20220626

Tuesday July 27, 1982

 Ally came home from work this afternoon feeling sick and faint. The girls in the office were giving her 'funny, knowing looks'. She staggered out and managed to get a bus home. I found her at tea time snuggled down with a book looking pale and tired. __________. Lynn phoned, and hearing that Ally was 'off colour'  asked whether she's pregnant.

To bed early. Ally reading the ghastly Susan Howatch who she says, is 'good to read when you aren't really reading'.

-=-

Monday July 26, 1982

 Up and out leaving John and Janette in bed. Today is Maria's 24th birthday. We didn't send a [birthday] card. This has nothing to do with her current marital status. She didn't send us cards, and so we returned the slight. Buggered all day. Phoned Mama who was cool about Janette. Her mind is made up ________. Ally and I think differently. Dad had been sent to the Stones concert, in an official capacity, and was very unimpressed and particularly took offence to Mick Jagger's bad language. He had to work overtime, poor man.

_________. Ally and I had a peaceful dinner and sat in the quiet of our tiny parlour watching TV. Dave G phoned to ask about the [Rolling] Stones.

-=-


Sunday July 25, 1982


 7th Sunday after Trinity

Up at 8. A hot day. Ally felt sick and looked like death. Oh, dear! We seem to have done it again. Bacon sandwiches and mugs of tea later things were no better. John and Janette do not agree with this dawn start to this historic day but I am adamant. We were out at 9:45 and joined Sarah and Trevor at Horsforth, and they took us on to Roundhay Park. The scene there was incredible. I did not know what to expect but found the stage an amazing sight. We spent the day sitting around eating sandwiches and laughing at the crowds of fans filling the park. A constant stream of people until after 5pm. Not many weirdos or hippy types, but the majority seemed to be 20-30 year-olds. Saw warm up acts including George Thorogood and the Destroyers, the J Geils Band, all good, and yet very far away like ants. The [Rolling] Stones came out at 6 and were incredible. The only experience that might come close to the power of this is perhaps the Coronation of the Sovereign. [Mick] Jagger looking out at the crowds like Christ must have done at the feeding of the 5,000. We were all tip-toed with eagerness as Jagger strutted and leapt around covering hundreds of yards during each number clad in his baseball trousers and various jackets. We clapped and danced knowing we'll perhaps never see the likes of this again. John's face was a picture. He beamed like a child. We left Sarah at 8:30 after incredible fireworks and drove to Bradford and the Fire Brigade for a much needed pint, all wearing our 'Stones at Roundhay' T-shirts, and all eyes were upon us. Janette had been quiet as a mouse all day, but back in Bradford she brightened up _______. An old girl in the pub asked how the concert had been and said; 'He's such a talented boy [Jagger], and such a pity that not many people think so.' Oh dear. On to a Chinese fish and chip shop and then home for coffee and 'Emotional Rescue'. Say goodbye to Janette.

-=-


Wednesday May 9, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, &c Still dull outside. Who cares? Our alarm clock is on the blink and refuses to sound off. Samuel laid patiently...