Tuesday August 31, 1982

 Left Ally at home to her own devices and returned to the YP. Told Geoff Hemingway and Bob [Cockroft] that Andrew Hudson, son of the YP chairman, had got himself engaged. Dismal day. Sarah accused me of being over industrious. The others took the opportunity of Kathleen's absence to do absolutely nothing. Phoned Mama. John is back from Stranraer and in bed with a tummy bug. The baby, who looks like Catherine, is to be Hannah Maria. _________. Ally phoned me at the office to moan about the lack of DIY shops in Lidget Green. She took a bus into town and bought more fennel [paint]. I had a brief lunch and escaped at 4:20 leaving Mrs Slocombe painting make-up on her ever expanding face. The bus, homeward bound, was full of rough women, and I, at the back, was surrounded by whores who had just been visiting loved ones in Armley Gaol. I too would want to be 'doing time' with women like that sitting at home. Ally had put fennel [paint] on the alcoves, and has chosen a green pattern paper for the remaining walls. I did a bit [of decorating] but felt tired and disinterested. Ate roast lamb. Watched TV. Esther Rantzen at the zoo. Parrots eat sponge fingers.

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Monday August 30, 1982

Bergman: dead on birthday

 Bank Holiday in UK [Except Scotland]

Spent the day decorating. Ingrid Bergman died yesterday on her 67th birthday. Perhaps they'll show 'Casablanca' again. Ally extremely cuddly. We had a candlelit dinner. Mushroom soup, liver [again] and onions, followed by orange jelly. Slumped in front of the TV. 'Airport 75' again. Boring. Bed after 10. Ally sat in bed reading recipe books.

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Sunday August 29, 1982

 12th Sunday after Trinity

Up at 7:30. Spent the morning painting the ceiling and put some 'apple white' on the chimney breast. Finished at 12, or maybe 1. Ally and I squabbled. She wasn't looking forward with pleasure to the afternoon. On Thursday we planned with Karen and Steve to visit Mum and Dad at Guiseley and then go on to Pudsey afterwards. She's feeling anti-social. I think she would like me to paint non stop until 1987.

Upstairs and bath. Ally looking pretty. We gave Karen and Steve a lager and went over to Pine Tops at 2:30. Lynn, David, and a leggy Frances were also visiting. The baby was eating an apple and repeating everything anyone said in parrot fashion. Supped ale. Dad was 'off colour'. He was hungover after a 'rum session' with Jim and Margaret. We arranged for Lynn and Dave to dine at Bradford on Friday. On to Sue and Pete's where she was making a curry. Christopher burst into tears at the intrusion of so many people into his tiny world. At 7:30 we went to look at the newly opened Damn Yankee, but came away because they do not accept credit cards. Silly sods. To Westfield fish and chip shop. Exquisite. On with the Sandersons to the King's at Pudsey [after calling on Hilda and Tony who were still decorating]. I was well on my way to being pissed, and according to reports talking too loudly in the pub. People were giving me funny looks. Ally enjoyed the evening more than she perhaps expected though insisted we return to Bradford and not stay the night at Stanningley. On to the Royal. Saw Jill and Tim. Home after 11.

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Saturday August 28, 1982

 Sun. Phoned Dave G who was just going off to work at [Stepping Hill] hospital. He is definitely coming on September 16. We went into town after breakfast and bought fennel paint, &c. Painted the ceiling this afternoon. Gave myself a stiff neck. Ally created a beatiful fish pie, and we ate at 8. Began with corn on the cob, of course.

Watched David Essex in "That'll Be The Day" - an appalling film though Ringo Starr was amusing. To bed afterwards.

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Friday August 27, 1982

 Bad head. Gordon [Linacre?] gave me £50 for my family tree, and I cashed it seconds later. Went out looking for fennel coloured paint without success. Sat in my usual place in Park Sq eating a salmon and cucumber sandwich. I pass many solitary lunch hours in the park. I am basically a solitary person. Ally is the only person with whom I can relax. Thank God I found her.

John left for Stranaer this evening with a car boot full of presents for the children. He showed us a large, green plastic 'Incredible Hulk' for JPH. 

Home at 6 and went to bed at 7 after eating liver cooked in sherry. I set the alarm and got up at 9:30, but Ally opted to remain in the sack. Watched a 1972 horror film which I first saw with Dave L and Harry back in my Benton Park days, at a late night showing at Yeadon cinema. Bed after 1. Ally warm like toast.

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Thursday August 26, 1982

 Bought four books for a quid. Not bad. I bumped into Karen in town and mentioned the fact that we have a cellar full of ale. She and Steve arrived at 8. She is taking her miscarriage as one would expect. She cannot now become pregnant before Christmas and Steve is now having to resort to the use of contraceptives. They are a very open couple. No secrets. We listened to music and had a curry from over the road. We sat until after 2am. Pissed up. _________.

