spent £10 on paint. Afterwards we took one solitary drink in the Oddfellows, a pub I have never previously visited. At 8 it was back to my bedroom where, with the assistance of Lawrie, I slapped chocolate coloured paint over my bedroom walls until about 10.
Later watched the grotesque Joan Collins in a film. She always makes the most dreadful tosh.
-=-
Mum's car conked out on her today at the top of Thorpe Lane. She had been to Burley-in-W to see Lynn for the afternoon.
With Sue and Pete to Morrison's this evening. Spent £10 on paint. Afterwards we took one solitary drink in the Oddfellows, a pub I have never previously visited. At 8 it was back to my bedroom where, with the assistance of Lawrie, I slapped chocolate coloured paint over my bedroom walls until about 10.
Later watched the grotesque Joan Collins in a film. She always makes the most dreadful tosh.
-=-
Thursday February 28, 1980
_. At 7:30 I went to Lidget Green and Ally and I went to 'Mucky Willie's'. Back to Slumber Cottage at 10:30. Ally's feather pillows almost sent me to an early tomb.
-=-
-=-
Wednesday February 27, 1980
_. Cooped up at the YP until I made my escape at 4:30. My heart wasn't into decorating tonight and after just a splash of paint here, and a dab there, I cast down the paint brush.
Poor Ally. Her car has failed its MOT and the licensed bandit at her garage has informed her that she will receive no change out of £100 to put things right. She is destitute and will probably have to sell.
John phoned from a Scottish disco at 10:30 to say he hasn't lost his job after all. His boss approached him today to say they have a contract for a further years work and asked him to stay on. This is a relief to everyone. I miss John one hell of a lot.
-=-
Poor Ally. Her car has failed its MOT and the licensed bandit at her garage has informed her that she will receive no change out of £100 to put things right. She is destitute and will probably have to sell.
John phoned from a Scottish disco at 10:30 to say he hasn't lost his job after all. His boss approached him today to say they have a contract for a further years work and asked him to stay on. This is a relief to everyone. I miss John one hell of a lot.
-=-
Tuesday February 26, 1980
_. An evening of activity. I ransacked my bedroom and painted a wall. It has been green since September 18, 1976. This bedroom has been a wonderful refuge for me down the years since John left home and I was allotted this excuse for a cupboard. Often I wake up bathed in a deep green light, like Neptune. Slapping white paint over the emerald glow wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be. Neither did it jerk the heart strings. Within a matter of minutes my watery ocean-like room was transformed into something monastic. The green aqua effect has down the years resulted in me taking on a fish-like capacity for drink. Perhaps now I'll become more like St Francis of Assisi.
Susan and Peter have almost pulled it off. Buying a house that is. Their new home is to be at 23, West End Terrace, Guiseley. Spooky that. She was born at number 23, Market Square.
Slept downstairs like a Kampuchean refugee because of the wet paint.
-=-
Susan and Peter have almost pulled it off. Buying a house that is. Their new home is to be at 23, West End Terrace, Guiseley. Spooky that. She was born at number 23, Market Square.
Slept downstairs like a Kampuchean refugee because of the wet paint.
-=-
Monday February 25, 1980
_. Rain. I have mislaid my umbrella. I left it on the bus on Friday evening and as you'll expect it pissed down as though the world might end today.
Glynnie phoned and I told him about Pete's party on March 20. His new girlfriend is called Karen and she plays darts for Cheshire. They are going to Leicester on Saturday to a tournament. The image of a female arrow thrower doesn't conjure up a vision of Helen of Troy, but instead one thinks of a large, plain, buxom maiden with a flowery vocabulary and a large capacity for hand pulled ale. Let us hope I am wrong. Glynnie said he would have brought her to Grassington next month but she will be away in Switzerland.
The United States presidential election is on my my mind tonight. A revolting man called Bush has been prancing around in New Hampshire, in a swaggering fashion. The man is a Republican, and so I say 'VOTE VOTE VOTE REAGAN'. Yes, the former Lone Ranger, with dyed hair and a limp is the man for me. Kennedy has flopped and Jimmy Carter is romping home whilst doing absolutely nothing. He can thank the Russians for his good fortune.
-=-
Glynnie phoned and I told him about Pete's party on March 20. His new girlfriend is called Karen and she plays darts for Cheshire. They are going to Leicester on Saturday to a tournament. The image of a female arrow thrower doesn't conjure up a vision of Helen of Troy, but instead one thinks of a large, plain, buxom maiden with a flowery vocabulary and a large capacity for hand pulled ale. Let us hope I am wrong. Glynnie said he would have brought her to Grassington next month but she will be away in Switzerland.
 |
| Bush: prancing |
The United States presidential election is on my my mind tonight. A revolting man called Bush has been prancing around in New Hampshire, in a swaggering fashion. The man is a Republican, and so I say 'VOTE VOTE VOTE REAGAN'. Yes, the former Lone Ranger, with dyed hair and a limp is the man for me. Kennedy has flopped and Jimmy Carter is romping home whilst doing absolutely nothing. He can thank the Russians for his good fortune.
-=-
Sunday February 24, 1980
_. 1st Sunday in Lent
Ally was up and out to Lidget Green. She left me a note [here preserved for posterity]. I slept until 11:30 and then went into the garden in wellies and leather gloves to attack the remaining living rose trees.
Watched a Sunday afternoon film on the TV. One of those where Gregory Peck comes over here to save us from the nasty Hitler. Dad was at the table typing out death warrants and summonses, and Mum was knitting clothes for Catherine. A domestic scene.
Ally came at 7:30. We went to the Fox and Hounds, the Drop and the White Cross, the latter still not restored to full power following the recent fracas.
-=-
Ally was up and out to Lidget Green. She left me a note [here preserved for posterity]. I slept until 11:30 and then went into the garden in wellies and leather gloves to attack the remaining living rose trees.
Watched a Sunday afternoon film on the TV. One of those where Gregory Peck comes over here to save us from the nasty Hitler. Dad was at the table typing out death warrants and summonses, and Mum was knitting clothes for Catherine. A domestic scene.
Ally came at 7:30. We went to the Fox and Hounds, the Drop and the White Cross, the latter still not restored to full power following the recent fracas.
-=-
Saturday February 23, 1980
_. I was up at 11:30 or 12 and after fried eggs and bacon I took up the shears and set about the rose trees in the garden. Dad was astonished at this because my Percy Thrower activities have been infrequent.
Horrific news from Scotland. John has been given a week's notice and he finishes with Robinson and Davidson on Friday. He isn't surprised because work has been very thin on the ground recently. He has applied for a job as a policeman at Stranraer docks. The ladies of the family went into their usual hysterics at this news. Mothers says he should never have gone there in the first place, and Lynn arrived proclaiming she had burst into tears at the news. 'The poor children will starve!' I am more optimistic. John always lands on his feet.
Foggy night. Out with Ally and Dave L to the Fox at Menston and the Albert Inn, for Dave's cockles and mussels, and finally to the Clothiers. A pleasant night. A merry trio. Afterwards we went into a fish and chip shop where a 15 year-old brat pushed his way to the front of the queue, which triggered off a fight of Afghanistan proportions. David, in the jostling that followed exclaimed: 'I know you can have scraps with your fish and chips, but this is ridiculous.' We sat at ate in Dave's car.
Ally and I returned to Pine Tops. Sat listening to Rachmaninov. Mum and Dad came back late from dinner at Jim and Margaret's.
-=-
Horrific news from Scotland. John has been given a week's notice and he finishes with Robinson and Davidson on Friday. He isn't surprised because work has been very thin on the ground recently. He has applied for a job as a policeman at Stranraer docks. The ladies of the family went into their usual hysterics at this news. Mothers says he should never have gone there in the first place, and Lynn arrived proclaiming she had burst into tears at the news. 'The poor children will starve!' I am more optimistic. John always lands on his feet.
Foggy night. Out with Ally and Dave L to the Fox at Menston and the Albert Inn, for Dave's cockles and mussels, and finally to the Clothiers. A pleasant night. A merry trio. Afterwards we went into a fish and chip shop where a 15 year-old brat pushed his way to the front of the queue, which triggered off a fight of Afghanistan proportions. David, in the jostling that followed exclaimed: 'I know you can have scraps with your fish and chips, but this is ridiculous.' We sat at ate in Dave's car.
Ally and I returned to Pine Tops. Sat listening to Rachmaninov. Mum and Dad came back late from dinner at Jim and Margaret's.
-=-
20200417
Friday February 22, 1980
_. Up at 7:30 feeling extraordinarily fit. At the YP I did rather well and the expected collapse into coma never came.
I do talk a lot of rubbish at times, don't I? How long have you been sat there listening to me droning on and on in endless repetition. I suppose you think life is just one long pub crawl, eh? I suppose you look upon me as a cynical, cruel and nasty buffoon? I go around spewing nasty remarks about innocent and hard working people who contribute more to the country than I ever shall. Is it only the cynical and spiteful who compile journals? Decent folk are far too busy for such a frivolous pastime, out there making the world a better and happier place. Now that I've got that off my chest I can back to scrawling. I do like to clear the air occasionally.
This evening my armchair was more like a tomb, or sepulchre. I was lifeless.
-=-
I do talk a lot of rubbish at times, don't I? How long have you been sat there listening to me droning on and on in endless repetition. I suppose you think life is just one long pub crawl, eh? I suppose you look upon me as a cynical, cruel and nasty buffoon? I go around spewing nasty remarks about innocent and hard working people who contribute more to the country than I ever shall. Is it only the cynical and spiteful who compile journals? Decent folk are far too busy for such a frivolous pastime, out there making the world a better and happier place. Now that I've got that off my chest I can back to scrawling. I do like to clear the air occasionally.
This evening my armchair was more like a tomb, or sepulchre. I was lifeless.
-=-
Thursday February 21, 1980
_. Ally stayed over. At the office this morning I phoned her at the AHA. I said we should see each other tonight because the spitfire is going for it's MOT soon, and when it fails we shall be 'carless'. She agreed, and arrived at 7:30 looking deliciously huggable. Off to the Drop where we chatted like love-birds. Her eyes, like pots of cocoa, are her most impressive feature. Her hair resembles a combination of canary Ferrari yellow and a fresh haystack.
