Thursday November 19, 1981

 _.Busy at the YP. Sarah was a away at a funeral. Just a great-uncle. Margot was back, limping, but looking very well. She is in fact a very nice girl, who always seems to say more when the other girls are away. Mrs Slocombe is in fact a very Mussolini-like figure. I suppose I play Neville Chamberlain in the office, or perhaps Count Ciano. 

Gave Bob [Cockroft] a tip. Lord Deramore's daughter, the Hon Ann de Yarburgh Bateson, 31, is engaged to an Irishman. With a surname like that I don't suppose she stacks shelves in Tesco.

Home to my 're-designed' wifelet at 6:15. Cousin Diane is 18 today, and in Gadsby tradition she became engaged to be married. Ally went out at lunchtime and had her fuzzy hair re-styled and considerably shortened. Bit of a 'Peter Pan' creation. Tonight she was clad in canary-yellow plus-fours and woolly socks. We had a curry and watched 'Top of the Pops' and looked at our money. 

The Pakistani family have quit the corner shop here at Club Street. The children used to watch us, from a perch in an upstairs window. 

Lynn phoned at 8:30 to see if we want a lift to 'the ball' tomorrow. With a bit of luck Audrey will be back with us by then. We brewed some lager. Blissful domesticity.  Bed after 11.

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Wednesday November 18, 1981

Ally and 'Audrey'.

 _. Spoke to Mum. She was bright and chatty. Ally spoke to Adolf Broadhead at Jack Andrews. He says Audrey is repaired with a new floor, seat-belts, and a headlamp, and all for £122 [including VAT]. They are bandits, but what more can we do now other than pay up? We can soon get the money together and it will certainly be a joy to see that tiny blue French thing again.

Home at 6. Ally is knitting. Later she was buried behind a Daphne Du Maurier book. I finished the flower painting for Bessie. Very happy with it. Went to bed early because, you've guessed it, we were very tired. Missed 'The Borgias', but we can catch up with it on Sunday.

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Tuesday November 17, 1981

 _. Rain. Out of bed at 6:30. We sat eating porridge, bananas on toast, washed down by coffee. We enjoy our little breakfasts together. Life is very cruel, isn't it? We have breakfast together and then endure 11 hours apart until we dine together. Is this meant to be the pattern of our lives? We need to find money, and find it now so that we can be together day and night. As I left she referred to me as 'my little wood spurge', which I believe is a flowering plant. 

Home at 5:30. Phoned Dad and told him that Jack Andrews still have the Citroen. He too is 'off the road' with car trouble, but enjoying the walking. 

News: James Prior was attacked by a heaving mob at the funeral of Robert Bradford MP. The Prince of Wales was in Bristol without the Princess, who is suffering from morning sickness. In a speech he said he accepts full responsibility for her condition. The crowd seemed dreadfully disappointed. Charles will have to get used to his demotion. Diana is the one everyone wants to see.

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