Wednesday April 2, 1980

_. A slight headache today which I put down to the plethora of wine last night. At lunchtime I found solace in the City library. I emerged blinking like a mole half an hour later with 'Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester' by Noble Frankland, a new biography of the semi-obscure uncle of the Queen. Back at the office Derek Naylor spotted the book on my desk. He winced and cringed and looked as though he might vomit. It's funny how the subject of royalty can bring on such violent emotions. Reading it tonight I couldn't help thinking that I've read it all before. John and I were in Windsor in June, 1974, when the duke conveniently died, and we watched his funeral procession through the town.

Frost and ice in the atmosphere at Pine Tops tonight. Mum and Dad spent the afternoon in Masham and had a difference of opinion over something which disrupted relations for the remainder of the evening. Lynn and Dave came to tea, but the frost didn't thaw.  Lynn however was just as chirpy. Lynn and Dave go to Stranraer tomorrow to spend Easter with John and Maria. L left a bunch of fivers with Mum to hand over to me on my birthday.

Dad is very brooding and irritating when he choses to be. He is very like his father.

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Tuesday April 1, 1980

_, This evening I ventured to Lidget Green  for dinner with Ally. She concocted a spectacular lasagne which we ate with her very dry Beaujolais.  Spent the evening taping music for the party on Saturday. Ally sat reading 'Lady Chatterley's Lover', but has yet to find the naughty bits. I left at 10:15 and was home in an hour. It was All Fools' Day today.

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Monday March 31, 1980

_. Sarah saw Jacq in the Regent, without Paul, on Saturday. _________.

A night at home with the family gathered around the television. Saw Donald Sutherland and Elliot Gould in a film 'Spies'.

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