Back to Pine Tops after calling at the White Cross. Martyn and Chris R were there. As a final parting I swept the pub landlady over my shoulder and made a few laps of the bar.
Sat up until 4am watching Robin Cousins win the only gold medal for Britain in the Winter Olympics. It's a bit hopeless isn't it, when the might of the British Empire places all it's hopes on the slender shoulders of an adolescent on ice? What became of the warrior spirit of our warlike Viking forebears? I do not believe the bunkum now being bandied about that Vikings never plundered, pillaged or raped, or wore those wonderful helmets with the horns attached. Yes folks, they are now saying that the 'norsemen' were sensitive and artistic, who wore lots of gold jewelry over taffeta gowns and read Bernard Levin, whilst rowing over to heathen Britain to convince us by gentle, intellectual persuasion that the Viking way was the happy way.
Anyway, I retired to bed with damp eyes following the unfurling of the Union Flag over Lake Placid and the emotive sight of little Robin Cousins sobbing in his mother's arms.
-=-
Back to Pine Tops after calling at the White Cross. Martyn and Chris R were there. As a final parting I swept the pub landlady over my shoulder and made a few laps of the bar.
 |
| Cousins: Gold medal |
Anyway, I retired to bed with damp eyes following the unfurling of the Union Flag over Lake Placid and the emotive sight of little Robin Cousins sobbing in his mother's arms.
-=-
Wednesday February 20, 1980
_. Phoned Lynn at work to check on tonight's arrangements for dinner at Lawn Road.
Returned from the YP and felt miserable watching my parents eat. Sat, starving watching the news on the telly. Nothing but the steel strike.
I have news. Judith Rushworth was married on Valentine's Day to Tim Brown, landlord of the Hare & Hounds. He's made a honest woman of her at last. Mind you, his previous wife only died in August, and so I suppose a decent lapse had to occur. Dad saw Mrs Rushworth who asked him to pass on the news to me.
Ally came here at 7:15 and we went off to Burley-in-Wharfedale calling in at an off-license for a bottle of sherry, for £1.70. Dinner was a delightful spaghetti concoction. Afterwards we sat around the fire. Home 11:30.
-=-
Returned from the YP and felt miserable watching my parents eat. Sat, starving watching the news on the telly. Nothing but the steel strike.
I have news. Judith Rushworth was married on Valentine's Day to Tim Brown, landlord of the Hare & Hounds. He's made a honest woman of her at last. Mind you, his previous wife only died in August, and so I suppose a decent lapse had to occur. Dad saw Mrs Rushworth who asked him to pass on the news to me.
Ally came here at 7:15 and we went off to Burley-in-Wharfedale calling in at an off-license for a bottle of sherry, for £1.70. Dinner was a delightful spaghetti concoction. Afterwards we sat around the fire. Home 11:30.
Tuesday February 19, 1980
_. Shrove Tuesday
Prince Andrew is 20 today, and in a few days time they are shipping him out to the USA on naval duties. Most of our recent kings have been sailors, and surprisingly many second sons have become king. I wonder whether in time he will be Duke of York in the steps of his grandfather and then King?
I devoured the traditional fourteen pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Poor Mama started mixing the batter at lunchtime. After tea Mum and Dad went out for a walk, supposedly to walk off the stodgy pancake day offerings. Odd. They never go walking, and to do so on a dismal, dark, February night is startling, to say the least.
I spent half an hour trying to get through to Ally on the phone. She was speaking to Bessie [her mother]. She was sweet. I rarely phone her at night. Usually I ring first thing in the morning or when she's at the AHA. It was at the forefront of my mind that she was speaking to Sailor Dave. Am I developing a jealous trait?
-=-
 |
| Andrew: Duke of York? |
I devoured the traditional fourteen pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Poor Mama started mixing the batter at lunchtime. After tea Mum and Dad went out for a walk, supposedly to walk off the stodgy pancake day offerings. Odd. They never go walking, and to do so on a dismal, dark, February night is startling, to say the least.
I spent half an hour trying to get through to Ally on the phone. She was speaking to Bessie [her mother]. She was sweet. I rarely phone her at night. Usually I ring first thing in the morning or when she's at the AHA. It was at the forefront of my mind that she was speaking to Sailor Dave. Am I developing a jealous trait?
-=-
Monday February 18, 1980
_. Ally remained here for the night after returning from Bramhope. It was much too late for her to return home [viz a viz the Yorkshire Ripper]. We sat on the drive, in the car ______________.
Seeing the boys last night was fun, but ooh the bitchiness of the conversation. It was like being backstage at the Miss World contest.
Morning: to work with Jim R. No Jennie because it's half term. Jim got on the subject of Kevin Keegan and how 'goody goody' the man is. I have deducted, from our frequent morning car runs, that Jim is drawn to people with, shall we say, an evil streak. He so admires the disgraced President Nixon, and according to my chauffeur he was the most intelligent US president of all time. At the same time he is very scornful about Gerald Ford. How on earth can Nixon be the most intelligent president when he was almost impeached and in the end had to resign from office after the biggest scandal in US history?
At home this evening: nothing on the telly but the nauseating Winter Olympics from Lake Placid. I derived no pleasure from this and sat buried beneath Lady Donaldson's 'The Royal House of Windsor'.
Wedding fever is gripping the household. Twenty two weeks until Sue and Pete marry and they all talk of little else.
-=-
Seeing the boys last night was fun, but ooh the bitchiness of the conversation. It was like being backstage at the Miss World contest.
Morning: to work with Jim R. No Jennie because it's half term. Jim got on the subject of Kevin Keegan and how 'goody goody' the man is. I have deducted, from our frequent morning car runs, that Jim is drawn to people with, shall we say, an evil streak. He so admires the disgraced President Nixon, and according to my chauffeur he was the most intelligent US president of all time. At the same time he is very scornful about Gerald Ford. How on earth can Nixon be the most intelligent president when he was almost impeached and in the end had to resign from office after the biggest scandal in US history?
At home this evening: nothing on the telly but the nauseating Winter Olympics from Lake Placid. I derived no pleasure from this and sat buried beneath Lady Donaldson's 'The Royal House of Windsor'.
Wedding fever is gripping the household. Twenty two weeks until Sue and Pete marry and they all talk of little else.
-=-
Sunday February 17, 1980
_. Quinquagesima
Leapt from my bed at 11 in a state of turmoil. I felt as through my throat had been opened with a bread knife. At breakfast I was bombarded, attacked even, from all sides, on the subject of my mindless attitude regarding the 'racket' last night. Even Dad was annoyed. He usually sits munching on breakfast cereal, his mind on greater things, like the state of the nation, President Tito's leg, and the twenty third heart transplant carried out this week. He said that when he was lying up in his bed in the dark, he really thought that Dave and I had brought an Indian elephant into the house. 'Why Indian elephant?' I enquired: 'Are they more heavy footed than the African variety?' It didn't go down well. He snarled and growled, and said that he didn't like been woken up by a circus act in the dead of night. Poor Rowan, the setter. Now banned from Pine Tops.
In the midst of the barrage of abuse I received a phone call from Jacq requesting my presence at the Commercial where she is taking dear, dear Trixie. I walked down to Esholt in the Spring sunshine. Spent a couple of hours in the company of Jacq and her increasingly attractive mother. Paul wasn't anywhere to be seen and we did not discuss him. At 2 I walked back home, in shirt sleeves.
Squabbled with Dad about his brutal pruning of the climbing rose tree which, in happier times, surrounded my bedroom window.
Marlene and Frank arrived with Auntie Mabel and the children. We sat for a few hours pulling other relations to pieces.
Ally collected me at 7. We went to the Fox, where we bumped into Martyn and Peter Mather. We followed them to the Fox at Bramhope, a place I have never liked. Met Chris R, Tony B and Linda [of Brands Hatch fame], who is with a new boyfriend but is still the same hilarious girl.
-=-
Leapt from my bed at 11 in a state of turmoil. I felt as through my throat had been opened with a bread knife. At breakfast I was bombarded, attacked even, from all sides, on the subject of my mindless attitude regarding the 'racket' last night. Even Dad was annoyed. He usually sits munching on breakfast cereal, his mind on greater things, like the state of the nation, President Tito's leg, and the twenty third heart transplant carried out this week. He said that when he was lying up in his bed in the dark, he really thought that Dave and I had brought an Indian elephant into the house. 'Why Indian elephant?' I enquired: 'Are they more heavy footed than the African variety?' It didn't go down well. He snarled and growled, and said that he didn't like been woken up by a circus act in the dead of night. Poor Rowan, the setter. Now banned from Pine Tops.
In the midst of the barrage of abuse I received a phone call from Jacq requesting my presence at the Commercial where she is taking dear, dear Trixie. I walked down to Esholt in the Spring sunshine. Spent a couple of hours in the company of Jacq and her increasingly attractive mother. Paul wasn't anywhere to be seen and we did not discuss him. At 2 I walked back home, in shirt sleeves.
Squabbled with Dad about his brutal pruning of the climbing rose tree which, in happier times, surrounded my bedroom window.
Marlene and Frank arrived with Auntie Mabel and the children. We sat for a few hours pulling other relations to pieces.
Ally collected me at 7. We went to the Fox, where we bumped into Martyn and Peter Mather. We followed them to the Fox at Bramhope, a place I have never liked. Met Chris R, Tony B and Linda [of Brands Hatch fame], who is with a new boyfriend but is still the same hilarious girl.
-=-
Saturday February 16, 1980
_. Saturday. Ally worked tonight at the Belfry.
Phoned Dave L. Out with Sue & Pete to the Fox & Hounds [Menston], and met Dave who has the Gordon Setter, Rowan, in the car. The dog is too friendly for words. To the White Cross, but Dave hates the place. He was happier when we bumped into Dave Popplewell, who came over to speak to him about mortgages. Dave is in a frenzy about house buying, and now that his parents have split he feels he should make a home of his own. At 11:30 we returned to Les Haute Pins and Dave came in for a drink, bringing the excited hound with him. We drank a couple of bottles of wine and Rowan ran freely around the house. At 2am Dave and the dog drove away down the lane in a stupor. I haven't seen him so pissed for years.