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Wednesday August 25, 1982

 Half day. Paper things. John came and laid tiles. He's seeing Janette at the weekend . _________. Ally was sat giggling at the Miss UK beauty competition on TV. The IRA managed to disrupt the proceedings, I believe. John went off at 11. To bed.

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Tuesday August 24, 1982

 Oh fuck off.

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Monday August 23, 1982

 You can always tell when I'm writing pissed, can't you? YP. Fucking rubbish. Why am I still there? Never mind.

I was painting in the cellar at 6:30 when Mum phoned to say that Maria gave birth to a daughter this morning at 10:00am weighing 6lb and the odd ounce. Hannah is the name.  __________.

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Sunday August 22, 1982

 11th Sunday after Trinity

John came and boxed in the stray pipes, and found a good many faults with our £1300 kitchen. Joiners tend to do this with work from other tradesmen. Back to Pine Tops for 6pm. Dinner. Sheep and Yorkshire puddings. Fun. Wine. John drove us home with a Christmas tree [?]

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Saturday August 21, 1982

 We went out looking for ironing boards and general things for the house. Saw curtain material, and found a carpet [pale green] for £2.80, or £280,  more likely. Home jaded. TV. Bed.

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Friday August 20, 1982

 The new cooker works. Yorkshire puddings tonight. Joyful feelings in the kitchen. Russell Harty on TV. Later, Alfred Hitchcock. Baked bread, yes bread. 

New books arrived. Picasso, Dali and Surrealism.

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Thursday August 19, 1982

 Half day. Bought tiles and [wall]paper at Fads. Returned to home base. The little kitchen erector comes from Barnsley, or a place three miles therefrom, and immediately he warmed to my south Yorkshire connections. Made tea. The kitchen man finished at 3. Ally and I dined at home. Actually we had fish and chips.

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Wednesday August 18, 1982

 Kitchen renovations Day 3. We came home from work, changed, and went out at 6:45 to the Oddfellows, a run down and filthy pub. An elderly Pakistani was playing the fuit machine with gusto. Moved on after one drink to the Second West. This pub has changed hands since our last visit. The organ is no more, and I suspect that Stan [the organist] has joined the heavenly host. To the Coachman's or is it the Coach House? I preferred it when it was Mucky Willie's. The dirt and destruction at home is getting on Ally's nerves and we were quarrelsome. I hate squabbling. At 10 we stormed out and went to buy a curry. Hotter. Four inches of dirt had settled at home, but the cooker and sink were installed. 

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Tuesday August 17, 1982

 The kitchen renovations continue. Our crooked walls are making it a long job. Tonight we went by bus, in pouring rain, into the metropolis, and had more Italian food at the Pizza House, on Sunbridge Road. Whitebait, prawn cocktails, lasagne. We were the only diners and our only companions were the tropical fish swimming amiably around in a tank. We used the good old Barclaycard, a rare thing these days. When we left the restaurant it was still pouring down , and seeing no buses, we walked half way home sharing an umbrella. We arrived home damp and happy to inspect the kitchen progress. To bed with hot drinks.

The gutter press are reporting that the marriage of Princess Anne and Capt Phillips is on the rocks. The princess celebrated her 32nd birthday at Balmoral, whilst Mark was farming hundreds of miles away at Gatcombe Park. It is about time that the press realised that members of the royal family are quite different to the ordinary couples out on the street. The Queen and Prince Philip are often parted for weeks on end but not because they are unhappy with each other. Royal life is essentially a lonely one.

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Monday August 16, 1982

 Graham and Gill went back to Gloucestershire. Ally took the day off to receive the little men from Kitchen Studios, who arrived at 11 took a cheque for £1300 and then sat around drinking tea all afternoon. They hadn't realised that the house would be so 'crooked'. Nothing is square. I came home at 6. Ally was covered in dust, but calm. The kitchen fitters were still at work and so we changed and got a bus into the city [after having a quick one at the Coachman's], arriving at a pizza place, Giuseppi's Backyard, at 9. Ally still not loving her food, but she's improving. Window shopping. Bradford is full of scaffolding. Home and to bed. No doubt we'll see some developments in the kitchen tomorrow - tonight just chaos.

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Sunday August 15, 1982

 10th Sunday after Trinity

Trevor took us to the Holiday Inn, where he works, and showed us a couple of rooms, before our breakfast. Had a few drinks and left for Bradford at 3. John was awaiting us on our return at 5 and had boxed in more pipes. He dashed home to change and returned at 7. We went for a drink with Philip and Carol Middlebrough, and Richard and Eileen, to the Malt Shovel, again. John used to play football with Philip many years ago. Poor Eileen cannot persuade Richard to marry her. Much Tetley's consumed. At 10:30 we went to the Fire Brigade followed by a grand finale - a Chinese take-away. John came back to Ash Tree Cottage with Graham and Gill and we listened to Emerson, Lake & Palmer whilst demolishing prawn sweet and sour. Delicious. Ally feeling herself again. She is susceptible to travel sickness.

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