Thursday January 8, 1981

 _. Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone was buried at Frogmore today. Her daughter looks older than she did.

To Ally's from the YP at 5. The bus was packed with smokers puffing out clouds of smoggy effluence. A real 'pea souper' in fact. Ally made a rabbit stew and we ate by candlelight. We rarely speak at these dinners. She cooks and I listen to the radio, and then we eat and look at each other across the table.

Afterwards we went to the Bod, vibrating to the sound of its juke box. We stood in the top bar looking down on the main body of the revellers. ____________. Back to Ally's at 10:30. Thought of going to Oakwood Hall, but didn't. Bed before 2.

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Wednesday January 7, 1981

 _. Tired and hungover all day. Up at 7:45 and out at 8. I told Ally I would give her a ring [in more ways than one], and she giggled.

Already I'm quite sick of the Ripper news. The Solicitor-General has criticised certain organs of the press for naming Sutcliffe before he had been charged. Let's face it, he'll never have a fair trial anyway.

The Daily Mail Dempster column says that Lady Diana [Spencer] may not be in the Klosters skiing party next month, and goes on to say that Charles's ardour for Lady D is waning. Oh God, has another one bitten the dust?

Spoke to Ally at 12. We both agreed that last night's proposal or the acceptance thereof was not made because of excess alcohol intake and we both stick to our guns. Knee knocking isn't it?

Home at 6 for dinner. Thirsty all night. Must be dehydration. Watched a bit of TV, climbed the stairs at 9:15 and hit the sack. Christmas has really taken it's toll.

Kathleen has been off since Wednesday. Her father is dying of a brain tumour.

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Tuesday January 6, 1981

 _. Epiphany. New Moon.

Rain and snow. Took Thomas Hardy back to the Central Library. I just have not had time to look at him.

Phoned Ally. She agreed to come over tonight. She bought new trousers and a pullover today. The girl's a spendthrift. Phoned Dave L at 7. He's a bit of fun. Ally came clad in blue at 8 and by 8:30 we were in the Fox & Hounds. Bumped int George Waite, and he stayed with us for the evening. He is a lecherous bounder. _____. Ally was Little Red Riding Hood to George's wolf. Or was it a fox?

Saw Jim and Margaret with Julie celebrating her 17th birthday. Bought the girl a drink. Jim's eyes lit up when I told him I have a photostat of [Peter] Sutcliffe showing him sat at the wheel of his lorry. He'll see it on Thursday. 

On to the Hare. John, Maria, Dave L, Christine Dibb, Graham Airey, Chris Rat, Pete Mather, Carol Smith and husband, Andy and Linda Graham, &c. A pleasant chat with old friends over a few pints..... Or that's how it should have been. Ally and I then went to Ridgeway with John and Maria until 1.

In bed tonight I proposed marriage to Ally. This isn't a new thing. We take it in turns to spasmodically propose marriage to each other, but tonight was quite the most serious attempt to date. I was accepted and now the only thing to do is decide upon a date. June is nice.

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Monday January 5, 1981

 _.The Yorkshire Ripper [Peter William Sutcliffe, born June 2, 1945], a Bradford man, was charged, at Dewsbury police station, with Jacqueline Hill's murder this evening. A mob exceeding 2,000 thronged the streets shouting abuse, and behaving likes wolves. It hasn't sunk in yet. Quite amazing. The Ripper has been at the forefront of our lives, hanging over our every move, since '75, and now we know he's a 'respectable' chap from the Bradford suburb of Heaton who wouldn't say 'boo to a goose'. Jim Rawnsley reckons that Mrs Ripper will easily make £250,000 out of the case. Obviously, Sutcliffe isn't an engineer with a Tyneside accent, and neither does he stutter or have a gap in his front teeth. I imagine George Oldfield will be having a skinful tonight. Busy day at the YP, naturally. Home at 6.

Stick photos into my new album. John and Maria walked round from Ridgeway at 9 and sat until 1am. Mum departed suddenly to her chambers at 11. Maria informed me that an 'old style' gathering is taking place at the Hare & Hounds tomorrow at which my presence is a necessity. I've no money, but agreed to go.

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Sunday January 4, 1981

 _. 2nd Sunday after Christmas

Slept late again. Ally's delicate condition has made her an invalid. Our breakfast took place in the early hours of the afternoon. She took tea and bread and butter and I had kippers.

A sunny, cold day. In the afternoon we helped Mum prepare for tonight's 'home movie show' party at which scores of relations are once again to put in an appearance.

John, Maria and the children descended upon us in the afternoon. They were at a party last night at Tony Brotherwood's. Catherine alters by the hour and is a gorgeous character, endowed with charm and cunning.

At 6:30 Marlene, Frank, Auntie Mabel and her thermal underwear clad companion [Connie?] arrived with the kids, followed by sweet Lynn, Dave, Sue, Pete, Jim, Margaret and Julie. We sat in the dark watching Frank's movies of the Baker wedding of '78, and the Nason wedding of '80, followed by a sumptuous supper washed down with fine wines. I played at barman, assisted by Ally, because Dad had been at Otley playing at jailer for 12 hours from 6am [he's doing this because of the prison officers' strike, you know], and was too tired to apply his mind as to whether Mabel wanted brandy in her Advocaat, or whether Debbie was old enough to sample the Emva Cream Sherry.

Amazing news tonight: heard at about 8pm that a Bradford man arrested in Sheffield is now at Dewsbury Police station helping the police with their enquiries with regard to the Yorkshire Ripper murders. An astounded house heard from Papa that he'd been told this afternoon.

I gave Ally £2 for necessities to keep her until Thursday. Took a bath and climbed into bed at 1:30am.

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