Saturday May 23, 1981

 _. Ally was up and out at 9am, trundling off to the metropolis for the first of a series of sun-ray sessions. I lay buried in the pink marshmallow of her bed until she returned at 11:30. She'd also been for a fitting for the bridesmaid dress she'll be wearing at Catherine & David's wedding on Sept 5.

We went back into Bradford but our expedition was largely unsuccessful. We did a good deal of squabbling in the street, and disagreed on most things. I did manage to buy a pair of jeans and a good shirt. Shopping isn't an easy pastime. 

The Oddfellows: poker incident

Back at Ash Tree Cottage for 5. Ally so beautiful in her yellow dungarees and blond curls. She phoned Sue and invited her and Pete to join us for the night. They haven't been to Club St since before Christmas. They joined us at 8. We went to the Fiddlers Three for one drink, and then to Wilsden, to a Tetley's pub, then back to the Oddfellows, which was hideous. Rough. A drunk was running amok brandishing a poker. We downed our drink very quickly then went on to Mucky Willie's at Lidget Green. They stayed the night. It was back to ours for more drinks.

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Friday May 22, 1981

 _. Felt more than slightly ghastly this morning, and exhausted. 

The Ripper Trial ended today and Peter William Sutcliffe was jailed for life for 13 murders and 7 attempted murders. The judge recommended that he serves no less than 30 years in prison. What in God's name are we going to put in the YP now that Jack's gone for good?

To Ash Tree Cottage at 6. A Ripper extravaganza dominates the BBC. Phoned Dave G. We have decided to throw a party on May 30. A pre-wedding thrash. I have put the word around the office, and believe it or not, some show an interest. Michael Brown, Sue Pape, Bob Cockroft, Rachel Judson, &c. Whether they'll turn up is another matter.

Bed at almost 12.

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Thursday May 21, 1981

 _. A bright sunny start. The 23rd birthday of my beloved fiancée. 

Up at 6:30 so that we can have a birthday present opening session. I gave her earrings, some unpronounceable perfume from France - 'Eau de Mitterrand' or something, 'Ten Little Niggers' by Agatha Christie, and of course a large, romantic birthday card, a tipsy rat in a champagne glass, you know the sort. Unusual for me. Ally bounced around like a little girl, her eyes shining gloriously.

I headed for the YP and Ally came and collected me at 12:30 and we went to the Bank Wine Bar in town, and had quiche and salad, and a litre of rosé wine, in a dark, cosy corner. We went shopping afterwards, more earrings, two records, and she found a mini skirt which will look good with the tanned legs.

Rain by 4. To Ash Tree Cottage and then to Burley-in-W to see Lynn, Dave and Frances. They bought Ally two nice plants. Ferns I think. The two of us to the Hare & Hounds at 9:30 for gigantic Porterhouse steaks and another litre of wine, this time red.

Back to Pine Tops. Saw Jim and Margaret but were too pissed to speak.

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Wednesday May 20, 1981

Auntie Elsie.

Auntie Annie.

_. Thunder. Waited all day for news about the loan for the Stonehouse, bur heard nothing. Home at 6. Mum was sat with a long face, but immediately brightened and said Barclays will give them a loan, and all that remains is for them to sell Pine Tops. She played the same trick, with the mournful face, when Ally came in at 6:30. 

Ally and I went over to Colne to visit two of her aunts. First to Elsie, her father's sister, who is very grand. It was the first time Ally had set foor in her house. Uncle Ernest, who didn't have a clue who we were, poured me a large whisky. They have bought us an electric deep fat fryer as a wedding present. On to see Auntie Annie, Frank's other sister, and Uncle Bert. A sweet, old couple. He suffers from Parkinson's disease and can hardly move. They gave us a mirror, but say it's for Ally's birthday. For a wedding present they are buying sheets.

Home to Ash Tree Cottage at 12.

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Tuesday May 19, 1981

 _. Full Moon.

Ash Tree Cottage.

Mum and Dad came to Club St for dinner. I went there straight from the YP. Carrot soup [again] and lasagne. Very pleasurable. Ally excels in her almost derelict kitchen. Mainly pub talk. They are going to see Houldsworth at Barclays at 3pm tomorrow. They left after 12 and Ally and I drained the remaining wine bottles. We are christening the house 'Ash Tree Cottage' thanks to the sapling at the bottom of the garden. It's so much more welcoming than 'number 5'.

