Wednesday January 6, 1982

 Epiphany

The snow supposedly forecast for this week has yet to arrive. Ally was out of bed like a shot mixing scrambled eggs long before I raised my weary head. She is much better today and fortunately her voice didn't go the same way as mine.

YP: continued with the honours list, and made sure I took my time. Kathleen did my EP indexing. The Lord High Constable of Scotland, the Earl of Erroll, has become engaged to Isabelle Hohler. Miss Hohler's cousin Lucinda recently betrothed herself to a Compton of Newby Hall. Lord Cornwallis, who the Daily Telegraph accidentally 'killed off' last September, finally bit the dust on Monday. It must have been disturbing for the old boy reading his own obituary in the broadsheets. Imagine the tea, toast and marmalade splattered everywhere.

It was a year ago this very night, in bed at Pine Tops, that Ally and I decided to marry. It's been a beauitful and satisfying year.

Phoned Mum this afternoon. Her voice so distorted with her cold that I thought I'd phoned the wrong number. We are going tomorrow.

I posted a list of English personal names to Susan. Let's hope she makes the right choice.

Lasagne for dinner. Threw out our Christmas tree and put our balls away for another year. 

Sat and watched 'Hannibal Brooks' [again], eating apples, buns, and chocolates. Well, it is the last day of Christmas.

Splashed in the bath.

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Tuesday January 5, 1982

 Had a restless night because of Ally's indisposition and at 7, we lay sweaty and tired, trying not to listen to Mike Read on Radio 1.

Ally shouldn't have gone into the office, but Derek and Gillian are similarly indisposed. I left her at 7:45 looking drawn and wobbly.

At the office: Kathleen is insane. When I asked whether she had spent a merry Christmas she merely shrugged and said it was so far in the past she couldn't remember. Obviously, they've had a dreadful and busy time without me.

Honours?

I spent the day looking at the New Years Honours list to amend the files. Far from interesting. Those dreadful athletes who went to Moscow against Mrs Thatcher's wishes have been awarded the OBE. Yet another 'U' turn. Sir Charles Forte has been given a life peerage, and the palace press officials come away with DCVOs and KCVOs. I am no as sympathetic to the honours system as I once was. Just reading the small print you come across recipients, such as: 'Evadne Maud, Mrs Jenkins, BEM for services to lawn mowers, West Sussex'. I think it might be more of an honour to be ignored.

I spent some time combing the births, marriages and deaths announced in my absence. Sir Jim Holland, Bt, died on Christmas Day, and Lord Kenilworth died on Boxing Day.

Rain all day. I got a soaking at lunchtime when I went out to buy mince beef at Kirkgate market. It could be worse. Heavy snow is forecast once again, and floods have devastated York. 

Phoned Mum who sounded hideous - full of cold and speaking from her bed. Dad is similarly laid up. Cancel our proposed visit.

Escaped the office at 4:45 because the snow forecast filled me with alarm and despondency. Home at 5:45. We ate our mince speciality and watched 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', a good Australian film about the mysterious disappearance of a party of schoolgirls whilst picnicking in 1900.

Phoned Lynn. We arrange to go see 'Eye of the Needle' with her and Dave at the Bradford Odeon on Friday. Afterwards they'll spend the night here. Frances will be deposited at Guiseley in the capable hands of Granny. David was in one of his soulful moods. Ally dreamt last night that Lynn gave birth to hairy baby called 'Silver'. What could this possibly mean?

Dave Reed phoned to say he and Carol are getting engaged in Middlesbrough on January 16 and are to marry on August 14. 

Listened to Debussy. Bed late.

-=-