Tuesday October 9, 1979

_. Swarms of wasps are invading the house. Dad spent the morning painting the tricycle he is renovating for JPH's Christmas present. He isn't very happy with it because he cannot get the colours to shine even with a varnish gloss.  I don't suppose little John will object just so long as the wheels go round.

Maria brought the children here at lunchtime. I saw a definite change for the better in Catherine. The doc saw her yesterday and told her that baby's heart is now quite normal. JPH played out with Richard from next door.

To the YP at 5. ________. Coming home at 12 the taxi was stopped twice in road blocks by police questioning motorists about the Yorkshire Ripper. The taxi driver talked about photography and football in the early 1900s, and the advanced driving test he'd just completed, and how wonderful the Pope's visit to Ireland and the United States had been. In fact he was a gold mine of information. His grandfather died last year, aged 94. 'A good age' he kept repeating. I cannot see anything good about being 94. I may feel differently about this on April 5, 2049.

Ate cheese on toast and drank a milky concoction and went up to bed with Hitler. The British politicians from the 1930s, the appeasers, really should have been hanged at Nuremberg along side the Nazis. The stupid sods can never be forgiven for appeasing the fascists and the blood of millions stains the hands of Eden, Simon and Chamberlain.

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Monday October 8, 1979

_. Ally phoned me. Mr Dixon returned to Winchester with her house keys and so he's sending them back to Leeds this evening by Red Star. Ally came to the YP at 5:30 and we ate at Salvo's, where we shared a table with another couple. We decided that the guy is a solicitor, and the girl is his secretary, and they are definitely screwing. Funny how one can spot these things at a dinner table. From here we went to collect Ally's keys. Onto the Commercial. I was dead on my feet. Back at home I collapsed in a chair. Sue and Pete, we are told, are visiting the vicar on Saturday.

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Sunday October 7, 1979

_. 17th Sunday after Trinity

Sunny. Got out of bed at 11am. Dressed to kill in readiness for the afternoon extravaganza at Delia's.
Went down the lane and bought a couple of bottles of dry Martini before going on for the 55 bus. I stood at the bus stop until 12:45 and no buses came my way. I phoned Sarah from Guiseley and Barbara Wheeler was despatched to rescue me.

The lunch party had it's hilarious moments, but I was generally uncomfortable with the presence of Bill North, who dominated the proceedings. Intrigue was rife and Sarah was all whispers lending a Louis XIV Versailles atmosphere to the afternoon. Delia was brilliant and as usual lavished her adoration upon me. The women seriously out numbered the menfolk, who stood huddled together for protection, arses to the French window away from Bill. I sighed with relief when Leeds's answer to Larry Grayson made it obvious he fancied poor Richard.

With Richard's motor.

At about 4 we went next door to Richard's swimming pool. I remember very little of the aquatic antics but am told that I made several spectacular dives. Janet was very amusing and we discussed diaries and whether they are worthwhile. Indeed they are. [Go on, agree with me]. People began to disappear by 5 o'clock and I was the last survivor. Sarah cast off her regal attire, and clad in dressing gown and carpet slippers, we sat, feet up watching tv.

Bill Collis came in and sat darkly brooding in the kitchen chewing on a chicken leg. I said goodbye to the lovely ladies when Ally arrived at 7:30 to take me to Karen and Steve's. Out in Pudsey with Karen, Steve, Jill and Tim to celebrate Karen's 20th birthday. To the Railway pub, and the rough dive where Ally's car aerial was ripped off on a previous visit. Back to Karen's for a Chinese takeaway, but I was three sheets to the wind, and blame drinking in the afternoon. Home at 1am. Knackered.

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Saturday October 6, 1979

_. To the YP from 8:30 to 12:30.

Dave L came over at 7:30. My heart sank when he said he fancied seeing a film. We went off to Bradford but 'Quadrophenia' was the only film showing, so we ignored the crowd here and went on to Leeds, where, as if by providence, the film 'Alien' has already started, and so we stood, quite forlorn, outside the cinema, rattling the loose change around in our pockets. I took Dave to the Ostlers and then Whitelocks, but Dave wanted cockles and mussels and the 'prawn man' was nowhere to be seen. So off we went to the Commercial at Esholt, but the new landlord doesn't stock seafood, so onward to the Hare & Hounds. Poor Judith looked hideous. _____. On to the White Cross at 10:50 for a final drink with Sue, Peter, Gus and Johnny. Nights out with David are always great fun.

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Friday October 5, 1979

_. Contacted Dave L. We have decided to venture out tomorrow. It is shameful the way we have allowed our meetings to fall into abeyance since his return to civilization in July. .. or was it August?

This evening out with Sue and Pete to the Fox and Hounds and the White Cross, which harboured the long lost familiar spectres of Chris Ratcliffe and Pete Mather. Chris showed me his holiday photos of Miami, including shots of Tony Brotherwood, in shorts, in Disneyland.

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