Tuesday September 9, 1980

Sue: Wendy Wanderers

_. Home at 5:45 and went straight out to Fieldhead playing fields to see Sue play football for the Wendy Wanderers team. They lost 13-4 to a pack of heavies from Huby. Really pathetic. Joined by Jim, Margaret and Julie, who came to lend true Nason support. Afterwards we repaired to the Yorkshire Rose. Lynn and Dave, celebrating 2 years of marriage, put in an appearance before going on to the Emmott Arms for dinner. Dave announced that he has given his notice at Thompson & Spencer after seven years of dedicated service. He has found better employment with another firm of architects in Leeds for £2,000 per annum more.

Susan's friend Audrey ____ devours every man with her eyes. [Can you devour with your eyes?]. A bride of six months, her husband was nowhere to be seen. Pie & peas, &c.

To the White Cross with Sue and Pete for one last drink. Saw 'Flu' and the horrid Sharon. Pete brought me home at 11. Mum and Dad were in bed but I went in and gave them a very biased match report.

-=-

Monday September 8, 1980

_. To Sue and Pete's at 5 from the chaos of the YP. Carol J is having 'man trouble' and felt unable to work today.

Lady Diana: nineteen

The dreadful Sun newspaper told us this morning that the Prince of Wales is now in love with Lady Diana Spencer, the 19 year-old sister of Lady Sarah McCorquodale. She could, of course, be a red herring. Diana's connections with the Royal Household are numerous. Both grannies have been in waiting on the Queen Mother, and her brother-in-law, Robert Fellowes, is the assistant private secretary to the Queen. Nineteen is just the right age. The girl has no past and is 'English Rose' material.

Delia came into the office at 3 and I went down to the foyer to see her. She told Mike Holman that I am her nephew. He gave us peculiar glances as we chortled on a settee.

Sue made fish and chips, peas, cheesecake, washed down with vodka and orange and coffee. Both seem very happy. We sat watching their tiny TV set. Sue is playing football for the Wendy Wanderers at Fieldhead Rd tomorrow against a vicious team of girls from Huby. Peter is coaching her and advises that she must never touch the ball, not even for a second. To do so could result in serious injury, or even death. He must have been advising Leeds Utd too. Susan hates being kissed, and so I made all the more of it when parting. She is lovely and sweet.

Bed at 12.

-=-

Sunday September 7, 1980

_. 14th Sunday after Trinity

Woke up with no hangover. Most unusual. In Sunday tradition I was deposited on Manningham Lane, but Ally almost crashed the car kissing me goodbye.

Had breakfast with Mum & Dad. Ally rattled over at 3 and we paid a visit to Lynn & Dave. Chris B and Julie H dropped in for coffee. They leave for a fortnight's holiday in the south of France tomorrow. Lynn had made some cream buns and Ally laughed at my guzzling. I am taking on a Billy Bunter appearance.

Ally deposited me at home at 6 o'clock and returned to her labours at the Belfry. I told her of Martyn's news.

Dined on chicken with Mum and Dad and we then slept like the inmates of a geriatric hospital. Attempted to watch a violent American film at 10, but fell asleep missing the vital, blood thirsty finish.

-=-

Saturday September 6, 1980

_. Tried to contact Ally all day without success. Played Rachmaninov, drank coffee, sat in the garden [yes, it was fine]. Lynn and Dave called in during the afternoon. At 5 in walked Ally saying she's spent the day in Colne visiting her Auntie Annie.

Phil Knowles.

On to Club St. Back to Guiseley at 8:30 and the rustic delights of the New Inn. Met a drunken Maura again in the company of Marian Read, the cartographer recently returned from the United States, and madder than ever. [See journal, Feb 7, 1975, Feb 15-16, 1975, Feb 18, 1975]. Ally thoroughly approves of my former escorts and we followed them to the White Cross, where Maura was all over Phil Knowles. She would like to capture him, but of course she was formerly engaged to Phil's brother, Dave, which complicates matters. Phil and Ally seemed to get on better than they usually do and Maura, perceptive as ever, said this was entirely down to the fact that Ally wasn't wearing a bra. We saw Chris R and Pete M and I apologised for last night's assault on his house. He took it very well.

On to Bradford for a curry. Marian found a coin in her mince curry and almost broke a tooth.

Ally and I back to Club St.

-=-

Friday September 5, 1980

_. I escaped from the YP at 12. Ventured out this evening with Sue and Pete to the White Cross where we met Frank, Gus, Chippy, Debbie, &c. 

On to the Shoulder where I collided in the gents with Pete M. He filled me in on months of gossip. Martyn is getting married on Oct 4. I passed this news to Sue & Pete. Mr Mather took Mr Hudson home and returned to the White Cross. I was very drunk, staggering around like a space age Freddie Frinton. Saw Maura Tobin [see journal Jan 11, 1975] who was similarly stewed. Maura gave me her telephone number much to the annoyance of her large, tattooed escort. Phil Knowles was there too. On with Pete M to a dull Il Trovatore in Ilkley, and at 1:30 we made a SAS style raid on 21, Victoria Dr, Horsforth, the Ratcliffe residence. The boy [Chris] was far from amused, and he sat in his dressing gown puffing out smoke like a Lowry landscape.

-=-

Thursday September 4, 1980

_. Warm day. Industrious too. Out at lunchtime buying steak, cheese and asparagus - yes, you've heard it all before. On to Bradford at 5 and found Ally in sombre mood worrying about money. She visited her bank manager this afternoon enquiring after a £800 loan for the Citroen. He had to carry her screaming to the door and deposit her in the bustling Bradford street. The thing is he actually said he would have given her the money had she not been the daughter of Mr Frank Dixon, a local director of Barclays Bank, and his life wouldn't have been worth living had he handed over the cash without first consulting the almighty Frank.

Lynn and Dave came to dine at 7. Lynn looked well and ate like a horse. We toasted the future Baker baby and Ally, who has now lived here for a year. George Benson entertained us on the stereo, and we sang the praises of the butcher whose shop is in the shadow of Leeds Town Hall. Ally does do a fine steak, and professionally.

David dismantled the car radio and we looked on in mournful silence. This is the end of an era [as I keep saying]. They left at 12. I stayed at Club St.

-=-