Sunday October 31, 1982

 Up at 9:30 feeling very much like a condemned man. Evidently I came home from the party and burst into a fit of uncontrollable tears. Prepared lunch, washed the bird and got her trussed, &c. Went to meet Auntie Mabel at the station at 12:45. I had left Ally running around half naked clutching a pressure cooker in one hand and a vacuum cleaner in the other, but when I returned half an hour later with Mabel she and the house were transformed. We had a couple of glasses of sherry and sat down to our homemade tomato soup, roast chicken and apple crumble at 2:30. She spoke of cousin Jackie and Barry and their plans. The afternoon ended with cups of tea and a conversation about the beautiful Princess of Wales. Took auntie to her bus at 5:30. Shattered. To bed early.

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Saturday October 30, 1982

 The phone rang at 10am and I ran downstairs in Ally's dressing gown. It was Graham who told us that Gill had given birth to a son at 3am weighing 7lb. He is to be called Matthew Frank Graham. The first two names after his two grandfathers. Ally came flying down and spoke to her brother, and then we had breakfast. [We didn't get in from Mary's until 1:30am]. I planted tulip bulbs in the garden and then we went to Duckworth Lane where Ally had a sun-ray session. I went to the Co-op and bought a few provisions. I forgot the Tampax. As I was browsing among the frozen peas I reflect that Ally is a fully-fledged aunt today.

Susie and Peter came at 2 with Christopher. She looked a little thin and her eyes are slightly sunken. Over a few drinks Sue says she hasn't suffered a miscarriage, but a molar pregnancy, a hydatidiform mole. The poor girl has been so brave. The doctors say she cannot under any circumstances become pregnant for a year, and she has to have hormone tests at frequent intervals. We were stunned by Sue's news. We sat until after 6. Christopher is a beautiful child, with a fine head of hair, and already standing up on his large feet. John came over [Mum and Dad were in Grassington] and at 7:30 he took us to Morley and a pub called the Half Way House. Margo and friends were making merry. I was already 'half cut'. Back to Margo's until after midnight. Remember nothing. Ally was appalled at the way I [illegible] the young office girls. It was only done in jest. Pauline Atha looked like a Turkish belly dancer. Home late. John went home wearing a jacket which Janette had bought him. He says he's bought the girl a fur.

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Friday October 29, 1982

 YP packed with fun and excitement, as usual. Home at 6, and clad in our finery we went across the road to Mary Moore's at 7. She had pushed a note through the door asking us to join her at 7:30 for pre-prandial drinks. I had to look this up in the dictionary. Ally wearing her cream and gold suit, and looked stunning. We were joined by six middle aged ladies all dressed in black like witches, two 12 year-old females, and a 13 year-old butcher's boy. It was chicken. It was also a case of 'let's see who can talk the loudest'. One big woman had just returned from a coach trip to Austria and didn't shut up about it all night. I had all on retaining my sanity. They all sat, all eyes, jealously watching each other. The dreadful Corinne [if that's how it's spelt] asked us to pay £1.12 to go towards the bottle of 'Pink Lady'. Sod off dear. We were the only guests who took Mary a present, roses, and resented being asked for money.

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Thursday October 28, 1982

 Susie left hospital today at 11am and took a taxi to Pine Tops for lunch. I phoned the sweet thing at 2. She said they will come to visit us on Saturday afternoon and bring Christopher. She sounded just fine.

I attempted to watch Top of the Pops but the vacuum cleaner won the battle. Ally has been positively maniacal this week. She makes Adolf Hitler look like Worzel Gummidge. Never mind. It can't always be champagne and roses, can it?

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Wednesday October 27, 1982

Miss Piggy?

 Dark, gloomy day. Home with great striding steps and devoured sandwiches by the fire. Ally pink and glowing. A welcome sight. At 6:45 we got a bus into town, and then took one to Westfield at Rawdon. We arrived at Dave L's at 7:50 and found him entertraining MM and Marita. We gathered around the TV and watched Dave's pirate copy of 'E.T', the yet-to-be released film from Steven Spielberg. Ally wasn't looking forward to this at all. Science fiction isn't her scene, but we were pleasantly surprised. Quite a touching little offering really. The creature is a combination of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Miss Piggy. E.T. = extra terrestrial.  Marita and Ally sat with damp eyes at the end of the film. Albert & Joan L joined us at 10:30pm for a viewing of our wedding video, sandwiches and coffee. Dave drove us home at 12:30. To bed. Visits to Tennyson Street are always packed with nostalgia.

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