Sunday March 27, 1983

 Palm Sunday

We were awake at about 10 o'clock and Ally got up first and I lay watching her dress. She was in her tight jeans and white shirt. Her hair isn't as curly as it has been recently. I had two kippers for breakfast washed down with tea. Ally marvels at my capacity for fish, and takes me for something of an expert in removing bones. She ironed afterwards. Believe it or not, I made 12 Hot Cross buns and a gallon of apple wine. We had a phone call from Susie and they arrived at 2 o'clock. We had a drink. We also forgot to alter the clocks to British Summer Time. This threw us for the remainder of the day. Christopher wasn't quite as boisterous as usual and he beamed like the devil when he saw the piano. We have never thought to show the piano to a baby before. He banged away merrily. Sue looked really well and put away some red wine. They left at 4 to visit Pamela. It's Pamela and Peter's wedding anniversary and they are going to the Damn Yankee tonight. We ate Hot Cross buns at 5. Fish pie at 7. Saw a film about the Berlin Wall. Bed after the news. The royal progress of Australia puts back any talk of a republic until 2167.

-=-

Saturday March 26, 1983

 I woke very early and something delicious happened. For a few seconds I thought it was a weekday and that I would have to get up, only then to find it is in fact a Saturday morning. We ate breakfast in our night attire and switched on the TV to watch cartoons. An odd thing for me to do. Ally especially at 9am finds the TV offensive. Afterwards I finished the letter to the Smiths of Weeke and took it out to post with Auntie Hilda's birthday card, only to find that I have missed the last post of the day by ten minutes. How infuriating. Ally, in a white T-shirt, looking bonnie, was washing and cleaning.

A cold day. We couldn't feel the ends of our fingers. John phoned last night. The party is still on and he wants me to brew some ale for him. Poor Janette is working hideously long hours. I fail to see why anybody would want to buy a caravan at 9:30 on a cold wintry night. John assures me that they do.

Went to town by bus and did the shopping and then walked back up - quite a haul with 48 tons of King Edward potatoes. A pleasant afternoon with a weak sun. At home we cuddled and had a beer and listened to Michael Jackson. Ally was restless and wanted visitors and so we phoned Jill and Tim who cannot come because they are going out with Tim's Dad. Phoned Karen. They come at 8:30. Karen looks fit and not too big. The baby is due on August 18, but will be three weeks late, she says. We sat and watched Terry Wogan interview Dolly Parton. Ugh. Steve fell asleep on the floor and Karen saw no point in letting him get settled, and so they left at about 11:30. Bed.

-=-

Friday March 25, 1983

 Rain at first, brighter later. I was forced to make a quick exit from my bed to turn off a particularly loud alarm clock, and silence the offending Mike Read. Boiled eggs and toast. We looked in at breakfast TV. It is such a bore. Saw the Prince and Princess of Wales with the ghastly Bob Hawke in Australia. When will it become a republic?

To the YP. I have eight days to work. Labour held Darlington last night. Tories second. SDP third. Work stopped at 2:30 and we gave Carol a bouquet and a Collins dictonary. She produced a bottle of wine and Eileen Jones came in with a bottle of bubbly too and we celebrated the termination of Carol's thirteen year 'career' with cream buns. These are always very flat affairs. I suppose I'll have to go through it very soon. _______. Home for 5:30 feeling slightly groggy. Drinking wine on an afternoon does one no good. Fish and chips with Poodle. I ate like a starving wild cat. Ally posed a question: 'Name the only mammal that lays eggs?' Immediately and without hesitation I replied: 'Duck Billed Platypus'. She sighs 'you are so clever'. 

Have I told you that last Saturday David Frost married Lady Carina Fitzalan Howard? It was on the cards. I cannot imagine that the Duke of Norfolk will be chuffed about this.

I sat down and typed a letter to Graham and Charlotte Smith. We haven't heard from them since last June. Ally wallowed in the bath. Watched a documentary on the life of Noel Coward. To bed at 10:30. I told Bob C that the Bishop of Whitby has announced his engagement to the daughter of Judge Herrod, a Yorkshire QC. 

-=-