Friday June 4, 1982

 Bessie is 60 today. We went down to give her our presents. Birthdays mean nothing to her and she would have preferred to have it forgotten.

Bessie: 60.

The phone rang. Bessie came in and said it was Mum. I immediately thought something was wrong. It's John. He's been living in the caravan at Lochans for almost three weeks and has had enough, and is returning to Guiseley to live with Mum and Dad. David is driving up to Stranraer for him this evening. Mum says Dad has taken it very badly. You know how emotional he is.

Took Bessie to the Bush for a birthday ploughman's. She drank dry Martini saying it doesn't give bags under the eyes like gin is prone to do. Afterwards to a supermarket at Alresford to buy potatoes and pears. Stifling hot.

Out at 8pm with Frank and Bessie to Graham & Gill's and then to the Hutt at Chandler's Ford [it's a Beefeater] for dinner. T-bones, Knickerbocker Glories, &c. A vast repast. Gill says that the baby, if female, is to be called something unpronouncable, Siobhan, or something.

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