Sunday October 2, 1983

 18th Sunday after Trinity

Why Not, Hemlington

Happy times: with Marie at the Linnie.

We took it easy this morning. Ally phoned Marie, and they said they would be here at 12:30. Sure enough they were. They sat on bar stools at the bar surveying the damage and joking in true Barnes style. They do not want us to be down-hearted. Roy laughed about the burglar alarm. Sank a few pints. They will help us escape to Katie's christening by sending Mike over to set our alarms and lock up. We are entitled, Roy says, to a few hours of freedom, which is cheering. I thought he might say that after recent atrocities we she should stay here keeping guard on the premises. They left at 1:30. A new barmaid, Sheila, who works in a bank, walked out at 2 and then phoned to say she won't be coming back. Phoned our Mums who are both worried about the violence and ask us to take care. In the afternoon I slept for an hour and woke feeling horrible. Looking in the mirror my eyes are bloodshot and puffed. Staggered around all evening yawning. Ally was banished upstairs at the dangerous hour of 10:30pm and I rid the place of drunken louts quite unaided. The girls are obviously terrified of asking anyone to drink up. We sat in our 'office' into the small hours counting our tills. My maths, always poor, has improved daily.

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