Saturday May 1, 1982

 May Day. 

Slept soundly and got up full of beans because my cheque for £10 arrived from the beloved Post Office. If you can recall, Bessie posted my card on April 1, addressed to 'Ashe Tree Cottage, 5 Lidget Green, Bradford'. The sleuths at the PO have finally traced me and at 10:30 we set out gleefully to 'spend, spend spend'. First to the Co-op and then to town where I bought a pair of pump-like shoes called Turbos. I now look like a combination of Shakin' Stevens and the Woman in White. I bought Ally a blouse ~ a present from my 'Princess Felicitas of Prussia' article for Jonathan Margolis at the Mail. Bought three LPs. Eric Clapton, Remain in Light by Talking Heads, and a 1978 Bee Gees. Walked around town feeling like Sir Charles Clore [when he was alive that is].

Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones is eighteen. Why not marry her off to Viscount Althorp or the Marquess of Milford Haven?

Mum phoned. Karen isn't pregnant after all. Her doctor has changed his mind. The poor girl is in hysterics.

Sat by the TV watching the war. We bombed Port Stanley airfield today, and suffered no losses. The bulletins kept us rivetted. Our generation has never experienced such drama.

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Friday April 30, 1982

 Just like old times I had a hangover. The girls in the office smiled and giggled at me. Why do women enjoy the sight of a man suffering? I blame the Roman Catholics. 

Went out at lunch and had a Cornish pasty in the rain in Park Square. Some young things were playing rounders in the daffodils.

Back at the YP I poured over my warm copy of the EP, hot off the press. From noon we have established our blockade of the Falklands and anything coming over the line is to be shot at. Let us hope this is not the Suez of Mrs Thatcher.

Shattered tonight. Ate and then slept. Nothing feels better than curling up in bed feeling completely done in. It wassn't too long before my contemplation of the ceiling passed into oblivion.

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Thursday April 29, 1982

 Dear cousin Jill is twenty today. I remember her birth. I used to call her Jilly. Pay day. Got £68 instead of the usual £62. Pathetic, eh? Went out at lunchtime and bought a lager pack and some nice veg soup for Ally [cucumber and mushroom, or something]. She is quite partial to pretty soups.

Home at 5:30. Both in the bath and dressed hurriedly, but didn't get out until 8. Collected a few bottles and went to Valley Rd [Pudsey] where the Gadsbys were gathered for Jill. On to the King's Arms at Tong. Tony, Hilda, Karen, Steve, &c. Diane told us of her forthcoming visit to Buckingham Palace to a presentation by Prince Philip of Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards. She and Hilda have bought new hats. Tony talked about the Gadsby Coat of Arms [!] ~ rampant ferrets, I think. Cock and Bull, more like. Jill was on top form calling me 'Mig'. She is an extremely witty lady. Back to Valley Road for more drinks. A poor boy called Vernon Murdoch, a neighbour, was taking refuge in their greenhouse, having been locked out of his house.

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Wednesday April 28, 1982

 Windy. Weaker sun. Mum phoned. In Friday's YP death notices she has spotted the death of Mr Heap, of the Fox & Hounds, Starbotton. We didn't see him during our stay. He was incapacitated in a nearby room. Poor Mrs Heap.

Mum said she's heard of a Wharfedale Union Workhouse in Otley. Could this be where John Rhodes [1866-1948] was?

YP dismal. We received no copies of The Times, which gave a bad start to the day. The Falklands business looks like war. We are set to sink everything on sight from 11am on Friday. Labour is squealing about going to the UN, but what can they possibly do? Alexander Haig's Hon GBE is fading.

I cashed the £30 cheque from Jonathan Margolis. Walked around town but bought nothing. I never get further than HMV records and Greenhead books. I could easily spend £30 every week on records.

Jackie and Barry came at 8:30 and we sat listening to stories of Benidorm. Both seem happy and relaxed. we sat drinking beer and Rosé wine until almost 12. Ally made a pile of salad sandwiches and I helped her chop tomatoes while Jackie and Barry whispered together. We both wore striped shirts.

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