Monday June 14, 1982

 David Lawson is 27 today, no doubt at his desk. ____________.

John started his new job at Tay Homes. Ally went to the Jack Andrews dealership and tried to persuade them to buy Audrey. She's going back to see someone tomorrow.

Frantic YP. Only Sarah, Margo and I. Carol has flu. Kathleen is holidaying in Wallingford, of all places. I spent the afternoon looking at the Queen's Birthday Honours awards. Joe Gormley's peerage was expected, as was Kevin Keegan's OBE. I never fail to be surprised that Morecambe & Wise haven't gone to the Lords in the first joint peerage. [Mind you, I believe that the first Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch were created jointly back in the 17th century]. The Queen always gives something from the Royal Victorian Order to a lady-in-waiting, and for one to collect a DCVO is quite normal, but I believe that Mary Morrison is the first Woman of the Bedchamber to be styled 'Dame'. Previous recipients have held a higher designation, i.e. 'Countess Spencer, DCVO' or 'the Marchioness of Abergavenny, DCVO'. Dame Anne Wall was an assistant press secretary, and only an extra lady-in-waiting. Today was Garter day at Windsor. Margaret Thatcher will one day be in the procession without doubt. Prince Philip is in Saudi Arabia for the funeral of King Khalid.

Pork pies and mushy peas. Out to put black gloss paint on the drain pipes. In at 8. James Bond. News - Falklands. Argentina flying the white flag over Port Stanley. Jubilation at Westminster.

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Sunday June 13, 1982

 1st Sunday after Trinity

Up at 9:30 and had a fried breakfast, but not leisurely. A used car dealer called Stuart Rawson came to inspect the car and went away looking pale saying he will ring us later. Obviously, we do not hear from him again. Jack Andrews put a jinx on poor Audrey last November and now I'm afraid we are stuck with her.

Got up a ladder to paint again. The front of the house has taken longer to complete than the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the 'Last Supper' put together. Ally was beaming all day and bouncing around like a rabbit after a large helping of watercress soup. The iron works wonders. She has difficulty remembering which hymns were sung at our wedding. Poor thing. The soup helped her to stay awake until after 12 and we endured a disgraceful film.

News: King Khalid of Saudi Arabia has died of a heart attack. There's always something.

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Saturday June 12, 1982

 [Large paragraph withheld containing
sensistitve content regarding a living person].____________.

Hungover, horribly so. Got up at 10:30 and lay for two hours in front of the TV, clad in pyjamas, eating Rice Krispies and watching the 'Trooping of the Colour' [sic] from drizzly London. Climbed back into bed at 12:15 after a man from Rawdon phoned to say he saw the 'for sale' sign in the car parked on Over Lane last night. He is coming tomorrow to take a look. Good God! Ally's home made advertising has worked. The man must be a lunatic, or blind. Slept until after 3 and then we ate. Later to Guiseley to sit with Sue and Peter. She brought the baby down and he is an exact replica of Jim Nason. I fear we have neglected young Christopher. We go for months without seeing the child. On to Burley-in-Wharfedale where Dave took our car radio out of Audrey. Julie Baker there and she gave us an entertaining account of a recent wedding. Lynn, lounging in a dressing gown, gave us coffee. At 8 o'clock up to Guiseley for ten minutes to see Mum, Dad and John. Home at 9:30 with fish and chips. Watched 'The Bodysnatchers', Donald Sutherland. Bed.

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Friday June 11, 1982

 Dull day. Out at 8 and gave Audrey a kick as I passed. The 'for sale' sign looks ridiculous, but Ally is convinced it will do the trick. It would cost a small fortune to advertise it in the paper. I should know.

Judith.

