Friday July 2, 1982

John.

 Mum and Dad went up to Middleham to look at a tatty pub which is of no further interest to them. I do hope they aren't being too choosy. At 7 we drove over to collect John and brough him back for dinner. [Mum and Dad arrived home just as we were leaving]. John brought his tools. We sat with mushroom soup, liver, strawberries and cream. He studied our kitchen cupboards, throwing in the occasional grunt. He came to a party here at Christmas in 1980, his only previous visit to Club St. After dinner we went to the Fire Brigade and sank four or five pints apiece. Amazingly, the conversation did not touch upon his marriage, and Maria wasn't mentioned. I feel that enough must have been said already. The three of us stood by the jukebox. A pleasant evening. So good to see John. Back at home we carried on drinking until 3:00am. All the records out. Nostalgia reigned.

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Thursday July 1, 1982

 Dominion Day, Canada

A rewarding day. We went to the Co-op and came away robbing them of £5. A little school-leaver on the counter there was too busy talking about giving someone a black eye to notice I had only given him £15 and not £20. No doubt he'll be the one with a black eye tomorrow. I really should feel guilty - me, the son of a police officer.

I finally got round to writing to my kinsman Malcolm Fawbert, at Chesterfield. A bitty letter, but to the point I suppose. Who knows, he could be sending me a pedigree stretching back to 1400 in the next post.

Ally is exhausted. We went off to bed quite early and after a bath I climbed in with my new Ken Follett paperback. Always gripping stuff.

The Princess of Wales is 21 today, celebrating quietly at Kensington Palace. A Princess of Wales hasn't celebrated a 21st birthday as princess since the beautiful Alexandra of Denmark in 1865, when she was already the mother of two sons, Albert Victor [1864-92], and George [later George V, 1865-1936].

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Wednesday June 30, 1982

Edna & Nellie.

 Out of bed at 7:00, but lingered in the bath. We have a letter from cousins Edna and Nellie in Bramley. They saw Prince William's family tree in the EP and were wondering how ours is progressing. I replied sending them the information I have gathered so far, with a creepy apology for ignoring the letter they sent me in January.

YP hideous. Kathleen acting like a maniac, and now that Sarah has had her ears syringed she can hear her all the more. It;s driving her insane.

Phoned Mum. They are looking at buying a pub in Middleham and are taking a look at it on Friday. She says the Fountain at Linton near Grassington is for sale. I agreed to have John here for the weekend. Molly and Jim are buying Corner House Cottage. ___________. Maria is going to pay them rent. 

Ally went to Mr Miller's leaving party and saw Catherine Alderson, who would like to be pregnant. Eggs and chips, then bed with books at 9pm.

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