Thursday January 12, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

The most magical day of our lives. I was asleep by midnight and was awakened by Ally with stabbing pains in her back. She was in agony, and the pains were coming at 10 minute intervals. We were determined to keep out of hospital as long as possible after yesterday's fiasco. At 5:30 I called an ambulance and Ally was taken out horizontally into the frost. In the panic I forgot to pick up Ally's notes, and so after dropping Ally the ambulance driver brought me home to collect them, and then I returned to the BRI in a taxi (£1.30).  (Gynaecological redaction). The nurses or midwives were generally a good lot but one was antagonistic throughout because Ally refused an injection for the pain. This made Ally all the more determined to get through the birth naturally. At 1:14pm a large, pink boy was forced out. He was born in a kaleiderscope of colour. Turquoise umbilicle cord, and crimson placenta. I was choked at MY SON'S arrival. We all wept. The student midwife burst into tears too. Samuel Lawrence Dixon Rhodes weighs 7lb 12oz  and is 20 inches long. He has black hair, blue eyes (of course), healthy, long-limbed, and an absolute miracle. The rest of the day is a blur. No words can capture the scene. We sat until 4 and then Mum and baby went to Ward M4 (room 4). Mum and Dad came to pick me up and I gave them a peep at their grandson. Back at Club Street Frank and Bessie came at 6. Ally phoned her Mum and Dad, Lynn, Sue and the brewery from the labour ward at 2:15. Mum and Dad left at 9 and Frank and Bessie took me to the Pizza House.

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