YP abysmal. Kathleen arrived at 10. We assumed we'd seen the last of her for a fortnight. Escaped at 5 and went to my dentist in Rawdon. On the way I sat with Mrs Judith Brown on the bus and she informed me that they are to take a pub [the Fox & Hounds] at Glusburn, near Keighley. A Timothy Taylor's house. My teeth were cleaned and I was sent packing five minutes later with a bill for £3.50 and an appointment for December 10. On to Guiseley after meeting Ally at Rawdon, and we sat with sandwiches and beer until 7. John had been out with Peter until the early hours and had spent the whole day in bed. He looked debauched today - probably just a jealous reaction on my part. Lynn and Dave brought Frances in her pyjamas. The baby looked devilish, imp-like. Lynn, Dave, Ally and I had a drink at the Woolpack before moving on to the Allinson pile on Over Lane. Elaine was busying herself in the garden and we went out clutching large drinks and sat in deckchairs chattering about the Falklands and the pros and cons of Butlins Holiday camps. Elaine wasn't quite as noisy and controversial as usual, but is a fuss. Dave L and 'Knocker' were discussed. Dave A's brother, Mick, and his timid wife were there. We ate barbecued chicken, beefburgers, sausages, &c. Drank Pernod, whisky, Martini, lashings of lager. There was a speaker on the lawn which allowed us to dance around the shrubbery in formation. Great fun. It must have sounded like a zoo. By the end of the night were were dripping barbecue sauce. Quite pissed. Dave felt sick and so we left at about 1:30am. Went the wrong way home, going through Bradford.

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Thursday June 10, 1982

 Birthday of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Cecil Ferguson.

Ally splashed in the bath. I lay beneath our new, white continental quilt. [It has little rust coloured flowers all over it]. The national anthem burst upon us at 7am on Radio 2 in commemoration of the 61st birthday of the D. of Edinburgh. Poached eggs on toast. Kissed Piggy goodbye at 8. At the office at 9 where Margo told me to phone Ally immediately. Horrible news from Winchester where Bessie has just learned of the death of Cecil Ferguson in a car accident on the A1 in the early hours. They were at his wedding only recently. Frank is an executor of Cecil's will.

Busy at the YP. No Kathleen [she's working the night shift] and Carol is off with the snots. Ally has placed a large 'For Sale' sign in Audrey Citroen, but with no price. We'd like £400. Went to the Co-op. Like a barren wasteland. You can see more people on the Chinese side of Everest than in the Duckworth Lane Co-op. Bought a lewd birthday card for Paul Edwards and a silly one for Dave L who is 27 on Monday. I only hope he has seen sense and abandoned his friend 'General Galtieri'. Despite the abandonment of all moral standards and ethics the latter part of the 20th century remains hostile to homosexuals. ________.

Watched Top of the Pops and Her Majesty reviewing the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital. Bed at 10:48pm.

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Wednesday June 9, 1982

 Dismal, but warm. 65F. All the clocks in Bradford have stopped. Must be because of the thunder on Sunday. Phoned Susie. She has been to Bridlington with Jim and Margaret for a few days, pushing Christopher for miles in the salty air. Phoned Mum ___________. John starts work on Monday at the Tay site on Kirk Lane. Maria's brother, Hugh, had a letter published in The Times today. He's at the LSE.

The Reagans moved on to Bonn. I made rhubarb wine [2 gallons] and Ally stood ironing. A hot, sweltering night. I spent a good half hour pursuing a fly around the bedroom eventually succeeding in squashing it on the window. 

David Middleton came with a fitter to inspect the kitchen and we gave him a cheque for £277. The poor man is going on holiday to Barcelona next week and had overlooked the fact that the World Cup will be erupting all around him.

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Tuesday June 8, 1982

 President Reagan and Nancy have arrived at Windsor Castle as guests of HM. [In fact, they came yesterday]. After the 9 o'clock news we were privileged to watch the after dinner toasts and speeches at the State dinner. Nancy was sitting opposite the Queen methinks trying to put her off. In other news, a helicopter carrying the Queen Mother had difficulties over Windsor and made a landing on Smith's Lawn. Diana remains undelivered. The president is giving the baby-to-be a Kentucky pram blanket. China and fishing rods all round. Reagan addressed both Houses of Parliament in a corridor at the House of Lords and pleased Mrs Thatcher.

The Dowager Marchionesses of Salisbury and Exeter, both Cecils, died at the weekend. 

Quiche salad. Ally looking cuddly and edible, went to dig the garden and tidy up after the deluge.

Mum phoned to say John has taken a job as a joiner with Tay Homes.

They are playing down the Falklands crisis now and giving top coverage to the Lebanon. What can this mean? Where is the Lebanon? Fishy.

Phoned Lynn. We are invited to a barbecue at Dave and Elaine's on Friday. John is going to Burley for dinner tonight, and sleep afterwards.

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