20200513

Tuesday May 6, 1980

_. I failed to mention yesterday that we stormed the Iranian embassy and freed the hostages, held captive since last Wednesday. We observed the drama on the Makin's telly in Windermere. It was a bit of decent Bank Holiday viewing that put 'Disney Time' and the 'Alan Whicker Special' to shame.

I woke up at 8, and feeling no better, I phoned Sarah with the news that I would not be in the office today. I sat in bed all day reading.

Mum and Dad went out at 5:30 after laying a new pink carpet in the lavatory [it now resembles the Petit Trianon]. Susan made eggs and bacon.

Dave L phoned. He told me that MM and Marita cannot make it to Ally's on May 17. I suppose I will be hearing from them this week. I will write a violent letter to them on the subject.

Ally phoned for a bulletin. I have replaced President Tito as far as medical bulletins are concerned.

-=-

Monday May 5, 1980

_. Bank Holiday in England, N. Ireland, Scotland & Wales.

Suffering from a severe cold. The disease didn't take hold until Ally and I were well on the way to Windermere to spend the day with her parents at the mansion of Frank and Barbara Makin. I could barely focus on the lake and it's beautiful, if crowded, surroundings, due to the constant streaming of mucus.

A pleasant day. Andrew was there with parents. He's 16, and seems insecure.

Home at 11:30. We were held up in Giggleswick by a horrendous car accident. Collapsed in bed wheezing like a fading octogenarian.

-=-

Sunday May 4, 1980

_4th Sunday after Easter

President Tito finally died today. It is quite amazing how the old dictator has kept going for so long, minus a leg, and at such an advanced age. What will the EP put on the foreign news page now without those hilarious daily bulletins? Carol J, for one, will be mortified.

Up at 10:30. I went into the garden with the bathroom carpet and gave it a good beating, and it befell me to get the room back into shape. Afterwards I retired with Lillie Langtry, an ill-written bitty piece of work. I remember the TV series, some years ago, with Francesca Annis playing Mrs Langtry.

Out with Sue and Pete at 7:30 to the Belfry to meet Ally, Graham, and Gill, who had dined there. After watching Graham and Gill playing at space invaders [a glorified, computerised version of a fruit machine] we went to Thornton to join  Richard and Eileen [from London], and Anthony, a friend of Graham's from his Bradford Grammar School days. Tetley's bitter flowed. Back to Club St at 10:30. Richard attempted to tune the piano, and we all sat laughing at the contents of a 1971 newspaper. A Georgian mansion, with paddock, set in 2,000 acres could be had for a mere £15,000.

-=-


Saturday May 3, 1980

_. We over slept [again] and Graham and Gill left in a state of panic to attend the wedding in Knaresborough. We had a leisurely breakfast, eggs and bacon.

A warm, sunny day, and we drove over to Haworth. We sat in the corner of a pub laughing at the other drinkers. Scornful is Beautiful, that's our motto. At 4 we returned to Club St for garlic beans on toast. All slept on the sofa afterwards, cuddling Phil, the stuffed dog.

Ally went to the Belfry at 6:30 and I returned home in the evening sunshine. Took to my bed after a few hours in front of the TV. Attempt to read the Lillie Langtry biography, but sleep crept upon me.

-=-

Friday May 2, 1980

_. No horrible after effects this morning and I rolled into the YP from my Bradford shooting box leaving a scantily clad Ally waving on her doorstep, creating juicy gossip for the other residents of Rue Club.

Kathleen, our beloved chief librarian, having no affiliation to a trade union, and with no desire to join one, disappeared down into the case room to carry out work which has been abandoned by the NGA members. Because of this desertion she expects me to work tomorrow morning, taking her place in the library. This is distasteful. I am no muggins. I took a half day to go home and decorate and instructed Mum that should the office ring and ask for me she is to advise them that I have gone to Windermere until Monday morning. The office did indeed phone, and Mum did inform them of my sudden departure for the Lake District. I feel that I have the moral high ground withholding my labours, and Papa agrees with me.

Mum and Dad took me to the Belfry at 10pm and when Ally finished her shift at 10:30 the two of us went over to the 'In Time' disco in Leeds to join Graham and Gill, who are in Yorkshire with a party of friends attending a wedding. We all went back to Club St after 2. Graham and Gill saw the house for the first time and both were very impressed. In Hampshire you can pay £50,000 for a shoe box.

-=-

Thursday May 1, 1980

_. Did you know that Queen Anne was buried in a square coffin and that George Washington had metal false teeth which eventually turned rusty?

Out this evening to Club St for dinner with Ally. At lunchtime I had ventured to Safeways and bought asparagus, butter beans, cheese, and rump steak. We ate at about 7, and afterwards went to Bingley to the White Horse and then Oakwood Hall. We saw no familiar faces at Oakwood. Cider with ice. Back to Club St at 2:15. Blimey, you should see the things we wrote on the bedroom wall on Tuesday night! The sooner it's covered in wallpaper the better.

-=-

Wednesday April 30, 1980

_. Regained consciousness at 10am. Panic reigned. My head, my eyes, my everything. I phoned the YP to be told that the boss is far from happy. Well, I wasn't exactly jubilant either. I went out and got a train to Leeds, and walked into the office at 11:25am. A day of rumblings and deep trauma. I really wanted to take the afternoon off, but thought better of broaching the subject. I couldn't eat my sandwiches and cast them into the bin.

The NGA strike continues and at 2:20 we [that is NATSOPA members] were summoned to a ridiculous meeting in the appropriately named theatre. A silly bitch in sunglasses, a union official, requested that we only carry out our own set of menial duties, and if the NGA ask us to perform any task we have to say 'no'. Ludicrous, if you ask me. By tea time I had recovered enough to walk out of the building and venture homeward. I helped Dad daub paint on the staircase.

-=-


Tuesday April 29, 1980

_. A glittering gathering at Tong for Jill's eighteenth birthday party. People too numerous to mention. By now you must have a very good idea who attended, and who did not. The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Windsor and Isaac Bashevis Singer fall into the latter category. I was unaccompanied because Ally was at the Belfry until 11. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Karen was wearing an alluring gown which at one point detached itself from her cleavage and plunged to the carpet. The Bacardi and coke flowed. Back at Wilsby at 10:30 we were joined by Ally - I named her 'Alicia' for the night. Steve's friend Phil thought I was calling her 'elixir'. That's near enough. By 2am people were drifting off but Ally and I sat with Hilda and Tony discussing local politics and Yorkshire terriers. Back to Club St at 3:30. We wrote messages on Ally's bare bedroom walls for future generations to marvel upon.

-=-

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...