Saturday December 15, 1979

_. [In Ally's own hand]

"Love is ... letting a loved one write in his precious, sodding, bugger of a diary."

"Today was Christmas tree picking day!! After frantic phone calls from the Baker residence pleading with me to get up.... we went, Lynn, David, Chris, Julie and Dave Allinson,  and me, in a howling gale ... to select six delightful Christmas trees from a farm in deepest Bramhope. During this time my precious Michael was out entertaining his quaint Stockport guest at one [possibly many] of the drinking houses in Guiseley. The afternoon continued with pre-Christmas festivities. Whisky and home-brewed hock being favourites.... Michael and Lynn, typical sister and brother, arguing over which colour Christmas paper to wrap around the barrel of the tree. Tree decorations, wassail cups, flying everywhere. My beloved, as he promised many weeks ago, insisted I dress in 'kagool' and wellies and dragged me out into the wild evening to pick holly.  A truly romantic setting! A quick half pint of punch at Peter Lazenby's didn't go amiss. In fact, after Harry R[amsden's] fish and chips we caused something of an uproar in the Drop and the Yorkshire Rose tap room, then Guiseley Working Mens' Club - Michael dressed in one of his father's old boiler suits and flat cap, and David Glynn is a hideous red tie, beret, and suit jacket with stuffed birds stitched to the shoulder. A sight not to be missed! Lazenby's party was wonderful, to say nothing for the 'bloody hot curry'. Lights went out at 7am on Sunday morning.

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