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Monday May 18, 1981

 _. Rain. Walking through town at lunchtime, looking in the window of an electrical shop, I saw, on the telly there, Princess Anne leaving hospital with baby Tracy. The infant is yet to be named. Elizabeth is bound to be in there. Kathleen says Joanna. I say Kathleen. In the end the opinion of the office is that it's wide open.

Mum and Dad went to the Stonehouse and had a showdown with Joyce and the shifty, Godfrey. Hands were clasped and shaken, yet again. These queer little people are obviously ruled by the moon.

Saw Ally tonight.

--=-

Sunday May 17, 1981

 _. 4th Sunday after Easter

Steve Sanderson's birthday. Another substantial breakfast at 9. Charlotte is obviously 'cutting down' on her food intake. Back to the Dales, but in Graham's car, in search of Malham. We took a few wrong turns and finished up at Aysgarth and then Hawes at 1:30. By now we were hungry, but several pubs refused us food because of the hour. We were there, in the street, howling like injured wolves. Graham, in booming tones, told one landlord that he much prefers Lancashire. Oh dear. Back to Club St we finished off the carrot soup, made a salad, and then the Smiths disappeared. We have agreed to make a return visit to see them in Hampshire.

Ally and I, alone at last, opened a bottle of red wine, and then phoned Mum. She was greatly distressed. She took Mabel, Marlene and Frank to the Stonehouse yesterday [without Dad], and Joyce turned on Mama threatening that if they don't come up with the money and quickly within the next few days, they'll sell the pub to a more willing buyer. Depressing.

The Bankhouse.

We drove to Pudsey in gloom. To the Bankhouse pub with Karen, Steve, Jill, Tim, Diane, Paul, Tracey and Eugene. On to the Royal at Stanningley, where we met Hilda and Tony. Back to Wilsby at 11pm for an hour. Then back to Pine Tops. My great Aunt Annie has bought us a tea set.

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Saturday May 16, 1981

The Strid.

 _. Woke with a thundering headache which remained with me for the day. Graham and Charlotte had been up for hours and were banging around downstairs. Charlotte was already half way through her third Agatha Christie novel. We all had a big breakfast before piling into the Citroen and heading off to the sights of the Yorkshire Dales. We went to Bolton Abbey and walked to the Strid, which has shrunk, surely? I always think of it as a large thunderous, force of water, a breathtaking sight, second only to the St Lawrence Seaway. Obviously not. Graham took a few photographs with his enormous and very expensive camera. We drove past the Stonehouse on our way home, didn't stop, only two cars in the carpark. To Otley and Curlew Pottery there.

Later, to Leeds and met Sue, Pete, Barbara and Frank Makin and Fiona [Ally's bridesmaid]. Sue and Fiona had a fitting for their bridesmaid dresses, and Pete, Graham and I went to buy Ally a new stylus for her record player.

Home to Club St at 6:30. Took Anadin. Felt better. Barbara, Frank and Fiona left, and we and the Smiths had a sing-song around the piano. You name it, we sang it. On to Pizzeria Mama Mia's [Manningham Lane]. A long dinner.

-=-

Friday May 15, 1981

 _. A fun packed day. Kathleen, becoming increasingly madder, predicts that I will be departing the library staff within the year. No men, she says, have ever stayed long on the staff after marriage. Obviously, I am going to require more money. Let us hope the Stonehouse project comes off. It could be my salvation.

Home at 5:30. Mum and Dad had a good afternoon with George and Joyce and Co at the Stonehouse. The old boy promised them a piano each and told them a tale about 'Witchy Waite's Chair'. All good stuff. Mum and Dad were in high spirits.

Princess Anne and Tracy.

Ally came at 7 looking gorgeous. We went on to Club St, and we prepared dinner together. The Smiths, Graham and Charlotte, arrived at 9. We had carrot soup, chicken sweet and sour, washed down with our own wine and the inevitable lager. They are so eccentric and great fun.  We listened to the radio during dinner and heard that Princess Anne had given birth to a daughter at 8:15 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. We debated what forename the royal infant will be blessed with. Charlotte insists that the little mite will be 'Our Tracy'. We all became quite intoxicated, and took to our beds at some forgotten hour. Charlotte hopes to bring forth a child next year.

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