-=-
Phoned Dave L. Out with Sue & Pete to the Fox & Hounds [Menston], and met Dave who has the Gordon Setter, Rowan, in the car. The dog is too friendly for words. To the White Cross, but Dave hates the place. He was happier when we bumped into Dave Popplewell, who came over to speak to him about mortgages. Dave is in a frenzy about house buying, and now that his parents have split he feels he should make a home of his own. At 11:30 we returned to Les Haute Pins and Dave came in for a drink, bringing the excited hound with him. We drank a couple of bottles of wine and Rowan ran freely around the house. At 2am Dave and the dog drove away down the lane in a stupor. I haven't seen him so pissed for years.
-=-
Friday February 15, 1980
_. Bid my fond farewells to Ally. She disappeared in a cloud of blue exhaust fumes. We are meeting on Sunday.
Exhausted and enfeebled. I spent some time researching the family tree of the Queen Mother. I compiled her ancestry back to Joan of Scotland's marriage to Sir John Lyon in the fourteenth century. I also traced the descent of George VI from Robert II of Scots, which shows that George & his Queen were 17th cousins [but they are more closely related through the descent of Cecilia Countess of Strathmore from Henry VII].
Phoned Dave L tonight. We plan to go out tomorrow for a drink. He wanted to see 'The Life of Brian' but I talked him out of it.
-=-
Exhausted and enfeebled. I spent some time researching the family tree of the Queen Mother. I compiled her ancestry back to Joan of Scotland's marriage to Sir John Lyon in the fourteenth century. I also traced the descent of George VI from Robert II of Scots, which shows that George & his Queen were 17th cousins [but they are more closely related through the descent of Cecilia Countess of Strathmore from Henry VII].
Phoned Dave L tonight. We plan to go out tomorrow for a drink. He wanted to see 'The Life of Brian' but I talked him out of it.
-=-
Thursday February 14, 1980
_. Valentine's Day
Left for the YP before the postman had been and so I didn't witness the arrival of the thousands of Valentine's day cards.
Delia phoned, and I was made to own up to sending her a card. She was chuffed to arseholes, if you pardon the expression. She could not recall when she last received such a tribute.
This evening I went by train to Bradford where I met Ally on the steam filled platform to the crescendo of violins. We were Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in 'Brief Encounter'.
To Rue Club for dinner: something from the crockpot. At 9 we tore over to Les Haute Pins to join Mum, Dad, Hilda, Tony, Lynn, Dave, &c. It is rumoured that Tony has had a falling out with the Liberal party and that he won't be standing for the council again.
I have three Valentine messages. One posted in Leeds, obviously heavily disguised, is from Jacq, and two from Ally, just to deceive, one being home made.
-=-
Left for the YP before the postman had been and so I didn't witness the arrival of the thousands of Valentine's day cards.
Delia phoned, and I was made to own up to sending her a card. She was chuffed to arseholes, if you pardon the expression. She could not recall when she last received such a tribute.
This evening I went by train to Bradford where I met Ally on the steam filled platform to the crescendo of violins. We were Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in 'Brief Encounter'.
To Rue Club for dinner: something from the crockpot. At 9 we tore over to Les Haute Pins to join Mum, Dad, Hilda, Tony, Lynn, Dave, &c. It is rumoured that Tony has had a falling out with the Liberal party and that he won't be standing for the council again.
I have three Valentine messages. One posted in Leeds, obviously heavily disguised, is from Jacq, and two from Ally, just to deceive, one being home made.
-=-
20200416
Wednesday February 13, 1980
_. Ally phoned me at the YP to see if I fancy spending the weekend of March 22-23 at a cottage in Grassington, and all for a mere £12. How can we possibly let it go by?
We were visited in the office by the Hon Chris Monckton.
Met Dad and Michael Sansom at 12:30 and we went to Len's Bar for beer and sandwiches. They had been to Wakefield on a course playing in a mock demonstration, leading to a riot at the police HQ. Prancing police horses, riot shields, police women hurtling imitation bricks and flour bags, &c. All quite ludicrous, but more fun than the lectures they have attended throughout the week. Mike talked of his time in Hong Kong, and it's delights. Did you know that the capital of Hong Kong is Aberdeen? Left them at 1:30 and went to buy a couple of Valentine's cards. One for dear Ally and one for Delia. I sat in Park Square cleverly disguising my handwriting.
Susan cut my hair tonight. Sat looking at Mum clutching her red, hideously swollen finger. Dad made useless suggestions as to how to deal with the painful protrusion. He appeared with a roll of tin foil and a plastic bag. Needless to say, Mama did not entertain him.
We were visited in the office by the Hon Chris Monckton.
Met Dad and Michael Sansom at 12:30 and we went to Len's Bar for beer and sandwiches. They had been to Wakefield on a course playing in a mock demonstration, leading to a riot at the police HQ. Prancing police horses, riot shields, police women hurtling imitation bricks and flour bags, &c. All quite ludicrous, but more fun than the lectures they have attended throughout the week. Mike talked of his time in Hong Kong, and it's delights. Did you know that the capital of Hong Kong is Aberdeen? Left them at 1:30 and went to buy a couple of Valentine's cards. One for dear Ally and one for Delia. I sat in Park Square cleverly disguising my handwriting.
Susan cut my hair tonight. Sat looking at Mum clutching her red, hideously swollen finger. Dad made useless suggestions as to how to deal with the painful protrusion. He appeared with a roll of tin foil and a plastic bag. Needless to say, Mama did not entertain him.
Tuesday February 12, 1980
_. To the office with Jim R. Dad joined us because he is attending a course in the metropolis. Jennie gave us a blast of Henry Purcell on her recorder. Playing an instrument in a cramped moving vehicle cannot be easy. Dad could not look at me and we struggled to stifle our giggles. Supposing Jim had braked suddenly?
Following the recent announcement that a certain Dutch Queen is to throw in her crown a poll has been conducted here to test public opinion as to whether our own dear Queen should follow suit and throw in the towel in favour of the Prince of Wales. Of those asked nearly two thirds thought the Queen should 'retire' at the age of 60 [in seven years time]. Let me make it quite clear. The British monarchy is no 'bicycling monarchy' like those over in Holland and Belgium. No other monarch on earth goes through the ritual of a sacred coronation. This sets Britain apart. The Queen dedicated her life to her people and her country in the Coronation oath. She succeeded to the throne 28 years ago at a ridiculously early age, directly because of the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII. The very word 'abdication' must surely be abhorrent to her. In the years to come, when she is old and fragile, she can hand some of her duties to the Prince of Wales. The British monarch is by tradition a mother or father figure. Her prestige and influence will grow with the passing years, as will her wisdom. For goodness sake let's not hear any more talk of abdication. Besides, how could the Prince of Wales be comfortably crowned in his mother's life time? How could he be proclaimed our 'undoubted King' when his mother is enjoying the rudest of health, astride her horse, at Balmoral?
-=-
 |
| Abdication? Never. |
-=-
20200415
Monday February 11, 1980
_. Up at 7:30. Glynnie was making one hell of a racket and didn't seem to notice that Sue and I creep around and talked in hushed, monastic tones. We went to Leeds on the train and I said my goodbyes to Dave at 8:30. He toddled off carrying two of the less intelligent morning papers, and I headed to the office. Sarah has resumed normal relations now that I am restored to full health.
I am told that Malcolm Barker's secretary phoned me on Friday afternoon, and so I waited expectantly for a summons to the oval office, but no summons came. Has Geoff Hemingway been singing my praises?
Mother has a septic finger and looking pained. She is seeing a doctor tomorrow.
To bed after watching Barry Norman. Always a joy to behold.
-=-
I am told that Malcolm Barker's secretary phoned me on Friday afternoon, and so I waited expectantly for a summons to the oval office, but no summons came. Has Geoff Hemingway been singing my praises?
Mother has a septic finger and looking pained. She is seeing a doctor tomorrow.
To bed after watching Barry Norman. Always a joy to behold.
-=-
20200414
Sunday February 10, 1980
_. Sexagesima
Woke this morning to a dilema. Two clocks stand next to the bed. One clock says it's 9:30 and the other says 12 o'clock. Always optimistic I decide that it is the earlier time, but no, it was noon, and Ally was two hours late for the Belfry.
Downstairs we found Glynnie buried in an encyclopaedia. He'd been improving his mind since about 10. Ally handed him £2 and sent him to the local shop. He returned with cans of soup and bacon. Sue and Pete came down from their 'love-nest' and we all ate. At 3 Dave and I went on to Burley-in-W for food with Lynn and Dave. Lynn was wobbly and Dave sat huddled over his architectural drawing board until 10:30. Poor Lynn really does over do it with the bottle.
-=-
Woke this morning to a dilema. Two clocks stand next to the bed. One clock says it's 9:30 and the other says 12 o'clock. Always optimistic I decide that it is the earlier time, but no, it was noon, and Ally was two hours late for the Belfry.
Downstairs we found Glynnie buried in an encyclopaedia. He'd been improving his mind since about 10. Ally handed him £2 and sent him to the local shop. He returned with cans of soup and bacon. Sue and Pete came down from their 'love-nest' and we all ate. At 3 Dave and I went on to Burley-in-W for food with Lynn and Dave. Lynn was wobbly and Dave sat huddled over his architectural drawing board until 10:30. Poor Lynn really does over do it with the bottle.
-=-
Saturday February 9, 1980
_. How disgusting of Ally to forget to go to her shift at the Belfry yesterday. Fortunately for me I phoned the restaurant to report that she was suffering from gastro-entiritis.
Glynnie, Ally and I crammed into the spitfire and went to Yeadon at lunchtime, Did a bit of shopping and called in at the Crown. Ally could not bring herself to touch alcohol. Then to the White Cross where we met Gus, and later Sue and Pete. Gus is always boisterous and controversial and he managed to offend Ally in the first few minutes of our meeting. He made some ridiculous statements about my expanding girth, euthenasia, and the extremely close relationship between Pete & Chippy, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, &c. So devilish. He is going to Greece soon having arranged to meet a friend at the acropolis. To Pine Tops at 3 to collect a pile of records and then we were off again to Bradford.
At Lidget Green tonight with Lynn, Dave, Sue, Pete, Glynnie, Tim & Jill, all to the Second West pub where we met Dave L., poor dejected lad that he is. He told us his mother had moved out of Tennyson Street today to move in with her lover of ten years, in Otley. Dave went off home at 11 but said he may return tomorrow with the dog.
