Monday August 17, 1981

 _. Up at 7. Sat dangling my legs out of bed whilst Ally tempted me downstairs rattling the pack of crunchy oat puffs. A sort of Pavlov and his dogs routine.

Sophie: low profile.

At the YP I sat with the nationals [newspapers] and the Sunday papers. 5,000 turned up at Balmoral yesterday to see the Prince and Princess of Wales go to church at Crathie. A distant cousin of the Queen, Prince Charles von Thurn und Taxis, is putting it about that the Queen should restore the Dukedoms of Cumberland and Albany, removed from the Roll by King George V in 1919. [They were on the wrong side in the Great War]. Another report in one of the Sunday [papers] discussed Prince Philip's sisters who, forty years after the Second World War, are still enforced to keep a 'low profile' when visiting the UK, and remain almost in obscurity. Philip's sister, Sophie of Hanover, stayed at Windsor for the Royal wedding, and was apparently seen waving at the Queen in St Paul's Cathedral.

Sarah is being driven insane by the behaviour of 'Mrs Slocombe'. The latter is constantly humming some indefinable and nameless tune as she swans around the office like Madame de Pompadour. Just a nasty habit, or a mental disorder?

Phoned Mum. Sue was violently sick this morning. And no letter from their solicitor. Gloom. She has, however, phoned Wallace Arnold today, and they have two spare seats on a coach tour to Yugoslavia. I do hope they go. She told me that Christine Airey is expecting a baby in February.

Phoned Ally from behind yesterday's Observer, but Derek Jenkins was 'playing up' and so she left in a hurry.

Home at 6 to a fish concoction preceded by a decidedly weak carrot soup. Dave Porritt came at 6:30 and collected the wedding video. He is always so nervous and hyperactive. He scurried around and fled to his car still quietly talking as his car sped out of Club Street.

Dave G phoned this evening. Jim is out of hospital and confined to his room at the Hollywood [Hotel]. Dave is relieved to have him home. It's all on for next Saturday.

-=-

Sunday August 16, 1981

 _. 9th Sunday after Trinity

Warm & sunny. Ally was awake just after 8. She says it's impossible for her to move in bed without me noticing.

I ate my oat puffs for breakfast and then continued with the painting activities until noon. The sitting room [which is in fact the only room] is now bathed in a golden glow.

Savile: dreadful.

Sat with salad sandwiches listening to the dreadful Jimmy Savile on Radio 1. Pompous buffoon that he is.

Over to Guiseley at 3:30 with a bottle of sherry and box of 'After Eight' mints. It was good to see Mum, who was looking well and tanned. Papa was out on constabulary duties hunting down 'hit and run' drivers on his bicycle.

We lounged in deckchairs in the garden. Sue & Pete came at 5. She looks better and larger. Dined at 6. Roast chicken, Yorkshire puddings, broad beans, marrow, &c. All washed down with wine.

After dinner Dave Porritt arrived with his video machine and we watched the glorious events of June 27. More than a little nauseating to hear our own voices. We watched the 20 minute epic three times.

-=-

Saturday August 15, 1981

 _. A day of activity. We were awakened at 9 by the postman delivering a batch of photographs. We nestled beneath our quilt inspecting the snaps. For breakfast we had sausages, eggs and toast, &c. I was somehow cornered into demolishing a bookcase, and after a hideous re-assembling session which was reminiscent of a Laurel & Hardy film, I was daubing gold/oyster paint onto two of the walls. Painting is such much needed therapy. 

Phoned Mum this evening. She is annoyed, or at least sounded so, that Ally and I haven't been to Pine Tops in two weeks. She's very touchy. When I referred to Pine Tops she snapped back: "Why can't you call it home?" I have never called it 'home' and always call it Pine Tops. Dave Porritt is bringing the wedding video to Mum's tomorrow evening so that we can have a 're run' of our great day. We're dining at Guiseley. I didn't repeat any of Mum's negativity to Ally.

Later we had fish and chips and gallons of tea. I'm unsure about the decorating. It's like being inside a giant banana. 

News: More riots in Liverpool. Shoot the buggers, that's what I say. The Prince and Princess of Wales flew to Scotland from Egypt to join the Queen at Balmoral.

Later: watched two horror films that took us through until 1:30am.

-=-