Monday February 9, 1981

 _. General oddments: Heavy rain. Shirley Williams has quit the National Executive Committee of the Labour party. 

Royal News: Queen Frederika of Greece died in Spain on Friday, aged 63. [Nigel] Dempster says Lady Di is to spend part of March-April in Australia to coincide with the Prince of Wales's visit to that great colony - governor-general speculation, and all that. The Duke of Edinburgh is to attend the Valentine's Day wedding of Prince Henri of Luxembourg. Princess Michael of Kent's first husband [Tom Troubridge] has married a Mrs Petronella Forgan in the USA, &c.

I have already said it was somewhat inclement today. I took my new umbrella to the office and made full use of it at lunchtime by going out for a trudge in the downpour for a tongue sandwich from Malcolm's bakery. Sarah is very worried. Gordon Linacre has let it be known that he is far from happy about Kathleen's leave of absence, saying it isn't 'company policy' to allow people to abandon their responsibilities. It could result in Kathleen's resignation and a new chief been brought in from outside. What an obnoxious thought, eh? Sarah is understandably most peeved. 

Precious Ally came at 7:30 and we watched John Cleese in 'Fawlty Towers' [again] and then sat for a couple of hours inventing a list for wedding presents. You know the sort of thing: bath towels [green], plastic bucket [brown], bamboo toilet roll holder, &c. Throughout this endless compilation Burt Lancaster was shooting people on TV. I kept telly Ally that the blood was only ketchup, but she didn't seen convinced. She left at 11:15. Bed at 12:15.

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