The party was a bit flat and not a great success. Booze, balloons, and everything. To bed at 6am.
-=-
Glynnie, Ally and I crammed into the spitfire and went to Yeadon at lunchtime, Did a bit of shopping and called in at the Crown. Ally could not bring herself to touch alcohol. Then to the White Cross where we met Gus, and later Sue and Pete. Gus is always boisterous and controversial and he managed to offend Ally in the first few minutes of our meeting. He made some ridiculous statements about my expanding girth, euthenasia, and the extremely close relationship between Pete & Chippy, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, &c. So devilish. He is going to Greece soon having arranged to meet a friend at the acropolis. To Pine Tops at 3 to collect a pile of records and then we were off again to Bradford.
At Lidget Green tonight with Lynn, Dave, Sue, Pete, Glynnie, Tim & Jill, all to the Second West pub where we met Dave L., poor dejected lad that he is. He told us his mother had moved out of Tennyson Street today to move in with her lover of ten years, in Otley. Dave went off home at 11 but said he may return tomorrow with the dog.
The party was a bit flat and not a great success. Booze, balloons, and everything. To bed at 6am.
-=-
20200413
Friday February 8, 1980
_. At 12 I met Glynnie at Leeds Railway Station. Fell flat on my back on the platform. We went to Len's Bar and were joined by Ally at 12:30. We went on the the Central for a 'few more'. Geoff Hemingway was at the bar and he bought us a round of drinks. I think I can thank Lady Doris Vyner for this. Back to the car at 3pm to find a yellow parking ticket firmly affixed - a £4 fine. On to Club Street. Ally went upstairs and collapsed on her crimson bedspread. Minutes later, Glynnie was on his all fours vomiting, head down the lavatory, then he too collapsed onto a bed. I felt quite forlorn surrounded by dying people. Phoned Dave L and invited him to the party tomorrow. Ally and Dave slept until after 8. At 9:30 we drove to Pine Tops. Our dinner was waiting for us, warming in the oven. Only Ally and I ate because Dave staggered up to bed and collapsed, yet again. We went on to Oakwood Hall, pulsating with 15 year-olds, but after an hour we returned home exhausted.
-=-
-=-
Thursday February 7, 1980
_. I continue to be riddled with disease and infection, and Sarah continues to run in the opposite direction when I appear.
Saw a Times death notice for Lady Doris Vyner, the Queen Mother's greatest friend, and I think bridesmaid. She's died aged 84. She lived at Studley Royal, near Ripon, but I think handed it to the National Trust in the '40s. I typed some background and handed it to Geoff Hemingway on the EP newsdesk. He snapped it up and an obituary made it into the EP with a photo of Lady Doris and the Queen Mother on the steps at Studley Royal in 1947. Geoff asked me if I intended spending the rest of my life in the library at which I immediately replied: 'Of course not'. He said he would speak to me on this topic later. It's warming to think that some people think there's more to Michael Rhodes than library fodder.
Bit of a disaster this evening. I phoned Auntie Mabel and told her I would journey to Pudsey by train at 5pm, and that I'd meet Ally in Pudsey. I left the YP at 4:45 and climbed onto a train on what I thought was Bradford bound only to discover that I was hurtling towards Dewsbury. In Dewsbury no call boxes were in working order, and so I couldn't alert Auntie M of my delay. I took at train back to Leeds, arriving at 6:30. I know just how frantic Auntie Mabel will be. Aunts are notorious for worrying, and fearing the worst, and I suppose she has me lying dead beneath some rusting rolling stock. I got to my aunt's at 7:45. She howled with laughter. She howled again on the phone to Mum, and on the phone to Ally, who had left and gone to Lynn's. Ally with Lynn and Dave arrived at 8:30, and we dined until 10.
-=-
 |
| Lady Doris and the Queen Mother. |
Bit of a disaster this evening. I phoned Auntie Mabel and told her I would journey to Pudsey by train at 5pm, and that I'd meet Ally in Pudsey. I left the YP at 4:45 and climbed onto a train on what I thought was Bradford bound only to discover that I was hurtling towards Dewsbury. In Dewsbury no call boxes were in working order, and so I couldn't alert Auntie M of my delay. I took at train back to Leeds, arriving at 6:30. I know just how frantic Auntie Mabel will be. Aunts are notorious for worrying, and fearing the worst, and I suppose she has me lying dead beneath some rusting rolling stock. I got to my aunt's at 7:45. She howled with laughter. She howled again on the phone to Mum, and on the phone to Ally, who had left and gone to Lynn's. Ally with Lynn and Dave arrived at 8:30, and we dined until 10.
-=-
Wednesday February 6, 1980
_. Went in to the YP despite a streaming cold. Sarah refused to talk to me because of my snivelling. I oozed throughout the day.
Later: watched TV and drugged myself up with paracetamol and took Frankie Howerd's autobiography up to bed. 'On the Way I lost it'. It's a real tale of woe and degradation. We do take our great comedians for granted, don't we? We seldom think of the struggle that such people as Frankie endure to get to the top of the pile. Sitting in bed with my Lem-sip and pills.
Her Majesty succeeded to the throne 28 years ago today. Now that Queen Juliana of the Netherlands has announced her intention to abdicate in April I wonder whether such ideas are circulating in Queen Elizabeth's head? It has become a tradition in Holland for the monarch to abdicate but we do things quite differently here. Abdication reeks of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson and is therefore entirely repugnant to our monarch. The Prince of Wales wouldn't want the throne yet.
-=-
Later: watched TV and drugged myself up with paracetamol and took Frankie Howerd's autobiography up to bed. 'On the Way I lost it'. It's a real tale of woe and degradation. We do take our great comedians for granted, don't we? We seldom think of the struggle that such people as Frankie endure to get to the top of the pile. Sitting in bed with my Lem-sip and pills.
Her Majesty succeeded to the throne 28 years ago today. Now that Queen Juliana of the Netherlands has announced her intention to abdicate in April I wonder whether such ideas are circulating in Queen Elizabeth's head? It has become a tradition in Holland for the monarch to abdicate but we do things quite differently here. Abdication reeks of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson and is therefore entirely repugnant to our monarch. The Prince of Wales wouldn't want the throne yet.
-=-
Tuesday February 5, 1980
_. Phoned Ally at 7:40 and let it ring for ages until she picked up. I managed to eat two slices of toast waiting. To Leeds with Jim R at 7:45. We left early because Jennie is sitting an exam to gain entry to the Leeds Girls' High School. She'll pass, of course.
Phoned Jill [Gadsby] this evening to invite them to Ally's on Saturday. Received a letter from precious Allykins, and spent a couple of hours this evening concocting a reply on Papa's Victorian typewriter.
In other news: Lady Evelyn Beauchamp [pronounced 'Beacham'], last survivor of the four who opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, has passed on. Has the notorious curse finally caught up with her after 60 years?
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg has visited to the Pope to seek his approval to become a Freemason. Roman Catholics are very wary of this organisation.
Mum and Dad went out at 7:30 to see Lynn. I sat snuffling into a handkerchief until 11.
-=-
Phoned Jill [Gadsby] this evening to invite them to Ally's on Saturday. Received a letter from precious Allykins, and spent a couple of hours this evening concocting a reply on Papa's Victorian typewriter.
In other news: Lady Evelyn Beauchamp [pronounced 'Beacham'], last survivor of the four who opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, has passed on. Has the notorious curse finally caught up with her after 60 years?
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg has visited to the Pope to seek his approval to become a Freemason. Roman Catholics are very wary of this organisation.
Mum and Dad went out at 7:30 to see Lynn. I sat snuffling into a handkerchief until 11.
-=-
20200412
Monday February 4, 1980
_. A large offering of snow. Travelling to and from Leeds in snow cannot adequately or accurately be conveyed on paper by one who is virtually illiterate.
Read in the unreliable New of the World that Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg and her parents have had an audience of the Pope at the Vatican. The paper says that the meeting was to discuss the possibility of Marie-Astrid's marriage to the Prince of Wales. It is a pleasant thought for one who likes to see blue blood marry blue blood, but I cannot ever see such a union taking place. I stick to my 'English rose' of the British aristocracy theory, despite such juicy morsels that the Queen is so impressed with the Luxembourg princess that she has a framed photo of her upon her desk at Balmoral. The Prince of Wales has yet to meet his princess - I am sure of this.
Left the YP at 4:15 because of the driving snow. The bus took 3 hours to reach Guiseley. A plane came down on the Harrogate Road at Yeadon which might have added to the delay.
Candice Bergen was on the telly, in a film, and she helped me thaw out. I phoned Auntie Mabel and told her that weather permitting, Ally and I would take tea with her on Thursday.
-=-
Read in the unreliable New of the World that Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg and her parents have had an audience of the Pope at the Vatican. The paper says that the meeting was to discuss the possibility of Marie-Astrid's marriage to the Prince of Wales. It is a pleasant thought for one who likes to see blue blood marry blue blood, but I cannot ever see such a union taking place. I stick to my 'English rose' of the British aristocracy theory, despite such juicy morsels that the Queen is so impressed with the Luxembourg princess that she has a framed photo of her upon her desk at Balmoral. The Prince of Wales has yet to meet his princess - I am sure of this.
 |
| Candice Bergen: helped me thaw out. |
Candice Bergen was on the telly, in a film, and she helped me thaw out. I phoned Auntie Mabel and told her that weather permitting, Ally and I would take tea with her on Thursday.
-=-
Sunday February 3, 1980
_. Septuagesima
Septuagesima? What is this? From Jacq's extremely uncomfortable settee we went to Club Street for tea and toast at 9am. We clowned around listening to the radio until Ally was so cruelly taken away from me at 10:30 to the call of the Belfry. I was left at the usual bus stop on Manningham Lane, and found myself in the company a possible female Yorkshire Ripper.
Home at 'elevenish' for a second breakfast but this time with Mum & Dad. More tea and toast. For the rest of the day I was like a corpse. I am sure that even President Tito has more 'get up and go' about him today [one thing's for sure. We'd do very well together in a three legged race].
This evening I did pull round slightly to eat dinner and watch TV, and retired to bed only to escape the steel strike which is thrust down out throats night after night.
-=-
Septuagesima? What is this? From Jacq's extremely uncomfortable settee we went to Club Street for tea and toast at 9am. We clowned around listening to the radio until Ally was so cruelly taken away from me at 10:30 to the call of the Belfry. I was left at the usual bus stop on Manningham Lane, and found myself in the company a possible female Yorkshire Ripper.
Home at 'elevenish' for a second breakfast but this time with Mum & Dad. More tea and toast. For the rest of the day I was like a corpse. I am sure that even President Tito has more 'get up and go' about him today [one thing's for sure. We'd do very well together in a three legged race].
This evening I did pull round slightly to eat dinner and watch TV, and retired to bed only to escape the steel strike which is thrust down out throats night after night.
-=-
Saturday February 2, 1980
_. Snow. Out tonight with Ally, Lynn and Dave to the Emmott Arms, then the Fleece at Horsforth before going on to Jacq's birthday party. I had worried throughout the day, thinking that the snow might put paid to our plans. You know how peculiar Lynn can be about snow lying on the ground.
To Jacq's for 11. Ally and I quarrelled because we got lost on the way. 68, Stanmore Drive proved elusive. Jacq and Paul are truly entwined. It was a good night but the booze flowed too rapidly, and to my horror, at some late hour, I discovered that our supply had expired, whereas I'm usually expired first. Lynn and Dave set off to leave at 3, but Dave started a snowball fight, which came indoors. Jacq's sitting room resembled the south face of the Eiger. Quite riotous. Ally and I slept there on a sofa like refugees. Ally met Eamonn Burke for the first time since June.
-=-
To Jacq's for 11. Ally and I quarrelled because we got lost on the way. 68, Stanmore Drive proved elusive. Jacq and Paul are truly entwined. It was a good night but the booze flowed too rapidly, and to my horror, at some late hour, I discovered that our supply had expired, whereas I'm usually expired first. Lynn and Dave set off to leave at 3, but Dave started a snowball fight, which came indoors. Jacq's sitting room resembled the south face of the Eiger. Quite riotous. Ally and I slept there on a sofa like refugees. Ally met Eamonn Burke for the first time since June.
-=-
Friday February 1, 1980
_.Hangover. Drank black coffee with my eye balls hanging out. To the YP. Felt like death. I escaped at 11:30 into the sunny, cold, fresh morning. To Bradford where I found Ally looking like a housewife stood over a sizzling lasagne for tonight's dinner. We ate fish and chips from over the road and at 1:30 we returned to Haworth, which looked beautiful shrouded in snow and basking in sunlight. Had a few drinks in a couple of pubs and ended up in the Black Bull. We sat holding hands___________. Back in Bradford for 4 we put a hole in the lasagne and drained a bottle of red wine then sprawled on the rug looking at photo albums.
Phoned Lynn. She says they'll be coming to Jacq's tomorrow if the snow holds off. Ally and I will go even if it means walking to Leeds.
At 6:30 Ally took me to Manningham Lane and then went to her labours at the Belfry. At home I slumped in an armchair until 12:30.
I have a new jacket from Sarah's catalogue.
-=-
Phoned Lynn. She says they'll be coming to Jacq's tomorrow if the snow holds off. Ally and I will go even if it means walking to Leeds.
At 6:30 Ally took me to Manningham Lane and then went to her labours at the Belfry. At home I slumped in an armchair until 12:30.
I have a new jacket from Sarah's catalogue.
-=-
20200411
Thursday January 31, 1980
_. Marita's 25th birthday. The only other Marita I have ever heard of is Marita Phillips, daughter of Harold Phillips, and sister of the Duchesses of Westminster and Abercorn.
Phoned Jacq's office to discuss Saturday, but her co-workers couldn't locate her. Mr Entwistle, her boss, is probably sick of hearing me.
Sarah was back today looking jaded and pale. Complaining she is starting with conjunctivitis, hence the lack of war paint on her eyes.
No Ally tonight. I phoned Peter to see what the lads are up to. He came at 8:30 to Les Haute Pins and we went to the Fox and Hounds to see Sue and Janet Simon. From the Fox the four of us went to the White Cross. Gus, Johnnie and Neil were in the White Cross, drunk, at a stag party for some misguided soul. Johnny fooling around hilariously with an inflatable doll. They went off to the 148 Club in Leeds. At home later a party was in full swing [Jim & Margaret].
-=-
Phoned Jacq's office to discuss Saturday, but her co-workers couldn't locate her. Mr Entwistle, her boss, is probably sick of hearing me.
Sarah was back today looking jaded and pale. Complaining she is starting with conjunctivitis, hence the lack of war paint on her eyes.
No Ally tonight. I phoned Peter to see what the lads are up to. He came at 8:30 to Les Haute Pins and we went to the Fox and Hounds to see Sue and Janet Simon. From the Fox the four of us went to the White Cross. Gus, Johnnie and Neil were in the White Cross, drunk, at a stag party for some misguided soul. Johnny fooling around hilariously with an inflatable doll. They went off to the 148 Club in Leeds. At home later a party was in full swing [Jim & Margaret].
-=-
Wednesday January 30, 1980
 |
| Regicide: 1649 |
At 5pm I scrounged a lift with Carol J to Kirkstall Forge, where I managed to find a seat on a West Yorkshire bus, a rare and wonderful thing these days.
Tonight I studied the letters in 'The Times'. One from an old geezer with a sense of humour who suggested that since we are to have no Olympic Games this year it would probably be a good idea for a 'pools panel' to sit like they do when soccer matches are not played.
-=-
Tuesday January 29, 1980
_. Rang Ally at 8am to tell her of Glynnie's changed plans. She was still in bed despite the fact that she starts work at 8:30.
I was late to the YP [again], but the boss took it very well.Sarah still laid low at Ivory Towers.
In the news: the dreadful Ayatollah Khomeini is close to death. His ticker is giving up on him.
Confusion has arisen regarding the purchase of the house Sue and Pete laid eyes on last week. I am in no position as yet to enlighten you.
TV tonight: John MacMurray was on the telly talking about an opera singer finding her feet in the operatic world. Later, HRH The Princess Margaret was dishing out the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. She spoke very well and is becoming quite like the Queen Mother, that treasured lady. Norman St John Stevas spoke too. Stevas says he was the first MP to say that Margaret Thatcher would be prime minister, but I have always thought that foresight could be accredited to poor Airey Neave?
The Queen goes to Rome in October, and it was actually reported on ITN that HM and the Pope will discuss the possibility of the Prince of Wales making a Roman Catholic marital alliance. It's out of the question, of course.
To bed at 12:15 with a yellowed volume of Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Perry Mason's Famous Cases'.
I was late to the YP [again], but the boss took it very well.Sarah still laid low at Ivory Towers.
In the news: the dreadful Ayatollah Khomeini is close to death. His ticker is giving up on him.
Confusion has arisen regarding the purchase of the house Sue and Pete laid eyes on last week. I am in no position as yet to enlighten you.
TV tonight: John MacMurray was on the telly talking about an opera singer finding her feet in the operatic world. Later, HRH The Princess Margaret was dishing out the Evening Standard Theatre Awards. She spoke very well and is becoming quite like the Queen Mother, that treasured lady. Norman St John Stevas spoke too. Stevas says he was the first MP to say that Margaret Thatcher would be prime minister, but I have always thought that foresight could be accredited to poor Airey Neave?
The Queen goes to Rome in October, and it was actually reported on ITN that HM and the Pope will discuss the possibility of the Prince of Wales making a Roman Catholic marital alliance. It's out of the question, of course.
To bed at 12:15 with a yellowed volume of Erle Stanley Gardner's 'Perry Mason's Famous Cases'.
Monday January 28, 1980
_. Mum came over all peculiar in a shop today and had to sit down on a stack of cans until she regained her composure. She does look pale and tired. I do worry about mama's health at times. Her high [or is it low?] blood pressure has plagued her for some years, and I don't imagine she'll ever rid herself of the problem.
Sarah was off again. She phoned at 9:30 and spoke to Eileen and Carol.
Glynnie phoned. Her cannot come at the weekend, but can come here on Feb 8.
Edwards are in the news. Edward Heath has said he thinks we should go to the Moscow Olympic Games much to the prime minister's embarrassment, and Edward Kennedy is floundering over in Washington. He won't be ever making it to the presidency. He's so bad that nobody has even bothered to try and assassinate him, yet.
-=-
 |
| Ted Kennedy |
Glynnie phoned. Her cannot come at the weekend, but can come here on Feb 8.
Edwards are in the news. Edward Heath has said he thinks we should go to the Moscow Olympic Games much to the prime minister's embarrassment, and Edward Kennedy is floundering over in Washington. He won't be ever making it to the presidency. He's so bad that nobody has even bothered to try and assassinate him, yet.
-=-
Sunday January 27, 1980
_. 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Up at 10. Ally took me to Manningham Lane and then she went to the Belfry. Spent 44p on a bus fare just to take me to Hawksworth Lane. Bloody ridiculous. At home I brewed lashings of hot tea for my slumbering family. It was like a scene from 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', bodies in all the bedrooms. I sat with the Sunday papers, wobbling and pulsating. Philip Ziegler has been commissioned to write the official biography of Earl Mountbatten of Burma and is to have access to the Royal Archives and the Broadlands papers. I have read Ziegler's 'William IV' which is excellent.
It is impossible to escape from reading about the steel strike. Big deal. So, they've stopped making cutlery. Don't most people just use fingers these days? My chain of thought was broken by my father snoring loudly. I am sure that the gas fire cannot be right. People are seldom conscious in the sitting room, at any time of the night or day.
Ally arrived at 3:30 and we all dined together. Tonight we watched 'The Misanthrope' by Moliere, but I found it a silly play. But before act 3 at least four members of the family were unconscious, and Ally left before she could fall victim to the gas fire. Later watched a profile on Robert Runcie, the new archbishop of Canterbury. To bed at 11:15 with a filthy novel.
-=-
Up at 10. Ally took me to Manningham Lane and then she went to the Belfry. Spent 44p on a bus fare just to take me to Hawksworth Lane. Bloody ridiculous. At home I brewed lashings of hot tea for my slumbering family. It was like a scene from 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', bodies in all the bedrooms. I sat with the Sunday papers, wobbling and pulsating. Philip Ziegler has been commissioned to write the official biography of Earl Mountbatten of Burma and is to have access to the Royal Archives and the Broadlands papers. I have read Ziegler's 'William IV' which is excellent.
It is impossible to escape from reading about the steel strike. Big deal. So, they've stopped making cutlery. Don't most people just use fingers these days? My chain of thought was broken by my father snoring loudly. I am sure that the gas fire cannot be right. People are seldom conscious in the sitting room, at any time of the night or day.
Ally arrived at 3:30 and we all dined together. Tonight we watched 'The Misanthrope' by Moliere, but I found it a silly play. But before act 3 at least four members of the family were unconscious, and Ally left before she could fall victim to the gas fire. Later watched a profile on Robert Runcie, the new archbishop of Canterbury. To bed at 11:15 with a filthy novel.
-=-
Saturday January 26, 1980
_. A fine, sunny day. Out of bed at 10:30. Got a bus to Manningham Lane where Ally was supposed to meet me at 12:15. She arrived at one and I playfully attempted to strangle her in the car.
On to Club Street for a short while and then at Ally's suggestion we drove to Haworth. It was a pleasant drive and by 2pm we were in a little pub [Black Bull?]. The town was swarming with tourists, and all seemed to be very disturbed by our quaint licensing laws. We concluded our lunchtime drink in the King's Arms and then came back to Bradford, bought a bottle of plonk, and dined at Club Street on chicken casserole.
I think it was the wine that finished Ally off, but she slipped into a coma. From the sitting room I carried her upstairs where she slept until 10pm.
-=-
On to Club Street for a short while and then at Ally's suggestion we drove to Haworth. It was a pleasant drive and by 2pm we were in a little pub [Black Bull?]. The town was swarming with tourists, and all seemed to be very disturbed by our quaint licensing laws. We concluded our lunchtime drink in the King's Arms and then came back to Bradford, bought a bottle of plonk, and dined at Club Street on chicken casserole.
I think it was the wine that finished Ally off, but she slipped into a coma. From the sitting room I carried her upstairs where she slept until 10pm.
-=-
Friday January 25, 1980
_. Feel well considering. Last night I consumed vast quantities of brandy and did a lot of listening. Took coffee with Ally and Sue and went into Leeds with Jim and Jennie.
Dull at the YP. at 1pm I met Jacq at the Ostlers for a few lagers to break the monotony. Jacq's 'silver jubilee' birthday party falls on February 2, so that is somewhere to take Glynnie by way of a change. She and Paul are still going strong. It was a leisurely lunch and I did not make it back to my desk until 2:30. I arrived back at the office just before Kathleen. To have bumped into her on the stairs would have resulted in instant death.
Marshal Tito is recovering. Isn't it amazing? He's 87, with one leg, yet fighting on. Meanwhile in other news, our own Maurice Macmillan, MP for Farnham, and son of the former prime minister, is critically ill after collapsing with bronchitis. Farnham is a safe Tory seat and so the PM won't lose any sleep.
Ally at the Belfry. I stayed in and festered until after midnight. Saw a weird film 'Dr Jekyll and SISTER Hyde', wherein the dabbling quack turns into a female.
-=-
Dull at the YP. at 1pm I met Jacq at the Ostlers for a few lagers to break the monotony. Jacq's 'silver jubilee' birthday party falls on February 2, so that is somewhere to take Glynnie by way of a change. She and Paul are still going strong. It was a leisurely lunch and I did not make it back to my desk until 2:30. I arrived back at the office just before Kathleen. To have bumped into her on the stairs would have resulted in instant death.
Marshal Tito is recovering. Isn't it amazing? He's 87, with one leg, yet fighting on. Meanwhile in other news, our own Maurice Macmillan, MP for Farnham, and son of the former prime minister, is critically ill after collapsing with bronchitis. Farnham is a safe Tory seat and so the PM won't lose any sleep.
Ally at the Belfry. I stayed in and festered until after midnight. Saw a weird film 'Dr Jekyll and SISTER Hyde', wherein the dabbling quack turns into a female.
-=-
Thursday January 24, 1980
_. Tiresome day. I want to do something else but know not what. How many times have I expressed disaffection with my employment, and yet after six years I am no nearer moving on. The beginning of a new decade should also see the start of my quest of the world and all it holds.
Took a half day. Left at 12 in pouring rain. Got home for 1:30 to find the house deserted. Had a phone call from Lynn saying she and Mama are taking the waters in the White Cross. Dad arrived home for lunch just as I was about to join them, and I left him, clad in police regalia, inspecting the contents of the refrigerator and whistling a nostalgic tune from yesteryear. I hot footed it down Thorpe Lane and joined Lynn and Mum in the pub for an hour. On to Burley to take Lynn home.
Out at 8pm to Rawdon to see Dave and Elaine Allinson. ______.
-=-
Took a half day. Left at 12 in pouring rain. Got home for 1:30 to find the house deserted. Had a phone call from Lynn saying she and Mama are taking the waters in the White Cross. Dad arrived home for lunch just as I was about to join them, and I left him, clad in police regalia, inspecting the contents of the refrigerator and whistling a nostalgic tune from yesteryear. I hot footed it down Thorpe Lane and joined Lynn and Mum in the pub for an hour. On to Burley to take Lynn home.
Out at 8pm to Rawdon to see Dave and Elaine Allinson. ______.
-=-
Wednesday January 23, 1980
_. Phoned Ally at 7:50 to get her out of bed.
At lunchtime I phoned Lynn to say yes to Thursday at the Allinson residence. She told me she had bumped into Carole Phillips and Mick Lynch at lunchtime. She was given the full and sordid details of Peter Phillips's broken engagement.
Glynnie phoned at 7:30 to escape 'Coronation Street'. He told me that Billy was impressed with his letter, but that Billy had refused to let Dave or Garry see the contents. I gave Dave the okay for the February 1 weekend. Ally is to have a party.
I am taking a half day tomorrow to begin my long awaited purchase of vital family certificates. It's fortunate that Pudsey births, marriages and deaths are stored at Guiseley Register Office.
All I do is watch the goggle box night after night. I was entertained by the Michael Parkinson Show at eleven. Robert Runcie, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, appeared on the chat show and he made a tremendous impression on me. He was light, amusing, charismatic, quite the opposite of the cardboard cut-out Donald Cobweb. In fact, Coggan's reign was a total flop. In such a position he could have done so much more. Runcie will definitely inject new drive and personality.
To bed 11:55.
-=-
At lunchtime I phoned Lynn to say yes to Thursday at the Allinson residence. She told me she had bumped into Carole Phillips and Mick Lynch at lunchtime. She was given the full and sordid details of Peter Phillips's broken engagement.
Glynnie phoned at 7:30 to escape 'Coronation Street'. He told me that Billy was impressed with his letter, but that Billy had refused to let Dave or Garry see the contents. I gave Dave the okay for the February 1 weekend. Ally is to have a party.
I am taking a half day tomorrow to begin my long awaited purchase of vital family certificates. It's fortunate that Pudsey births, marriages and deaths are stored at Guiseley Register Office.
All I do is watch the goggle box night after night. I was entertained by the Michael Parkinson Show at eleven. Robert Runcie, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, appeared on the chat show and he made a tremendous impression on me. He was light, amusing, charismatic, quite the opposite of the cardboard cut-out Donald Cobweb. In fact, Coggan's reign was a total flop. In such a position he could have done so much more. Runcie will definitely inject new drive and personality.
To bed 11:55.
-=-
Tuesday January 22, 1980
_. Dave L phoned to say he's been stricken with chicken pox and is lying low at Tennyson Street. I wanted to go go collect my blue pullover, but he says I would be running a great risk. Anyway, the street has been cordoned off, and a large red cross painted on the front door.
Lynn phoned asking whether Ally and I would like to go with them to Dave and Elaine Allinson's at Rawdon, possibly on Thursday. Should be interesting.
President Carter beat Senator Kennedy in the Iowa caucuses last night. Definitely the death knell for old Ted, who never really stood a chance anyway with his sexual activities and drownings. George Bush won for the Republican party, walking over Ronald Reagan, the actor, who rose to fame in 1918, as 'The Lone Ranger'.
Sue and Pete went off at 6:30pm on an important mission to see Mr Booker, who has found them a mortgage. They returned beaming and Sue immediately phoned Angela [the current occupier of the home of their dreams] at Greenlea Mount, or Greenlea Place.
Uncle John phoned to say that Sheila's father died on Monday and so the Halifax dinner was scrapped. Poor Sheila. He died before she could get to his hospital bedside.
Watched an excellent Clint Eastwood film 'Play Misty for Me', a proper thriller. Bed at 12:30.
Lynn phoned asking whether Ally and I would like to go with them to Dave and Elaine Allinson's at Rawdon, possibly on Thursday. Should be interesting.
President Carter beat Senator Kennedy in the Iowa caucuses last night. Definitely the death knell for old Ted, who never really stood a chance anyway with his sexual activities and drownings. George Bush won for the Republican party, walking over Ronald Reagan, the actor, who rose to fame in 1918, as 'The Lone Ranger'.
Sue and Pete went off at 6:30pm on an important mission to see Mr Booker, who has found them a mortgage. They returned beaming and Sue immediately phoned Angela [the current occupier of the home of their dreams] at Greenlea Mount, or Greenlea Place.
Uncle John phoned to say that Sheila's father died on Monday and so the Halifax dinner was scrapped. Poor Sheila. He died before she could get to his hospital bedside.
Watched an excellent Clint Eastwood film 'Play Misty for Me', a proper thriller. Bed at 12:30.
20200410
Monday January 21, 1980
_. Snow. Susan woke me at 7:30 with the chilling news that she had opened the door to take in the milk but couldn't close it because of the snowdrift. I leapt from the sanctuary of my sheets to offer snow-shifting services. Out on the lane at 8 with Jim R, minus Jennie, for the snail-like pace on the road to Leeds. By 10am we were still in Rawdon, and I didn't get the office until lunchtime.
Jim, who is chief executive of Leeds City Council of course, told me that Leeds has a secret nuclear fall-out shelter beneath Lawnswood Crematorium, and that he is the key holder. Who lives and who dies in the metropolis is down to Jim Rawnsley. Muriel has a duplicate key and he assured me that I will be invited to join his family deep beneath the scorched, desolate earth that was Leeds. I am resassured by this and no longer quite so afraid of Mr Brezhnev and his cronies.
Sarah had a revelation to make. She met John Holmes, the Leeds and England rugby league player at the Nouveau night club on Saturday evening and they are meeting again tomorrow. Is this the end of Mr Richard Burke? Is this the first step on the ladder to fame and fortune for Miss Collis?
Home at 6 on the train with all the cream of Ilkley society. I buried myself behind 'The Times'.
Sue and Peter are visiting Mr Booker, a solicitor neighbour of Peter's. So things are looking up.
-=-
Jim, who is chief executive of Leeds City Council of course, told me that Leeds has a secret nuclear fall-out shelter beneath Lawnswood Crematorium, and that he is the key holder. Who lives and who dies in the metropolis is down to Jim Rawnsley. Muriel has a duplicate key and he assured me that I will be invited to join his family deep beneath the scorched, desolate earth that was Leeds. I am resassured by this and no longer quite so afraid of Mr Brezhnev and his cronies.
Sarah had a revelation to make. She met John Holmes, the Leeds and England rugby league player at the Nouveau night club on Saturday evening and they are meeting again tomorrow. Is this the end of Mr Richard Burke? Is this the first step on the ladder to fame and fortune for Miss Collis?
Home at 6 on the train with all the cream of Ilkley society. I buried myself behind 'The Times'.
Sue and Peter are visiting Mr Booker, a solicitor neighbour of Peter's. So things are looking up.
-=-
Sunday January 20, 1980
_.2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Ally was up and off to Bradford at 9:30. I got up to a grilled breakfast and the Sunday Observer.
John, Dad's brother, phoned to say he's home from Lanzarote for a few weeks. I spoke to him and he told me of his stomach ulcer and the hideous Christmas in the Canaries. He issued a royal command calling Mum & Dad to Halifax on Tuesday for dinner with Arnold and Janet.
Mum, Dad and I decided to go out for the afternoon. This proved far more complex and serious than you could possibly imagine. Dad never makes a decision, particularly on Sundays, and the one sided discussion went on far into the afternoon. We went first to Lidget Green and gathered up Ally and then on to St James's Crescent to see Hilda and Tony. We laughed at Tony's long, trailing pullover. Tony got out the old Wilson family Bible and I found a childhood picture of myself sandwiched in the middle of the ancient pages, placed there by my grandmother who died in 1957.
-=-
Ally was up and off to Bradford at 9:30. I got up to a grilled breakfast and the Sunday Observer.
 |
| John Rhodes |
John, Dad's brother, phoned to say he's home from Lanzarote for a few weeks. I spoke to him and he told me of his stomach ulcer and the hideous Christmas in the Canaries. He issued a royal command calling Mum & Dad to Halifax on Tuesday for dinner with Arnold and Janet.
Mum, Dad and I decided to go out for the afternoon. This proved far more complex and serious than you could possibly imagine. Dad never makes a decision, particularly on Sundays, and the one sided discussion went on far into the afternoon. We went first to Lidget Green and gathered up Ally and then on to St James's Crescent to see Hilda and Tony. We laughed at Tony's long, trailing pullover. Tony got out the old Wilson family Bible and I found a childhood picture of myself sandwiched in the middle of the ancient pages, placed there by my grandmother who died in 1957.
-=-
Saturday January 19, 1980
 |
| Tito: last legs. |
Spent the afternoon writing a lengthy epistle to Ally. This correspondence course is becoming quite serious. I am sure that the old yellowed letters will be of valuable historic importance in later years. Mum, Dad, Sue and Pete went to the White Cross while I sat scribing in the rapidly failing light.
Phoned Ally. She came over at 7. We went straight to Giovanni's, the new Italian restaurant in Guiseley. Excellent dinner with wine and the bill came to £8. On to the Woolpack, the Fox and finally the Drop.
Home at 11.
-=-
Friday January 18, 1980
_. A night at home whilst Ally flogs herself away at the Belfry. I was not alone in vigil by the TV for Sue and Pete were also in confinement. They are a sad and frustrated pair this week because of mortgage problems. They've been looking at a property up near Westfield Fisheries, which doesn't sound particularly enchanting, a town house [£16,500 including carpets]. The building societies with whom they have been dealing laugh them out of the office.
Watched a film starring Connie Francis. Bed after 1am.
-=-
Watched a film starring Connie Francis. Bed after 1am.
-=-
20200409
Thursday January 17, 1980
_. To Lidget Green at 5pm to dine with Ally on beef curry. At 7:30 we went off in her ailing car into Bradford where we queued in a massive mob to see Monty Python's vastly over-rated epic, 'The Life of Brian'. Ally loved it, expecting to be disappointed. What annoys me is the fact that the film is banned in many places throughout the country. People like Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark, in giving the film so much publicity, have encouraged millions of people to flock to the movie, where under normal circumstances they would have been unaware of the film's existence. How much has John Cleese paid the Church of England to groan and grumble and write letters of complaint to the press?Home to Guiseley by bus at 11 leaving Ally in Bradford.
-=-
Wednesday January 16, 1980
_. Janet Simon's 21st birthday at Jolly's in Shipley. Lynn, Dave, Ally and I had a few drinks at Esholt first - the pub now lacking in atmosphere since Annie and Ron left. At 9:30 we went on to the large and gloomy disco, which was acutely cold. Susie was blue. I drank whisky, Ally had Campari. David clad in his best three-piece suit. He's a smart lad with far to go.
Home at 1:30am. Ally and I sat discussing in subdued whispers until after 2. Mum was prowling around. Her bad back keeps her awake.
-=-
Home at 1:30am. Ally and I sat discussing in subdued whispers until after 2. Mum was prowling around. Her bad back keeps her awake.
-=-
Tuesday January 15, 1980
_. To Leeds with Jim, Jennie and Donald Best, JP. A brilliant quartet of wit and intellect motoring across West Yorkshire. Like a mobile university.
I spoke only briefly to Ally today. Her boss Derek Jenkins was hovering nearby. She sounded glum about something but couldn't say.
Today is the thirty fifth birthday of that paragon of beauty Princess Michael of Kent. The very mention of her name throws me into paroxysms of passion. This exquisite creature is undoubtedly a rising star of the 80s. Popular already, she will go from strength to strength and certainly eclipse the plain, fading Princess Anne, and the meek Duchess of Gloucester. The Queen must be so pleased with her new cousin.
I have just been watching Robin Day debating on the BBC. The general opinion was that it would probably be best to pretend the Russians haven't actually invaded Afghanistan. General Sir John Hackett, is of the opinion that the Ruskies have bitten off more than they can chew. Tony Wedgwood Benn also put his spoke in attempting to justify the Labour party's slide into red chaos.
-=-
I spoke only briefly to Ally today. Her boss Derek Jenkins was hovering nearby. She sounded glum about something but couldn't say.
 |
| Princess Michael of Kent |
I have just been watching Robin Day debating on the BBC. The general opinion was that it would probably be best to pretend the Russians haven't actually invaded Afghanistan. General Sir John Hackett, is of the opinion that the Ruskies have bitten off more than they can chew. Tony Wedgwood Benn also put his spoke in attempting to justify the Labour party's slide into red chaos.
-=-
Monday January 14, 1980
_. A wet, grizzly day. Phoned Ally at 8am primarily to ensure she was out of bed but I suspect I just wanted to hear her voice. I didn't say much because I could see Jim R making moves two doors away and I wanted a lift to Leeds. Graham and Charlotte took Ally to the opera, and yes, Elizabeth Harwood's voice is knackered. I did warn her. She, with the Smiths, lunched at Lynn's yesterday but didn't stay late, having little petrol in the car.
At the office Sarah was very quiet about my 'illness' on Friday. Spent an hour on a query for Chris Oakley, on the US presidential elections which are upon us again this year. My opinion has changed over the past few weeks. Kennedy is doomed. Yes, a definite non runner. Carter I think now stands a very good chance. I know this is a reversal of what I've said in the past but all this bother with Iran and now the Afghanistan situation has been a boost to Carter. The man has done nothing to secure the release of the hostages, but you know how people always rally in a crisis.
Home at 6. Soup and salad. Quarrel with Mother. Watched TV. 'Blake's 7', and a Tuesday Weld film about a child killer.
The house plants are all dying because of the intolerable heat in the house. It's like an inferno.
-=-
 |
| Jimmy Carter |
Home at 6. Soup and salad. Quarrel with Mother. Watched TV. 'Blake's 7', and a Tuesday Weld film about a child killer.
The house plants are all dying because of the intolerable heat in the house. It's like an inferno.
-=-
Sunday January 13, 1980
_. 1st Sunday after Epiphany
Up at almost noon to find myself in a sleeping bag with my head up Dave G's chimney piece. Dave was laughing. Evidently I was talking about cheese in my sleep. Blimey, I've heard about cheese making one dream, but dreaming about cheese is another more disturbing matter. Let's hope the subject of my ramblings was a sexy bit of Red Leicester.
Financially embarrassed. In fact I'm down to my last quid. Out for a walk in the sunshine digesting Grandad Glynn's fried breakfast. On to the Armoury where we met Bill and Garry. Bill always laughs at my shirts [I do wear tiny collars these days] and he promised to dig out some of his old 'boot-lace' ties. Bill was a 'Teddy Boy' 20 years ago. I suppose it amuses him to see the old fashions creeping back in. Can you believe he is 40 next week?
Back to the Hollywood for the last few until closing at 2pm. Slept in an armchair upstairs. Dave watching football on the telly. I have a great warmth for Jim and Lily Glynn, who always welcome me like one of the family.
To Manchester with Dave and Garry at 7:30 and I got the 8:45 coach back over the Pennines. Guiseley for 10:30. Frost.
-=-
Up at almost noon to find myself in a sleeping bag with my head up Dave G's chimney piece. Dave was laughing. Evidently I was talking about cheese in my sleep. Blimey, I've heard about cheese making one dream, but dreaming about cheese is another more disturbing matter. Let's hope the subject of my ramblings was a sexy bit of Red Leicester.
 |
| The Hollywood |
Back to the Hollywood for the last few until closing at 2pm. Slept in an armchair upstairs. Dave watching football on the telly. I have a great warmth for Jim and Lily Glynn, who always welcome me like one of the family.
To Manchester with Dave and Garry at 7:30 and I got the 8:45 coach back over the Pennines. Guiseley for 10:30. Frost.
-=-
Saturday January 12, 1980
_. Up at 9:30. Poor Tony Blackburn is on the radio. He's in decline at the moment.
Out at 10 to Leeds where I got the 11:30 coach to Manchester. A boring journey with only two fellow passengers. I sat on the back seat buried beneath my copy of 'The Times'. Fred Emery, in the paper, explained that Mrs Thatcher's TV image is fading. His excuse for coming out with this silly remark is because none of us can recall what she told us in a ministerial broadcast last Tuesday. I've forgotten the opening lines of 'A Tale of Two Cities' but certainly don't think the image of Charles Dickens is fading. When has the contents of a party political broadcast ever embedded itself into the hearts and minds of a listener? I have always taken it for granted that people switch off mentally at the sight of a crocodile-like party worker holding up a tin of Heinz beans whilst expounding the virtues of the governments prices and incomes policy.
To the Hollywood Hotel for 1:30. Spend the afternoon in the pool room. Not playing pool - good heavens no - just drinking in the pool room. Oblivion between 3 and 5. Tonight to the Georgian restaurant - that is Garry, Steve, Dave and I. Sadly, my steak was burnt to a crisp, but the others enjoyed it. Afterwards just Dave and I went to Rumours, the discotheque. Drank so much whisky throughout the evening that I had to have an alcohol free interval. People in clubs are looking so much younger these days. I could become quite worried if I thought about it.
-=-
Out at 10 to Leeds where I got the 11:30 coach to Manchester. A boring journey with only two fellow passengers. I sat on the back seat buried beneath my copy of 'The Times'. Fred Emery, in the paper, explained that Mrs Thatcher's TV image is fading. His excuse for coming out with this silly remark is because none of us can recall what she told us in a ministerial broadcast last Tuesday. I've forgotten the opening lines of 'A Tale of Two Cities' but certainly don't think the image of Charles Dickens is fading. When has the contents of a party political broadcast ever embedded itself into the hearts and minds of a listener? I have always taken it for granted that people switch off mentally at the sight of a crocodile-like party worker holding up a tin of Heinz beans whilst expounding the virtues of the governments prices and incomes policy.
To the Hollywood Hotel for 1:30. Spend the afternoon in the pool room. Not playing pool - good heavens no - just drinking in the pool room. Oblivion between 3 and 5. Tonight to the Georgian restaurant - that is Garry, Steve, Dave and I. Sadly, my steak was burnt to a crisp, but the others enjoyed it. Afterwards just Dave and I went to Rumours, the discotheque. Drank so much whisky throughout the evening that I had to have an alcohol free interval. People in clubs are looking so much younger these days. I could become quite worried if I thought about it.
-=-
20200408
Friday January 11, 1980
_. I wasn't feeling well yesterday, but today I felt much worse. It was enough to give me the incentive to phone in sick to the office at 8:30. In good old YP library tradition they didn't believe my story. The girls in that office would have, in a previous life, made good henchmen for Thomas Cromwell.
I spoke to Sarah who laughed about the Lit lunch. Delia, she says, told Harold Wilson that he is 'miserable', and asked him: 'Don't you ever smile?'
I cleared up some of the mess from last night and then took to my bed. Within ten minutes Delia was on the phone. It was obviously a put up job by Sarah to check that I was at home. I think Cromwell's henchmen decided collectively that I was in fact lodging at Ally's. I had Delia's version of her put down of the former prime minister. I climbed back into bed chortling to myself about the cunning of my work colleagues.
Slept until 2pm after which I felt restored to full health. Ally phoned.
Sue and Pete went to Lynn & Dave's. I watched the telly with Mum and Dad.
Here's something amazing. Nicholas Knatchbull, the grandson of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who died with him, has left an estate of £770,000. He was fourteen and the youngest of six children. The enormity of this sum is a clue to the vast fortune of Lord Louis. His will, like all royal wills, is private. The money of course comes from the late Edwina Mountbatten, who inherited millions from her grandfather, Sir Ernest Cassel, and obviously it will have grown down the years.
-=-
 |
| Delia.... |
I cleared up some of the mess from last night and then took to my bed. Within ten minutes Delia was on the phone. It was obviously a put up job by Sarah to check that I was at home. I think Cromwell's henchmen decided collectively that I was in fact lodging at Ally's. I had Delia's version of her put down of the former prime minister. I climbed back into bed chortling to myself about the cunning of my work colleagues.
Slept until 2pm after which I felt restored to full health. Ally phoned.
Sue and Pete went to Lynn & Dave's. I watched the telly with Mum and Dad.
Here's something amazing. Nicholas Knatchbull, the grandson of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who died with him, has left an estate of £770,000. He was fourteen and the youngest of six children. The enormity of this sum is a clue to the vast fortune of Lord Louis. His will, like all royal wills, is private. The money of course comes from the late Edwina Mountbatten, who inherited millions from her grandfather, Sir Ernest Cassel, and obviously it will have grown down the years.
-=-
Thursday January 10, 1980
_. Busy day because Sarah and la Johnson were at the Literary Luncheon where the guests of honour are the weird combination of Sir Harold Wilson and Terry Wogan.
This afternoon I felt 'off it' and developed a throbbing headache. I haven't had a headache in years and decide I must be going down with influenza. Oh, and on the topic of disease and health I am sure you will be thrilled and delighted to hear that 'pnuemocallaghanicosis' has almost been wiped off the face of the earth, possibly with the exception of Cardiff West, where a mild form of this paralytic, debilitating disease still dwells. All thanks to 'Dr Thatcher', whose Tory vaccine has eradicated the ailment.
Home at 5 to be taken straight out again by Mum and Dad, who have borrowed Peter's car [the Toyota being incapacitated]. To the White Cross, where due to the lack of food, and alcohol flow, I was soon rolling around the walls like Freddie Frinton. Home again after a couple of hours. Ally came and we gave then the calendar plate.
Lynn and Dave, Jim and Margaret came at 9.
-=-
This afternoon I felt 'off it' and developed a throbbing headache. I haven't had a headache in years and decide I must be going down with influenza. Oh, and on the topic of disease and health I am sure you will be thrilled and delighted to hear that 'pnuemocallaghanicosis' has almost been wiped off the face of the earth, possibly with the exception of Cardiff West, where a mild form of this paralytic, debilitating disease still dwells. All thanks to 'Dr Thatcher', whose Tory vaccine has eradicated the ailment.
Home at 5 to be taken straight out again by Mum and Dad, who have borrowed Peter's car [the Toyota being incapacitated]. To the White Cross, where due to the lack of food, and alcohol flow, I was soon rolling around the walls like Freddie Frinton. Home again after a couple of hours. Ally came and we gave then the calendar plate.
Lynn and Dave, Jim and Margaret came at 9.
-=-
Wednesday January 9, 1980
_. Well, here I am sitting in my sturdy little Anderson shelter waiting for the arrival of the Ruskies, clutching my mug of cocoa [made with rationed dried milk powder], my mind a seething mass of uncertainty.Will they, for instance, allow me to keep my job in the YP library. I think not. I suppose it will be fifteen hours a day in a munitions factory, or if, for some reason I decline to assist the occupying powers perhaps they'll make me spend the rest of my days at the offices of the Telegraph & Argus. A terrifying prospect. The one good thing that will undoubtedly emerge from our annexation with the USSR is an end to the national iron and steel strike that's currently bringing Port Talbot, Abervan and Rodley to their knees. The Ruskies don't tolerate strikes, I'll wager. President Carter says it will all be over by Easter. By that I mean the Third World War and not the steel strike.
I was kept busy this morning by the demise of the Hon Mrs Lane Fox, of Bramham Park. The old girl was the elder sister of the Hon Lady Parkinson [wife of our ayatollah, Sir Kenneth Parkinson], and of the Hon Mrs Hargreaves, wife of Brigadier Kenneth 'Arsegrease', former Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding. Won't it be a sombre Lit Lunch tomorrow?
Dave G phoned at 8:15. I promise to go visit on Saturday. My New Year 'good will' visit. Ally will of course be entertaining Graham and Charlotte. She, the precious object of my affections, phoned aft
er 'Fawlty Towers'. Two pieces of news: the first is that she has taken an evening job at the Belfry restaurant at Bolton Junction from January 18, and is to do Friday evenings and Sunday lunches. This will help finance her increased commitments, which have brought pain. The other news is that she had laid hands on a 1980 Royal Albert Country Roses calendar plate, which we are giving Mum & Dad for their birthday. She is bringing it over tomorrow evening.
Bed at 12 o'clock.
-=-
 |
| Hon Mrs Lane Fox |
I was kept busy this morning by the demise of the Hon Mrs Lane Fox, of Bramham Park. The old girl was the elder sister of the Hon Lady Parkinson [wife of our ayatollah, Sir Kenneth Parkinson], and of the Hon Mrs Hargreaves, wife of Brigadier Kenneth 'Arsegrease', former Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding. Won't it be a sombre Lit Lunch tomorrow?
Dave G phoned at 8:15. I promise to go visit on Saturday. My New Year 'good will' visit. Ally will of course be entertaining Graham and Charlotte. She, the precious object of my affections, phoned aft
er 'Fawlty Towers'. Two pieces of news: the first is that she has taken an evening job at the Belfry restaurant at Bolton Junction from January 18, and is to do Friday evenings and Sunday lunches. This will help finance her increased commitments, which have brought pain. The other news is that she had laid hands on a 1980 Royal Albert Country Roses calendar plate, which we are giving Mum & Dad for their birthday. She is bringing it over tomorrow evening.
Bed at 12 o'clock.
-=-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Wednesday May 9, 1984
Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, &c Still dull outside. Who cares? Our alarm clock is on the blink and refuses to sound off. Samuel laid patiently...
-
3rd Sunday after Epiphany 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford Baby slept until 6am which is amazing. Ally however woke at three and then... -
5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford Samuel has a hairy back and shoulders, you know. I have to record these things because in ten years ...